What is an SSSP?
A plain-English guide to the Site-Specific Safety Plan — what it is, what's in it, and why every NZ contractor gets asked for one.
An SSSP is a Site-Specific Safety Plan. It's a document that sets out how safety will be managed for a particular job or site — the hazards present, the controls you'll use, who's responsible, and what happens in an emergency. In New Zealand it's the standard way a contractor shows a main contractor or client that they'll work safely on site.
Why "site-specific"?
The "site-specific" part matters. A generic safety policy isn't enough — the plan has to reflect the actual site: its access, its hazards, the trades on it, and the emergency arrangements for that location. That's why a fresh SSSP is usually expected for each new job.
What goes in an SSSP?
A typical New Zealand SSSP includes:
- Project and site details
- PCBU 1 (principal/main contractor) and PCBU 2 (your company) contacts
- Site personnel, inductions and tickets
- A hazard and risk register with controls
- Task steps and the controls for each
- Emergency procedures and assembly points
- Required PPE
- A sign-off declaration from both parties
You can see exactly how this looks in our free SSSP template — download it, print it, and fill it in by hand.
Who is PCBU 1 and PCBU 2?
PCBU stands for "Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking." On most sites, PCBU 1 is the principal or main contractor who controls the site, and PCBU 2 is your business coming on to do the work. The SSSP is the agreement between you about how safety will be handled.
SSSP vs SWMS vs JSA
These get mixed up a lot. An SSSP covers the whole site. A SWMS is focused on one high-risk activity (and is the common term in Australia). A JSA is a quick task-level analysis. Many contractors use an SSSP for the site and a SWMS or JSA for specific tasks.
The faster way
Re-writing the same SSSP for every job is the part everyone hates. The real competition is a pen and a piece of paper — Formate is just faster. Set your hazards and controls once, and every new plan opens pre-filled so you only change what's different today, sign on your phone, and email the PDF to the PCBU.
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Frequently asked questions
Who needs an SSSP?+
Contractors and subcontractors working on a construction site in New Zealand are usually asked for an SSSP by the main contractor or principal (PCBU 1) before they can start on site.
Is an SSSP a legal requirement in NZ?+
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires PCBUs to manage risks and consult, but it doesn't name the document 'SSSP'. In practice, an SSSP is the standard way contractors show how they'll manage site safety, and most main contractors require one.
How long does an SSSP take to make?+
On paper, 15–20 minutes per job once you've gathered everything. With a tool like Formate that remembers your details, a site-specific safety plan takes around 60 seconds.