Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — WorkSafe NZ

Construction site safety plan (SSSP) — NZ requirements

Every significant construction site in New Zealand must have a Site-Specific Safety Plan. Here is what must be in it, who prepares it, and how it must be managed.

📋 HSWA 2015, Section 35 + WorkSafe NZ: Construction Sector guidelines

What is an SSSP?

The master health and safety document for your site

A Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) is a documented health and safety management system tailored to a particular construction project. It sets out how health and safety will be managed on that site — hazards, controls, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and induction requirements.

Who must prepare the SSSP?

The principal contractor

The principal contractor — the PCBU with overall management and control of the construction site — is responsible for preparing, implementing, and maintaining the SSSP. All other PCBUs on the site must comply with it and contribute their own health and safety information.

What must the SSSP include?

  • Project details: site address, project description, principal contractor, key contacts
  • Roles and responsibilities: who is responsible for what, including the site health and safety representative
  • Site hazard register: all identified hazards and the controls in place
  • Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS): for all high-risk construction work
  • Site rules: PPE requirements, speed limits, restricted areas, smoking policy
  • Induction process: what every worker must know before starting on site
  • Emergency procedures: evacuation plan, emergency contacts, first aid arrangements
  • Incident reporting: how incidents are reported and investigated
  • Health and safety meetings: frequency and format of toolbox talks and safety meetings
  • Permit to work systems: for confined spaces, hot work, working at height, live electrical work
  • Subcontractor management: how subcontractors are inducted and managed

SSSP must be site-specific

Generic plans are not sufficient

A generic health and safety plan copied from another project is not an SSSP. The plan must be tailored to the specific hazards, layout, and activities of this particular project. WorkSafe inspectors will check whether the SSSP reflects the actual site conditions.

Keeping the SSSP current

Must be reviewed and updated

The SSSP must be reviewed and updated:

  • When the scope of work changes significantly
  • After any incident or near miss
  • When new subcontractors or work activities are added to the site
  • When site conditions change (layout, weather, ground conditions)
  • At regular intervals as specified in the plan itself

Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

Required before high-risk work starts

SWMS are required for high-risk construction work including: work at height over 3m, excavation over 1.5m, demolition, confined spaces, work near live services, and work with explosives. The principal contractor must ensure SWMS exist and are implemented for all high-risk work on site.

Source: Health and Safety at Work Act 2015; WorkSafe NZ Construction Sector guidelines. Full guidance at worksafe.govt.nz. This is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Does every construction project need an SSSP?
The HSWA requires all PCBUs to manage health and safety risks. For significant construction projects, an SSSP is the expected way to demonstrate this. WorkSafe expects an SSSP for projects involving multiple subcontractors, high-risk work, or complex sites.
Can subcontractors use their own health and safety plans instead?
Subcontractors must comply with the principal contractor's SSSP for on-site activities. They may also have their own company health and safety management systems, but the SSSP is the governing document on site.
How do workers get inducted to the SSSP?
All workers — including subcontractors — must be inducted to the site before starting work. The induction must cover: site hazards, emergency procedures, site rules, who to report to, and how to report incidents. Document that each worker completed the induction.
What happens if WorkSafe finds the SSSP is inadequate?
WorkSafe inspectors can issue improvement notices, prohibition notices (stopping work), or initiate prosecution. If a worker is seriously injured and it is found the SSSP was inadequate or not implemented, the principal contractor faces significant liability.

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