Setting the standard for safe and healthy holidays
There is a range of standards to help demonstrate safety and reliability for the upcoming holiday season.
Hooray for the holiday season! You might be going jet-skiing, bungy jumping, diving, camping or just staying home with the BBQ, but did you know that standards play a role in keeping you safe? We like to think of standards as your hidden holiday hero. There are thousands of New Zealand, joint Australian and New Zealand (AS/NZS) and international standards available, and their diversity underpins almost every aspect of life, leisure, and business.
Behind each one of these standards is a committee of subject matter experts who have given their time and knowledge to shaping the right way to do something – much of it learned through decades of experience. So, when you take that leap tethered to a band, submerge deep beneath the waves, or trek exposed rocky mountain ranges, think of whose footsteps you’re following that mean someone has set the parameters for your equipment to be fit for purpose.
Standards that help you enjoy your holiday activities safely and with confidence include:
- Sunscreen - AS/NZS 2604:2021 Sunscreen products – Evaluation and Classification.
- Barbecues - NZS AS 4557(Int):2013 Domestic outdoor gas barbecues and AS/NZS 60335.2.78:2019 Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2.78: Particular requirements for outdoor barbecues.
- Signage and barriers - NZS 8603:2005 Design and application of outdoor recreation symbols and NZS 8500:2006 Safety barriers and fences around swimming pools, spas and hot tubs and AS/NZS 2416.2:2010 Water safety signs and beach safety flags – Specifications for beach safety flags – Colour, shape, meaning and performance.
- Tourism facilities - SNZ HB 8630:2004 Tracks and outdoor visitor structures and ISO 21902:2021 Tourism and related services — Accessible tourism for all — Requirements and recommendations.
- Boating - ISO 13687–1:2017 Tourism and related services – Yacht harbours – Part 1: Minimum requirements for basic service level harbours and ISO 18079-5:2018 Ships and marine technology — Servicing of inflatable life-saving appliances — Part 5: Inflated rescue boats.
- Bungy jumping - AS/NZS 5848:2000 Code of practice for bungy jumping.
- Diving - ISO 24803:2017 Recreational diving services – Requirements for recreational diving providers.
- Camping - ISO 5912:2020 Camping tents – Requirements and test methods.
- Play equipment - ISO 20187:2016 Inflatable play equipment – Safety requirements and test methods.
- Accommodation vehicles - BS EN 1647:2018+A1:2021 Leisure accommodation vehicles. Caravan holiday homes. Habitation requirements relating to health and safety.
Standards help demonstrate best practice and help keep people safe this holiday season – if you are one of the thousands of tourism service providers working hard over the season consider what standards you could be using to improve your practice. Take a look at our online shop or get in touch if you want more information.