Question 1 - Your NZBN

The prequalification will not be able to be completed if the contractor does not have a valid NZBN number. The contractor is able to register for an NZBN number prior to completing the prequalification by following the link shown on screen - https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/. Note: If they have their NZBN set as private it won't be recognised in the system. Ask your contractor to make this change to proceed.

Questions 2-7 - Company Details

This is the contractors trading name, contact persons details and the company trade.

Question 8 - Public liability insurance

Check that the public liability document is in date and that the value of the policy is acceptable for the works to be undertaken.

Question 9 - Health and safety policy

This shows that the company takes a positive approach towards health and safety and sets out how they will manage health and safety.

Question 10 - Health and safety policy evidence

The contractor uploads copies of their health and safety policy, and any other policies they have relating to health and safety. Check that these align with your values for health and safety and that they are current (signed, reviewed and dated within the past 2 years).

Question 11 - Incident and emergency management

The contractor will detail what their incident/near-miss procedures are. It should include things like:

Question 12 - Convictions and investigations

If the contractor has been convicted of, or investigated for, a health and safety related offence within the past 5 years, this is where they will be required to provide details of the offence and any enforcement action that may have been taken.

If they have selected yes, it is at your discretion as to whether to continue with their prequalification. If you would like to discuss the implications of this further you can contact HazardCo Advisory on 0800 555 339.

Question 13 - Emergency procedures

This is where the contractor will detail their emergency processes for first aid, fire, chemical spills and natural disasters. They should have at least one first aider available at all times, how to report emergencies (dial 111), and how often they carry out emergency drills - which should be at least once every 6 months.

Question 14 - Worker engagement and participation

Contractors should detail their process for including workers (and contractors) in their health and safety processes, such as how their workers contribute to health and safety discussions and decisions. They should discuss how the site hazards and controls are communicated (such as via toolbox talks), these discussions should take place prior to work commencing.

Question 15 - Hazard identification and risk management

This process is to detail how the contractor identifies and assesses hazards and risks on-site. It should include things like:

Control hierarchy:

Question 16 - Hazard/Risk register

The contractor uploads a copy of their hazard/risk register here. A good example of a hazard/risk register includes:

Hazard/risk registers do not need to document hazards that have been eliminated, only those where a possibility of harm still remains after all controls have been applied.

Question 17 - High risk work

If the contractor will be carrying out high risk work they will detail it here. This could be things like working at heights, concrete pumping, electrical work, asbestos removal, demolition etc.

Question 18 - Response plan

If the contractor has detailed high risk work they will be asked to provide details of their response plan should there be an emergency response required due to high risk work. The plan should include:

Question 19 - Hazardous chemicals

If the contractor has answered yes to this question they are asked to provide a copy of their hazardous substance inventory to show that they are correctly handling their hazardous substances. A hazardous substance inventory should include the following information for each individual site:

Question 20 - Health monitoring

The contractor details here what their health monitoring methods are for their workers exposed to risks such as airborne contaminants, hazardous substances or excessive noise. This could be things such as:

Question 21 - Machinery and equipment

Contractors should have procedures in place to ensure that their machinery and equipment (including electrical equipment) is maintained and fit for purpose. All machinery and equipment should be subject to:

All machinery and equipment should be recorded on a register and maintenance records should be kept.

All electrical equipment should be tested and tagged, by a suitably qualified person, every 3 months, checked prior to use for damage/wear and tear, and removed from use (LOTO) if defects are detected.

Question 22 - Employee H&S competencies/training

This is where contractors detail how they ensure that their workers keep up to date with their training requirements. The simplest answer is a training register which should detail the following:

They should detail how they ensure that these do not lapse (calendar reminders to rebook for example).

Question 23 - Monitor and review

Contractors will detail how they monitor and review work being carried out on-site. This could be via site reviews. They also need to detail how concerns are raised by workers and how they are actioned.

Question 24 - Contractor health and safety

If the contractors appoint contractors, or subcontractors, this is where they will detail the processes in place to ensure that they also have robust health and safety procedures. This should include asking for information such as: