Construction sites come with plenty of obvious hazards but some of the most dangerous ones are the ones you can’t see. One of those hidden risks is respirable crystalline silica dust (RCS).
If you’re cutting, grinding, sanding, or polishing materials like concrete, stone, brick, or mortar, there’s a good chance you’re creating RCS dust. And while it might not look like much, breathing it in can cause serious, long-term health problems.
When silica dust gets into your lungs, it can cause a disease called Accelerated Silicosis. This is a fast-acting, life-threatening condition that scars the lungs and makes it harder to breathe over time. The tricky part? You might not even notice symptoms until the damage is already done.
That’s why it’s so important to understand the risk and take simple steps to control it.
WorkSafe New Zealand recommends several ways to reduce exposure and keep your crew safe:
Most people who develop silicosis didn’t realise they were at risk. That’s why it’s vital to talk about RCS, train your team, and make sure everyone knows how to stay safe.
At the end of the day, the goal is simple: everyone goes home safe and healthy.
Want to learn more about managing silica dust on-site? Get in touch with our friendly team at HazardCo today.We’re here to help you keep health and safety simple.
Slips, trips, and falls, don’t let them take you down!
Slips and trips might seem harmless, but on-site, they’re one of the biggest causes of injuries. A bit of ground clutter, a wet floor, or poor lighting is all it takes to put someone out of action.
Here’s the breakdown:
What’s your role?
Businesses must make sure slip and trip hazards are spotted early and dealt with properly. That means checking the site, managing risks, and keeping controls up to scratch.
How to tackle the risks
Practical ways to reduce the risk
Reducing slips, trips, and falls starts with simple, practical steps that everyone on site can take.
Good housekeeping makes all the difference. The HazardCo App has handy checklists to keep your site tidy and safe.
Don’t wait for a near miss to remind you. Start managing slips and trips today and if you need a hand, the HazardCo team is only a call away.
Your business is only as strong as your people. When workers get injured or struggle with stress, everyone feels it through missed deadlines, extra pressure, and lost skills on-site.
The good news? You can significantly reduce injuries and mental health struggles with the right approach.
Construction has some of the highest injury rates in New Zealand. Strains, sprains, and musculoskeletal injuries are the biggest issue, but they don’t happen in isolation. Physical and mental health are deeply connected. When someone’s stressed or struggling mentally, they’re more likely to get injured – they’re less focused, more tired, and more prone to mistakes. And when someone’s dealing with ongoing pain or injury, it takes a toll on their mental wellbeing. Nearly one in two New Zealanders will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives, which means someone on your team right now might be dealing with both physical pain and stress feeding into each other.
It’s rarely just one thing that causes problems. Usually it’s a combination of factors working together.
Physical demands like heavy loads, awkward positions, and repetitive movements take their toll on bodies. Add in time pressure, poor planning, and long hours with no breaks, and you’ve got a recipe for injury. Missing or wrong equipment, cramped work areas, and continuous exposure to dust, noise, and vibration all contribute to physical harm over time.
The mental side matters too. Workplace bullying, harassment, and violence create serious harm. So does lack of recognition, unclear roles, poor support from management, and feeling isolated on remote sites. Money worries, relationship issues, and not feeling valued all add to stress levels.
When you look at it this way, you can see why just buying better equipment isn’t enough. You need to tackle the whole picture.
Most physical injuries in construction are preventable. The key is addressing the causes before someone gets hurt.
Mental health deserves the same attention as physical safety. Creating a supportive environment protects your team’s wellbeing and keeps productivity high.
Download our free guide: How to Build a Mentally Healthy Worksite for more practical tips you can use today.
You legally need to monitor your workers’ health if they’re exposed to dust, fumes, chemicals, noise, or repetitive movements. Regular checks for hearing, lung function, and vision can catch problems early before they become serious.
Continuous exposure to these hazards causes progressively worse health issues over time. This is why monitoring matters – it picks up problems like hearing loss, reduced lung function, or vision changes before they impact someone’s ability to work and live normally.
We’ve partnered with Habit Health to make this easier and more affordable. They offer discounted medical checks for HazardCo members, including hearing tests, lung function tests, and vision checks.
We’re here to support you. Get in touch with the HazardCo team or explore our resources and tools designed to make health and safety simple.
If someone on your team is working by themselves without other people around and without direct supervision, they’re likely considered a lone worker. Whether it’s a regular thing or just every now and then, it’s your job to make sure they’re safe and supported.
