Health & Safety is Changing – What Does it Mean for Your Business?
From 1 April 2027, New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work legislation will place greater emphasis on critical risks – hazards that could cause death, serious injury, illness or long-term harm.
Businesses with fewer than 20 workers will focus their general obligation on critical risks. Larger businesses must continue managing all workplace risks, while prioritising critical risks.
What does that mean in practice?
Identify what could cause serious harm in your workplace, such as machinery, mobile plant, hazardous substances, electrical equipment, work at height, vehicles, manual handling or construction-site work.
The key question is not simply, “Do we have an H&S policy?” It is:
Do we understand our critical risks, and can we demonstrate that we’re actually managing them?
You need to show that controls work, workers are trained and supervised, equipment is maintained, incidents are acted on, and your documents reflect shop-floor practice.
The changes will also allow industry and employer organisations to propose Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs).
Following an applicable ACOP may provide a “safe harbour”, treating the business as compliant with the relevant HSWA duty.
Are you ready for April 2027?
To help Association members prepare, Network HR is offering a Health & Safety Readiness Audit for $600 + GST.
The audit assesses your readiness, identifies critical risks and gaps, and checks whether your systems reflect day-to-day operations.
The audit covers:
- Policies, procedures and risk registers
- Critical risks and control effectiveness
- Incidents, near misses, induction and training
- Machinery, hazardous substances, emergency and first-aid arrangements
- Contractor, site and worker-participation processes, where relevant
A clear, practical action plan
You’ll receive an H&S Readiness Report with:
- What you’re doing well
- Critical risks and gaps
- Recommended updates
- A prioritised action plan
The package also includes a 30-minute review to discuss findings, questions and priorities.
Association Member Special – $600 + GST
The fixed price applies to businesses with up to 20 workers, one primary worksite and standard H&S documentation.
For larger, multi-site or more complex businesses, contact us for a tailored quote.
This is not about another 100-page manual. It is about focusing resources on the risks that could genuinely hurt someone and being ready for April 2027.
Less paperwork for paperwork’s sake. More focus on keeping people safe.
To book a Health & Safety Readiness Audit, contact hello@networkhr.co.nz