Health and Safety at Work Act (HSW Act)

The aim of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSW Act) is to reduce New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020. This will need action and leadership from businesses, workers and government.

The Acts key emphasis is on everyone in the workplace being responsible for health and safety. Are you prepared for how the changes will affect you and your business?

Check out our free SME guides to learn more.

The Managing Contractors Guide

Businesses working together on a project must consult, cooperate and coordinate their activities. With this guide, you'll learn the six steps to good contractor management, setting you on the right path to meeting your health and safety duties under the Act.

Good contractor management not only helps improve planning and communication, but makes your projects more efficient, saving you time and money.

Download your free copy.

The Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act Booklet

As a business owner, it's important that you know what the changes are, and what your responsibilities are under the new HSW Act.

The HSW Act Book is designed to help guide you through these changes.

Download your free copy.

The Risk Management 101 Guide

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, if you're a person in charge of a business or undertaking (PCBU), you need to protect your workers and anyone else on site by eliminating or minimising risk.

Not only is risk management a key part of your legal responsibilities, it can also lead to better productivity, better contractor relations and happier workers.

Download your free copy.

HSW Act Help Videos

We've produced a free six part video series with all you need to know about the new Health and Safety at Work legislation. Start with part one here:

The Changes

Some of the key changes under the HSW Act:

Worker engagement and participation
Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs)
The duty of officers
Volunteer workers
Stronger penalties
Definition of workplace
Duty of PCBUs who manage and control a workplace

The PCBU or 'person conducting a business or undertaking' is one of the key terms introduced in the new Act. Despite the name the PCBU is not necessarily one person. In most cases a PCBU will refer to a business entity, such as company or organisation. A PCBU may also be an individual in the case of someone running their own business. For example a builder operating as a sole trader will be a PCBU.

You can view these changes in more detail on WorkSafe New Zealand’s website, or get an understanding of your legal responsibilities we’ve made a fictional small business example available here.

For CEO's and Directors (Officers)

Under the new Act Officers are now personally liable to ensure health and safety action. The term 'officer' refers to people with senior positions, who have a significant influence over the management of the business. This includes chief executive officers, directors and anyone else at that level.

Concerned about your responsibilities under the Act? The Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum have produced a range of free guides for those at director or CE level, including:

Site Safe also offers a range of leadership courses which also cover the new HSW Act:

New Regulations

A series of regulations have developed to support the new Act. These include:

General risk and workplace management
Worker participation, engagement and representation
Asbestos
Hazards substance
Major hazard facilities

More information on the regulations is available on WorkSafe's website.

Useful information and links

What events have to be notified - fact sheet on notifiable events
Where can I get more technical information - download this 'special guide' from WorkSafe's website
Where can I read the actual law - available on the NZ Legislation website
Do I need a health and safety representative - read this article and flow chart
What are my responsibilities as a small business - see this flowchart for an example of different responsiblities in a business
An overview of the HSW Act - watch this video fronted by WorkSafe CEO Gordon MacDonald.
Learn the lingo - understand some of the key terms and acronyms around the new Act with our cheat sheet.
Health and Safety Rep roles and responsibilities - Site Safe has an updated course for HSR reps.

Site Safe can help

Site Safe has a nationwide team of expert health and safety consultants who can help you get the right systems and culture in place, so you're ready for the new HSW Act. Our consultants can help you improve your existing systems, or put the basics in place if you're starting from scratch.