It’s not just remote bush jobs. Lone workers might be team members who:
If this sounds like anyone on your team, there are a few key things you need to think about:
Lone workers may face more risks, both to their own safety and the gear or materials they’re using. You need to make sure they’re prepared and protected. Vulnerable workers like apprentices and inexperienced workers shouldn’t be working alone.
Working solo can be lonely. No banter. No team catch-ups. It takes a toll.
Stay connected with regular check-ins like phone calls, group chats, or video calls. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just make it consistent. A quick “How’s your day going?” can go a long way.
Just because someone’s working away from the team doesn’t mean they should miss out on training, updates, or important info. Keep the comms flowing so everyone’s in the know – no matter where they are.
Make sure lone workers have the tools and tech to get the job done safely and stay connected. That includes:
Simple, but it works. Pair your lone workers with a buddy – someone they can check in with daily. Share location, talk through the day’s work, and have a bit of a yarn. It keeps morale up and helps you respond faster if something’s not right.
Use the Emergency Plan template in your HazardCo Hub to create a clear plan for how to get help fast if something goes wrong.
Make sure your team knows what the plan is and how it works. Test it out, and keep emergency contact info up to date.
At the end of the day, look out for your lone workers the same way you would if they were right there beside you. A bit of planning and a good dose of communication makes a big difference. Put some restrictions, like no High Risk Work will be done by lone workers.
Need help?
If you’re a HazardCo member, the Advisory Team is just a tap away in the app. We’re here to keep things simple and help you keep your team safe, wherever they’re working.
Toolbox meetings don’t need to be a paperwork mission. With the HazardCo App, you can run quick, focused chats straight from your phone – No prep, no printing, no hassle.
The Toolbox Meeting feature guides you through what to cover, step by step, so you can hold the meeting anywhere on-site and tick off all the right boxes as you go. It’s all recorded in the app, and a full report lands in your Hub, ready to download or share with the team.
Keeping toolbox meetings regular boosts safety in three big ways: they keep safety top of mind with frequent check-ins, help build a strong culture where everyone’s looking out for each other, and give you the chance to spot and fix hazards before they turn into incidents.
What to cover in a Toolbox meeting:
Stuck for ideas on what to talk about? Here’s some great starting points:
Keep your toolbox meetings interactive by getting the crew involved, it makes a big difference. Ask for feedback at the end of each chat to see what’s working (and what’s not). Encourage the team to speak up about any issues they’ve spotted on-site. When everyone has a voice, safety becomes a team effort, not just another box to tick.
Cool tip to save you time: Use your phone’s voice-to-text tool to speak your notes out loud (just look for the little mic on your keyboard). You can even snap a quick photo to record who was there.
Working solo? You can still use the app toolbox feature to log safety convos with other tradies or subbies – Every chat counts.
And remember, the Toolbox Meeting feature isn’t just for toolboxes. Use it for pre-starts, safety meetings, or committee catch-ups too.
Keeping your site safe starts with good conversations – and with HazardCo in your hands, they’re easier than ever.
Get your team scanning in and out – it’s a no-brainer!
We get it, health and safety chats aren’t always the most exciting. But they are the most important. When everyone on-site takes part, it makes a big difference. And the easiest place to start? Get your team and subbies scanning in and out of site each day.
Your HazardCo QR code (on your Hazard Board) makes it quick and easy and the benefits stack up:
Scanning in each day is also a good nudge to stay switched on about safety. The more we talk about it, the more we act on it, spotting hazards and taking care of each other.
It also helps you:
Need help getting the team onboard? Try this:
There’s no downside, scanning in is fast, easy, and helps everyone go home safe. Got questions? Get in touch with the HazardCo team. We’re here to help.
There are lots of good reasons to get everyone scanning that QR code so get your team on board with it today. If you have any questions reach out to the team at HazardCo
Working with heavy machinery and managing traffic on-site can be risky. But with the right checks and planning, we can keep everyone safe.
Before starting work each day, make sure your equipment is ready to go:
Visual checks (before starting the machine):
Stationary function test (with the machine on):
Moving function test:
Using your manufacturer’s checklist or the HazardCo Heavy Machinery Prestart checklist can help you cover all these points.
Keeping vehicles and people safe on-site requires a solid traffic management plan. Here’s what to consider:
Discuss this plan during site inductions so everyone knows the rules and expectations.
Heavy machinery can affect the stability of excavations if operated too close. Keep all heavy vehicles, materials, and spoil at least one meter outside the zone of influence unless specific designs support closer operations.
