Health & Safety at Powerex
Safety is part of how we work
At Powerex, health and safety is an integral part of how we plan, manage and deliver our work.
Whether we are completing a residential service call, installing a heat pump, delivering a solar installation or working as part of a larger commercial construction project, our goal is the same — to ensure our people, our customers, other contractors and members of the public are protected throughout the work we undertake.
Our Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) provides the framework we use to identify risks, establish safe methods of work, communicate expectations to our team and continually improve the way we operate.
It applies across all Powerex operations, including Electrical, Solar, Security and HVAC.
Our commitment to health & safety
Powerex is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment and conducting our work in accordance with applicable New Zealand health and safety legislation, regulations, standards and industry requirements.
We believe good safety management starts well before work begins.
Our approach combines planning, competent people, documented procedures, site-specific risk assessment, communication, appropriate tools and equipment, and ongoing monitoring.
Everyone within Powerex has a responsibility for health and safety and is expected to take ownership of both their own safety and the safety of those around them.
Our Integrated Safety Management System
Our ISMS provides a structured framework for managing health and safety throughout our business.
Rather than treating health and safety as a separate activity, we integrate safety requirements into the way our work is planned and completed.
The system includes documented:
- Health and safety policies
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Safe Work Method Statements (SWMSs)
- Hazard identification and risk management processes
- Site pre-start assessments
- Toolbox meetings
- Incident and near-miss reporting
- Training and competency requirements
- Plant and equipment management
- Hazardous substance management
- Emergency procedures
- Corrective action processes
- Management reviews and continuous improvement
These processes provide our team with clear expectations for how work is to be planned, undertaken and reviewed.
Before work starts
Safe work begins with understanding the job and the environment in which it will be completed.
Our field staff undertake a site pre-start assessment before commencing work. This requires them to assess the work area, identify hazards and risks, determine appropriate controls and confirm that the work can proceed safely.
Depending on the nature of the work, this may include consideration of:
- Electrical hazards and isolation requirements
- Working at height
- Access and work-area management
- Other contractors and site activities
- Members of the public and building occupants
- Manual handling
- Hazardous substances and materials
- Tools, plant and equipment
- Personal protective equipment
- Site-specific hazards and environmental conditions
Where conditions change during the job, the risks are reassessed and controls adjusted as required.
Safe methods of work
Our team has access to a comprehensive library of Standard Operating Procedures and Safe Work Method Statements covering the work we undertake.
Our SOPs establish how work is expected to be completed, while our SWMSs identify the significant hazards associated with particular activities and the controls required to manage those risks.
Relevant procedures are available to our field staff while on site and are referenced as part of our pre-start process.
For higher-risk or more complex activities, additional planning, consultation and site-specific controls may be implemented before work proceeds.
Training, competency & supervision
Having the right systems is only effective when they are supported by competent people.
Powerex manages training and competency requirements relevant to the work our people undertake. Employees are expected to work within their level of training, qualification and experience, with appropriate supervision provided where required.
New employees are introduced to our health and safety systems as part of their induction, including how to access our procedures, complete site safety requirements and report hazards or incidents.
Training and competency requirements are reviewed as roles, equipment, technology and regulatory requirements change.
Communication & toolbox meetings
Communication is an important part of maintaining a safe workplace.
On larger or multi-person sites, toolbox meetings are used to discuss the work being undertaken, site conditions, hazards, coordination with other trades and any changes that may affect how the work can be completed safely.
We also use company-wide toolbox meetings to communicate safety information, discuss incidents and lessons learned, introduce changes to procedures and provide our team with an opportunity to raise health and safety matters.
We encourage our people to speak up when something does not look right.
Incident, hazard & near-miss reporting
We believe incidents and near misses provide an opportunity to learn and improve.
Our team is required to report hazards, incidents, injuries, near misses and other safety concerns so they can be assessed and appropriate action taken.
Where an issue is identified, we look beyond simply correcting the immediate problem. Where appropriate, we consider whether changes are required to our procedures, training, equipment or wider systems to reduce the likelihood of the same issue occurring again.
Corrective actions are recorded and followed through to completion.
Working with our customers & other contractors
Health and safety is a shared responsibility.
On construction and commercial projects, Powerex works collaboratively with clients, principal contractors, consultants and other trades to understand site requirements and coordinate our work safely.
Our team complies with applicable site-specific health and safety requirements while continuing to operate within Powerex’s own safety management system.
Where we identify a risk associated with our work or the environment in which we are being asked to work, we will raise it.
If work cannot be completed safely, we will not proceed until appropriate controls are in place.
Monitoring & continuous improvement
Our ISMS is not intended to be a static set of documents.
We regularly review our policies, procedures, risk controls and safety performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
Information from site observations, employee feedback, toolbox meetings, incidents, near misses, corrective actions and changes in legislation or industry practice is used to help us continually develop our system.
Management reviews are also undertaken to assess the effectiveness of our safety management processes and determine where further improvement is required.
Compliance
Powerex is committed to meeting our obligations under applicable New Zealand health and safety legislation and to maintaining appropriate systems for the work we undertake.
Our ISMS is designed to support compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, associated regulations, applicable electrical safety requirements, relevant New Zealand Standards, approved codes of practice and other industry requirements applicable to our activities.
Compliance is supported through documented procedures, training and competency, risk assessment, supervision, inspection, testing, record keeping and ongoing review.
Safe work. Quality work.
For us, safety and quality go hand in hand.
A well-planned job, completed by competent people using appropriate procedures and equipment, is more likely to be both safe and completed to a high standard.
That’s why health and safety isn’t something we add to a project after it has been planned.
It’s part of the way we work.
The Powerex way
Positive & Professional
Professional people. Better service.
From your first phone call to the final handover, our team is approachable, respectful and committed to making the process easy. We communicate clearly, arrive looking professional and treat your home or workplace with respect.
Highly Organised
Projects that run smoothly.
Good planning makes all the difference. We prepare thoroughly, coordinate with other trades, arrive with the right equipment and keep your project moving with minimal disruption.
Own It
Accountability from start to finish.
If something needs attention, we take responsibility and make it right. We stand behind our work, communicate openly and always look for the best outcome for our customers.
GET IT RIGHT
Quality you can rely on.
We don't believe in shortcuts. Every installation is completed to a high standard, tested thoroughly and delivered to meet both your expectations and all applicable industry requirements.
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