Seatbelts | Seatbelts

Aug 2020 - Thank you to all members who contributed to our feedback on the WorkSafe Guidance for:

Seatbelts - a Guide for businesses
Seatbelts - a Guide for Workers

The NZISM response on behalf of members has now been submitted to WorkSafe

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Feedback form
Your details
Name: Selena Armstrong
Organisation: THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF SAFETY MANAGEMENT (NZISM)
Would you prefer your details remain confidential: No
NZISM represents the generalist health and safety profession in New Zealand, with approximately 2000
members who work in every sector and are at various stages of their career. Rather than taking a position
as the health and safety professional association in NZ, we believe you gain more benefit by hearing the
diverse opinions of our members. Therefore, we have combined our member feedback together to form
one submission, this means that some of the feedback will be contradictory. Thank you for the
opportunity to support the health and safety of New Zealand workplaces through this feedback.
(1) Seatbelts - a guide for businesses
General comments
1) What did you find useful about this guidance?
a. The section on monitoring the use of seatbelts.
b. Having pictures assists with communicating the message.
c. Guidance fact sheets normally get a good response from all levels as they are simple and
easy to access (especially when googling!) I liked the ways of engagement.
d. Simple and straight forward to understand, diagrams also increase understanding.
e. I liked the description for the semi rigid seatbelt explaining why you would use it and the
ideas for brightly colored seatbelts in the PCBU Guide
f. Makes it clear when to wear a seat belt and what vehicles and how to check if there is
anything wrong
g. It is good there is a guide on it and maintenance issues with seatbelts.
h. Always appreciate reminders to Business/Workers around safety, responsibilities and
seatbelt use is an important issue.
2) Is there any key information you think is missing from this guidance?
a. Possibly more reference to the legal requirements i.e. not just good business but required
by law with penalties. Worksafe Inspectors do financially penalise workers for not
wearing PPE (which on construction sites could include seatbelts or on road Police fines)
but there is no reference to this and the possible fine if this guide is not followed.
b. Ensuring others wear the seat belts (looking out for fellow workers and the possibly next
to the Rule 7.11 - don’t say limited exceptions as it also covers the ages of children the
driver is required to look out for (reword?)
c. Clarification that a farm bike (ATV) with a ROPS is included or not in ‘the should have seat
belts’ section (Page 1)
d. Page 1 of both documents - I would like to see the link to 7.11 Land Transport Rule –
added as an addendum. If you print out both documents you can’t access the information

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