Why Take 5s Matter - a Small Pause that makes a BIG difference
Accidents happen fast! 5 minutes a day can stop them before they start…
We go where others hesitate—working at heights, scaling New Zealand’s most iconic buildings, cleaning national landmarks, and maintaining the tallest and largest roofs in the country. Every day we brave the weather, the wind, and whatever the day throws at us. Every day, every job comes with risk, no matter how routine it feels.
Taking five minutes to stop, notice, and plan can be the difference between a smooth day and a serious incident.
What is a Take 5?
A Take 5 is a quick, structured safety check before starting a job. It encourages you to pause, scan for risks, and make smart, safe decisions.
It helps you:
Spot hidden hazards
Check your gear, tools, and PPE
Plan the safest way to complete the task
Speak up or adapt if something’s not right
It’s not only about the job, it’s also about what really matters in your life. Who Are Your Five?
Next time you Take 5, think about the job, and then think about why you need to get back home safely today—think about the five most important people in your life. The ones you want to get home to at the end of the day. That moment of reflection makes safety real.
Why Take 5 if we already pre-planned our safety approach and documents?
The Take 5 is designed to complement the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Task Analysis (TA). While the JSA and TA outline the planned approach to a task, the Take 5 is a daily checkpoint. It acknowledges that conditions can change—new risks, different weather, or unexpected activities may arise—that require workers to reassess how the plan will be safely carried out today.
“One day the work site may be quiet; the next, a school group is on site, or strong winds could impact operations. Taking five minutes to think about how today’s conditions affect the job can help ensure everyone’s safety.”
No two days are the same, Take 5 minutes to assess what could be different.
Why It Matters at HSG?
Safety is our core commitment. One of the simplest, most effective ways we live that value every day.
When we all commit to doing a Take 5 on every job, we are not just protecting ourselves; we’re protecting out teammates, our clients and our culture. It’s a small action with a big ripple effect.
Take 5. Make it count. Go home safe.
How do we record our Take 5?
Aroflo! our comprehensive system for all things related to the jobs.
When you complete a take 5 form, your manager checks the answers. If you’ve spotted a hazard or risk we had not considered, your manager will update the location information on our system, making sure your mates are aware of the risk next time we go to that site.
