Site Safe is the national construction-focused health and safety body in New Zealand, with over 5,700 member businesses and the Site Safety Card scheme that most major NZ sites require for entry.
How they got started
Site Safe was established in 1999 in response to long-standing concerns about death and injury rates on New Zealand construction sites. It was set up as an industry-led, not-for-profit incorporated society so the construction sector itself could take ownership of lifting safety standards. Over the following two decades the organisation expanded its training reach, launched the Site Safety Card (Passport) scheme, and grew into the country's primary construction-focused H&S body, operating alongside the post-2013 regulatory reforms that produced WorkSafe NZ and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
What they stand for
Site Safe's stated mission is "building safer and healthier workplaces together", with a long-running focus on reducing deaths and serious injuries in construction. Its four values are Safety, Attitude, Fairness and Engagement, and its strategic objectives are to take the lead in positioning construction as a leader in workplace H&S, enable companies to embed safety culture into how they operate, and empower individuals to keep themselves and others safe.
How they help the industry
- Training catalogue: Foundation, Intermediate, Technical and Leadership courses including Passport - Building Construction, Passport - Civil, Site-Specific Safety Planning, Supervisor and Leadership in Safety, plus an NZQA-aligned Health and Safety in Construction Certificate Programme
- Site Safety Card: issued on completion of Passport courses, valid for two years, and widely required by major NZ contractors for site entry
- SiteWise: industry-recognised contractor prequalification scheme used by principals to assess subcontractor H&S maturity
- SiteSmart: online H&S management system aimed at small businesses
- SiteRight: independent expert reviews and audits
Notable initiatives
Site Safe launched its Asbestos Awareness course in August 2025 in collaboration with WorkSafe NZ. The half-day Foundation-level course awards NZQA Unit Standard 2138 ("Demonstrate knowledge of asbestos and safety procedures"), 4 Licensed Building Practitioner points, and a Site Safety Card. It targets construction workers, apprentices, migrant workers, electricians, plumbers, painters, building managers, healthcare staff and emergency responders. The Evening of Celebration, Site Safe's annual Health, Safety and Wellbeing Awards, is billed as the industry's largest H&S event, with the 2025 edition held at Auckland's Due Drop Events Centre.
Why it matters for asbestos professionals
A valid Site Safety Card is a practical entry ticket to most New Zealand construction sites, so asbestos surveyors, assessors and removalists working in NZ will routinely need Site Safe credentials to get on site. The WorkSafe-developed Asbestos Awareness course is now the standard entry-level NZ training for non-specialist trades who may encounter asbestos, which directly affects the awareness level of the trades you work alongside. SiteWise prequalification and Site Safe membership are also strong trust signals when bidding for work with major principal contractors.
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