It's a sobering thought that workers in New Zealand are ten times more likely to die of a work-related disease than from a work-related injury. Tens of thousands of people also have severe health issues because of their work.

While only part of the solution, WorkSafe knows that as the workplace health and safety regulator we need to provide more information. We’ve already begun releasing new and updated guidance on health risks, and we’re working on new ways of sharing information, such as this update. This update has some information on our first targeted intervention programme, Clean Air, as well as a look at what inspectors are finding in workplaces.  

But we know we can do more and we’d like to hear what you think. If you have any suggestions, comments or feedback or if you think your workplace is doing a good job with work-related health, email us: wrh@worksafe.govt.nz.

Work-related health is about the interaction between a person’s work and their health. For WorkSafe, it’s about the way work can impact on worker’s health and the way their health may impact on them working safely.

Today, work-related health shares WorkSafe’s focus with work-related safety – with good reason. Each year, an estimated 600-900 people die in New Zealand from work-related disease.

Generally, a work-related injury is immediately visible. However, the effects of exposure to a work-related health hazard may not become visible for days, weeks, months or even decades.

But work-related health risks can be managed in much the same way as safety risks; by identifying potential risks, eliminating or minimising them so far as is reasonably practicable, and having effective systems to monitor the effectiveness of controls.   

Click here to read WorkSafe’s position on occupational (work-related) health.

WorkSafe is constantly updating available tools and resources on the website. Check out the latest ones:  

• New Respirator Selection e-tool
• A Simple Guide to Local Exhaust Ventilation fact sheet
• Welding and Local Exhaust Ventilation – Information for Employers fact sheet
• Silica Dust in Construction fact sheet 
• Where Asbestos Hides posters 
• What you should Know about Working with Asbestos fact sheet
• Drilling Holes in Asbestos-Containing Board fact sheet
• Removing Asbestos-Containing Flooring fact sheet
• Exposure Monitoring under the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016
• Health Monitoring under the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016

• For more information on work-related health visit the dedicated section on the WorkSafe website
• To subscribe to other WorkSafe updates Click here