GENERAL OUTLINE
In April 2016, the new Health and Safety Legislation passed through New Zealand Government and all organisations are accountable for their area of risk control. As Hunting Event managers it is prudent that a Risk Assessment is conducted and a Safety Management Plan is developed in line with the inherent risks associated with these types of events.
The purpose of this document is to establish the risk assessment context in which the hunting programme will be conducted. The document should clearly define the risks assessed, mitigation treatment process to allow risks to be decreased to acceptable levels of control. Without this process, we allow those that partake in the hunting programme to become exposed to significant hunting risks. This leads onto to exposing our stakeholder entities, iwi, hapu personnel that may become liable for litigation. We have a duty of care at management level to ensure that all parties are made aware of the various challenges when conducting hunting programmes and to ensure all personnel aware of the mitigation strategies to reduce harm and prevent fatalities.
Terms of Reference:
1. AS NZS ISO-31000-2009 Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines,
2. Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OH and SMS) ,
3. NZ Health and Safety in Employment HSE Act 1992,
4. HSE Amendment Act 2002 and HSE (Adventure Activities) regulations 2011,
5. Guidance for Drugs and Alcohol Regulations 2013,
6. Whanganui River Hunting Competition – Event Safety Management Plan – 2017
RISK DEFINITION
Extreme Risk – Black
Hunting weather conditions are extremely severe and approaching a level where hunting is untenable. For example: there are white outs, heavy snow, high winds and severe rain. The other is personnel safety where no safety provisions are in place on the hunting block (limited oversight and policing), other parties are poaching the land without authorisation, or personnel constantly face the threat of being targeted and potentially life-endangering hunting conditions (i.e high probability of being shot).
High Risk – Red
The environment presents persistent and serious challenges for hunting; special measures are required to be in place. For example: Land protection is very limited, other outside hunters are engaged in a sustained hunting campaign (gangs and poachers) affecting hunting and poses severe and persistent threat to all hunting personnel and land owners. Weather conditions are also very challenging, and the land has either flood potential resulting in slips or is very undulating with aged forestation that could potentially fall over (old trees etc).
Medium Risk – Yellow
Aspects of the environment pose challenges to hunting, some of which may be serious. For example: there are some deficiencies in land management (Health and Safety provisions), organised criminal groups ad poachers frequently target the area, theft of animals occur, or personnel are occasionally exposed to physical threat by outsider parties (criminals / poachers).
Low Risk – Green
Hunting conditions are broadly positive and occasional and / or low-level challenges do not significantly impede hunting. For example: the authorities provide adequate assistance, the land blocks are well policed and managed to safe levels, with regular reporting of incidents of suspicious behaviour. The land block is controlled with an authorised and hunting register.
The area risk rating may be modified by Global Risk Consulting to more accurately reflect the risks faced by the organisation, its people and assets.
Insignificant Risk – Blue
Hunting areas with an insignificant risk level typically see very low rates of crime and high levels of health and safety compliance. With no recent history of poaching, areas of insignificant risk have effective law enforcement and a high standard of health and safety infrastructure and good farming practice.
