Health and Safety Plan
Introduction
We are not a commercial operator, we are recreational hunters. There are no financial transactions, no fees and no payments.
Applicable Policy Clarification from Worksafe NZ:
Extract:
HSWA only applies to recreational access when the land is affected by a PCBU’s work activities or is part of a workplace.
This means a PCBU whose land is being accessed for recreation is:
- only responsible for risks arising from the work or workplace, and is
- not responsible for the risks associated with the recreational activities.
PCBUs can usually meet their duties to recreational visitors in simple ways (eg using signs, emails, or verbal warnings to let people know about work hazards).
These duties apply whether the recreational activities are commercial or not.
The only exception is when the PCBU’s business or undertaking also provides the recreational activity. In this case, they’re also responsible for managing risks associated with that activity, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Visitors have responsibilities too, regardless of whether there’s a legal right of access. Anyone accessing land for recreation needs to follow:
- any reasonable health and safety instructions the PCBU gives them regarding the work or workplace, and
- other reasonable requests (eg shutting farm gates and not frightening stock during lambing).
HSWA doesn’t cover injuries sustained by someone who’s accessed land for recreation and hurts themselves as a result of the recreational activity.
What we do
Use a site specific hunting plan to agree all elements of the hunting access and all health and safety aspects.
Outdoor Safety
- Stay within our and your comfort zone.
- Be mindful of other people.
- Tell someone where we are going before we leave to carry out any hunting or animal control.
- Make sure we have the right gear and dress for the conditions.
- Store firearms safely when we are near huts or campsites.
- Wear high-viz, especially if we are carrying animals out.
- Never spotlight on Public Conservation Land.
- Consider others.
- Look after the facilities provided for and to us.
- Wear contrasting clothing – this will depend on the species hunted.
Plan and prepare ouir hunt. As a minimum, before embarking on your hunt we will:
- be familiar with the area or learn as much as you can about the area before venturing out
- leave our intentions with a trusted contact
- check the weather forecast for your region and altitude – if we are in alpine regions we check the avalanche forecast as applicable
Fire Safety
No fires are to be lit and no tracer or incendiary ammunition is to be used.
Firearms Safety
Hold a current New Zealand firearms licence
Follow every part of the Arms Code (external site)
Follow the seven basic rules of firearm safety. (external site)
Agree allowed type and calibre of firearm with landowner before any hunting activity takes place.
Communication
Agree contact person and method (mobile / email) for emergencies and other notifiable events. Set up contact register before hunting and notify respective person via agreed communication channel(s).
This ensures that the landowner and other involved stakeholders are informed about any actions happening on their property and any people entering.
Agree procedures for before and after events and any other notifiable events, ie discovered abnormalities, start and end of access, any species shot etc.
Biosecurity
Protect native plants and animals.
- Remove rubbish.
- Bury toilet waste.
- Keep streams and lakes clean.
When you’re near tracks, campsites, huts and waterways:
- Animal waste must be disposed of, and
- Offal and carcasses must not be left behind.
Burying animal waste is the best method of disposal. Bury it well away from tracks, huts, campsites and waterways.
If on private land, agree offal and animal waste disposal with landowner.