Criterion HS108
Equipment, premises and facilities are checked every day for hazards. Checks include at least:
cleaning agents, medicines, poisons and other hazardous materials
electrical sockets and appliances
hazards present in kitchen or laundry facilities
vandalism, dangerous objects, and foreign materials
the condition and placement of learning, play and other equipment
windows and other areas of glass
poisonous plants
bodies of water and
heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage.
Hazards are eliminated, isolated or minimised.
Injury/incident records are analysed to identify recurring and emerging hazards and appropriate action is taken.
Documentation required (written or digital)
A documented risk assessment and management system.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
Keeping everyone safe at your service means actively managing hazards and risks.
You will need to develop a risk assessment and management system (RAMS). This system needs to be clear, practical and tailored to your service’s environment.
The requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 also apply.
The core components of a RAMS are outlined below.
Hazard identification
Hazards create health and safety risks. These can include items or situations that could cause harm including injury, illness or even death. Use the list in the criterion as a starting place to consider the hazards at your centre. These may change over time.
Assess the risk
For each hazard, ask:
Who could be harmed?
What could happen (for example, injury, illness)?
How likely is it to happen?
Some risks are part of learning and play. Serious harm can often be prevented when adults use professional judgement and close supervision.
Adults should:
guide children to use equipment safely
know children’s interests and abilities to anticipate their actions
provide close supervision for higher-risk activities like climbing on high equipment, cooking, or playing near water
step in when needed to prevent harm.
delay or modify the activity if close supervision is not possible.
Takes steps to manage the risks
Eliminate hazards where possible. If not, minimise or isolate them.
Elimination means removing the hazard. For example, empty the water trough when it is not being supervised.
Isolating means separating something that could cause harm from people, especially children. As an example, covering electrical outlets isolates the risk of electric shock by preventing children from inserting objects.
Minimising hazards means taking steps to reduce the chance of someone getting hurt or injured. This includes securing furniture and guiding children through safe risk-taking.
Securing heavy furniture and equipment minimises the risk of injury if they fall or topple. You should:
use strong fixings that can hold the full weight of the item – attach heavy furniture to the building structure, not just to wallboards, which might not be strong enough
secure items like a fridge near the top rather than the bottom when possible – this helps stop them from tipping over
use lockable wheels and short chains with secure wall anchors – like carabiners or D-bolts – to safely anchor heavy furniture while still allowing it to be moved when needed
use velcro, wax or non-slip mats to keep small appliances like microwaves or stereos in place
store heavy items on lower shelves to reduce the risk of them falling.
Document your risk assessment and management system
Your RAMS must be documented.
The most common RAMS include:
a daily hazard check sheet
a more detailed playground safety check
a risk register which you can share with people who are on site, so they understand and implement any risk mitigations you have in place.
Monitor and review the risk control measures
Injury and incident records need to be reviewed to spot new and emerging hazards and areas where harm has happened. This helps you check if your safety measures are working and take steps to better protect children.
You might find the hazard checklist in the tools section useful for making sure all required areas are checked each day.
When assessing whether you comply with HS108
Questions we are likely to ask
Can you walk me through your service’s risk assessment and management system?
How do you make sure daily checks occur for all required areas?
How do you make people (such as relievers or visitors) who enter your service aware of any specific hazards or risks and the steps they need to take to align with your risk management actions?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
Look at your indoor and outdoor spaces including equipment to confirm hazards have been identified, eliminated, isolated or minimised.
Check daily hazard checks have been completed.
Check accident or incident records have been analysed.
We are likely to request
A copy of your risk assessment and management system (RAMS).
The tools below are here to support you. You do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
Hazard identification
List of potential hazards [DOCX, 156KB]
To help you understand the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, WorkSafe have developed guidance for early learning services.
What risk looks like in early childhood education – WorkSafe
Managing strangulation hazards on play equipment – WorkSafe
Information on poisonous plants is available on the Manaaki Whenua website.
Poisonous plants – Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Risk assessment
A risk matrix is useful to work out the level of risk. The matrix below is available from the Site Safe website.
Risk matrix [PDF, 86KB]
Risk control measures
Below are some additional sources of information for support around risk management.
Early childhood education – WorkSafe
Quick and easy safety steps – Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake
Implement the risk control measures
Sample risk register [DOCX, 17KB]
Example of centre-based daily hazard checklist [DOCX, 65KB]
Monitor and review the risk control measures
Risk management checklist [PDF, 52KB]
Identifying hazards and understanding risks helps you take proactive steps to prevent injury and harm to children.
Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.
Hold regular team discussions about supervision to make sure everyone understands their role and safety expectations.
Maintain a risk register that is reviewed at least once a year to keep track of potential hazards and how they are being managed.
As you review your risk management system, keep these records for the current and previous year to help monitor whether the steps you have taken are working and to support continuous improvement.