NZSLTA Health & Safety Policy
NZSL teaching in the classroom and in other spaces such as DDW events has benefit for the promotion and growth of our language and language users. Tutors are self employed or work for various businesses and they have their own health and safety policies for managing risk and hazards e.g with building alterations at teaching sites. NZSLTA has membership, administration and curriculum responsibilities but not for individual tutors teaching spaces. Tutors need to check venue rules for safety such as fire exits. Tutors should communicate with their classes regarding if anyone is or has been unwell.
NZSLTA has responsibility for the safety of public attending branch events such as DDW, or camps and is required to take all practical steps to minimise, isolate or eliminate risks and to take reasonable care of people involved. NZSLTA has responsibility for the health and safety of people attending the biannual conference.
Purpose
- To provide learners with relevant and enjoyable NZSL learning experiences.
- To ensure that all events are planned and approved for health and safety.
- To ensure that there is someone within branches for local events or on NZSLTA that has some experience with health and safety regulations and has a current first aid qualification.
Guidelines
- All events need to be approved in principle with NZSLTA before further planning by emailing info@nzslta.org.nz with an outline e.g of dates and location, and who is co-ordinating the event.
- A site visit collaborating with venue co-ordinator for relevant health and safety rules needs to be made e.g. finding out the maximum safe numbers of people at the event.
- A Safety Action Plan (SAP) needs to be filled in and submitted online to NZSLTA.
- The person on NZSLTA with health and safety responsibility will check the SAP and inform the co-ordinator.
- Final approval for the event will be sent via email reply.
- Presentation at the event must always include relevant health and safety messages (e.g. the DDW Emergency info slide).
