Future Partners Ltd acknowledges the above-mentioned Act and seeks to responsibly comply. Future Partners’ Associates are not employees of the company but Future Partners ensures quality assurance for all work undertaken in its name. Future Partners also ensures the health and safety of Associates and other sub-contractors when they are working under its name.
Future Partners Associates and other sub-contractors work in both New Zealand and overseas, in a range of international development roles and settings. While working in New Zealand, they are either at the workplace of their client, or similar, or work from a home base. While working overseas, they work in the workplace of the client or development partner, and often engage in field trips to project sites (which may be in remote locations).
Future Partners has taken steps to familiarise itself with the New Zealand Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to ensure it is clear about its obligations and compliance of same. The Director will demonstrate leadership with regard to health and workplace safety. In particular, Future Partners takes responsibility to ensure that all its Associates and other sub-contractors are aware of health and safety issues and risks, and comply as follows:
Have travel, health and medical evacuation insurance;
Register on Travel safe;
Have safety plans, with contact information, lodged at their place of regular employment or location;
Keep their immunizations current and undertake regular health check-ups;
Listen and take advice found on MFAT and other development partner websites, other briefings and information – this includes soliciting up-to-date briefings as required;
Carry and use mosquito nets, sprays and avoid areas known for high rates of communicable diseases, wherever practical;
Promptly report on any health and safety-related incident or injury that happened and action is taken (this includes events that they witnessed as well as those they were directly involved in);
Advise the Director of Future Partners of new or emerging safety issues and how best to mitigate them;
Take personal responsibility for own health, safety and security and discuss health and safety issues if working as part of a team; and
Do not feel under an obligation to take undue risks in order to undertake a work assignment or task. The Director of Future Partners is readily available online to discuss issues.
Future Partners provides a briefing to all Associates and other sub-contractors covering topics such as:
The passage of the Act and expectation of full and timely compliance;
The need to comply with local laws and customs when working overseas;
The need to comply with New Zealand health and safety-related laws, even while working overseas, includes traffic rules, the wearing of life-jackets (boats), car seatbelts and bike helmets;
The importance of looking after one’s own health through nutrition, safe drinking water and exercise especially when traveling;
The need to keep travel documents and cash/credit cards safe, and a means of identification such as a business card on self at all times;
The need to carry a phone (or another communication device) wherever possible, and share the number;
The need to leave an intentions plan with a client or a colleague when traveling to another location, e.g. to an outer island, and to report in once returned;
The need to ensure ergonomic and comfortable safe working conditions, wherever possible, including adequate lighting and safe electrical connections for working;
The importance of avoiding known “trouble spots” wherever possible, so following the local media and querying local staff is important;
The importance of promptly reporting incidents to Future Partners Ltd Director, MFAT/DFAT, the client as appropriate; and
The importance of using “common sense” and not taking any risks that would be unlikely to be taken if working in New Zealand.
Future Partners does not allocate any funding to the implementation of this Plan as it is incumbent on individuals to take the necessary measures The sub-contract agreement with Associates and other sub-contractors clearly states that it is the responsibility of the individual to take all health and safety precautions and to have a Health and Safety Plan. However, Future Partners has tools and templates for developing H&S plans and will provide advice and support.
The Director of Future Partners will continue to take all issues pertaining to health and safety seriously and are available to provide advice and support on the practical course of action that may need to be taken as requested. The Director will review the Plan on an annual basis to determine if new issues should be considered and addressed. This process will include discussions with associates to get their input.
Future Partners provides professional indemnity and public and statutory liability insurance for Associates and other sub-contractors working under its name and keeps a record of all health and safety-related events that are reported to it, and actions that have been taken. Future Partners is able to prepare Safety Plans specific to individual projects upon request.