Uneven ground can cause machinery to tip over, leading to serious injuries. To prevent this:
If you would like more information head over to our website or to chat with one of our friendly Advisory team please give us a call on 0800 555 339.
We’re excited to announce the launch of the new HazardCo Premium plan for Agriculture, Horticulture, and Manufacturing customers. This plan is packed with extra industry-specific guided content and tools to help you confidently manage your health and safety needs, protecting both your crew and your business.
You’ll get access to these tools and content at your renewal date when you move from HazardCo Standard to Premium. If you’d like to access the new features in advance, please get in touch with us.
Your Task Analysis (TA) reports have been updated with additional guided content, tailored to your industry. This makes it quicker and easier to complete your reports, while ensuring you’ve considered all relevant hazards and implemented appropriate controls.
A Task Analysis breaks down complex jobs into smaller steps to identify and reduce risks in agricultural, horticultural, and manufacturing settings. This practical tool helps workers spot potential dangers—from equipment operation and chemical exposure to repetitive tasks—before accidents happen.
By examining each step of high-risk activities, managers can apply safety measures following a priority system: first trying to remove the hazard completely, then using safer alternatives, adding engineering safeguards, creating better work procedures, or providing protective equipment as a last resort. This organized approach not only protects workers but also ensures businesses follow safety regulations. Regular updates to these analyses keep safety measures current as work methods and equipment change across these industries.
The Safety Review report helps you conduct a thorough health and safety review of your site. It captures site activity with photos and comments, providing clear prompts on what to look for. The latest updates make the tool more tailored to the Agriculture and Horticulture industries, ensuring you’re covering all the relevant safety checks for your specific site.
For Manufacturing customers, we’ve introduced a new tool in App called Safety Walkaround. This tool is similar to the previous “Safety Review”, but with updated content specific to manufacturing. It walks you through what to look for from a safety perspective, and allows you to capture information with photos and comments to document potential hazards.
The Policy and Procedures document outlines your commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, preventing work-related injuries, and managing health and safety effectively.
Written by our health and safety advisors based on the latest legislation, it has been customised to meet the specific needs of the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Manufacturing sectors.
You can download your company’s Policy and Procedures document from the HazardCo Hub. We recommend reviewing this document with your team in a safety meeting, discussing any changes needed to ensure everyone is on the same page with your health and safety policies.
If you’ve got questions or need support, just reach out to the HazardCo team – we’re here to help.
Operating Machinery
Working with heavy machinery can be dangerous. Incorrect use or untrained operators can lead to serious injuries or worse.
Training and Supervision
Machinery should only be used by workers who are:
Regularly assess operator competency through refresher training, observations and feedback. Keep training records and verify workers have the appropriate licenses.
Before using any machinery, complete a daily prestart check. These checks must be done by a trained and competent person.
Visual checks (before turning the machine on):
Stationary test (machine is on but not moving):
Moving test (short drive):
Use the manufacturer’s pre-start checklist, the HazardCo Heavy Machinery Prestart Checklist or the HazardCo App Plant/Machinery Pre-start tool to guide your checks. Making sure to keep a record of your completed checks.
Quick Hitches, Safety Locks, and Exclusion Zones – Take the time to get it right
Quick hitches help you swap attachments fast – but can be dangerous if not properly secured.
Before operation:
All quick hitches must clearly show:
Store spare locking pins with the machine, and only use attachments that match the correct pin size.
Cover any machinery risks and controls in your task analysis and share it with everyone on-site.
Don’t cut corners on safety
Missing a step like skipping a daily check or rushing an attachment change can have serious consequences.
Taking five minutes to do it right can prevent serious injuries and keep your sire running safely.
If you have any questions, get in touch with the HazardCo Team today
Digging into the ground might seem straightforward, but excavation work is actually one of the most dangerous parts of construction. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and put the right safety measures in place to keep everyone safe on site.
Before you get started, take time to plan things out. Planning means identifying the hazards, assessing the risks, and deciding suitable controls – with input from the team. Make sure an emergency plan is in place in case something goes wrong. Every site is different, so take its unique features into account when planning.
Keeping yourself and your team safe is what matters most. Make sure you’re clear on your responsibilities when it comes to managing excavation risks.
Need a hand? The HazardCo App has helpful resources for site reviews and risk controls. And if you’ve got questions or need support, just reach out to the HazardCo team – we’re here to help.
