Thread: Pest control

Originally Posted by Ronin007

I've been doing a fair bit of pest control for local lifestyle blocks and small farms, ever since I realised that I might need a fallback option when my job gets jab-mandated. Been doing ok so far, not enough to make it a full-time job, but decent enough to put some extra coin away.

Now though, I'm putting together a plan for a local authority that needs some goats cleaned out. Of course that means a lot more paperwork. The one thing I'm really struggling with is putting together a health and safety plan. I mean, I know how to keep myself safe, and not shoot anyone, but the council needs more than that.

Does anyone have a template I could use, or something I could plagiarise a wee bit?

A H&S plan needs to reflect the latest bit of legislation. In this case the H&S in the workplace Act 2015 (HSAW Act 2015). (plus there'l be other bits around Hazsubs, fuels, firearms etc).

The easiest way (other than someone throwing you a bone) is to go through the Act and everywhere it mentions something that you need to do, you need to write a statement saying that you will do it. Simple really, but lots of writing.

You are also going to find yourself, a one man band, as a PCBU, an employer and employee. Sounds shit, but thats they way stuff is these days. So your plan needs to account for all these hats you wear! Then there's working alone policies, the list goes on and on!

Consultants like to drive around in the latest generation utes, so they charge 3-5K for these templates, even if they don't fit the activity being undertaken. I know as I see a few of these. They become more a noose for the company to hang themselves with, than a useful bit of writing to help you run your business safely with:

Step 1. Familiarise yourself with the Act.

Step 2. Familiarise yourself with running a business (I know its just you, but IRD doesn't work that way )

Step 3. Write up a H&S plan (It'll run to 20 odd pages unfortunately)

Step 4. Go to work!