Welcome to this update aimed at helping your business get ready for day one of the new legislation.

Find out what you need to know and be doing with the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) coming into effect from 4 April 2016. Whether you’re running a business, a worker or a director the information and tools you need are on our website. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions and find out why we should all be Working Together.

WorkSafe is continuing to bring you information and guidance material to help you understand the new law and stay healthy and safe at work. This includes formal Approved Codes of Practice, Good Practice Guides and factsheets as well as new online tools and video case studies – check the WorkSafe website regularly to get the latest information.

Your ‘go to’ guide on the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA)

To help with what you need to know and what you have to do under HSWA, WorkSafe has prepared a useful Special Guide  that will be your ‘go to’ document whether you’re a worker, a director or running a business.   It also tells you what you can expect from WorkSafe as the workplace health and safety regulator.

Notifiable events

From 4 April 2016 you must notify WorkSafe when certain serious work-related injuries, illnesses or incidents (notifiable events) occur.  To help you know what’s notifiable under HSWA, our new online tool makes understanding the process easier.

Worker Engagement and Participation 

Ensuring workers’ views on health and safety matters are asked for and taken into account is a significant part of the new way of thinking under HSWA. Having clear, effective and on-going ways for workers to suggest improvements or raise concerns on a regular basis can benefit a business and workers in many different ways.

View our latest guidance titled “Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation Good Practice Guidelines”.

Read more about this topic in our Working Together section.

Construction and the Health and Safety at Work Act

So, what will the new law mean in practice for builders and tradies? Check out how it might apply to your typical residential build our construction website.

The new rules will affect asbestos removal companies, Certificate of Competence holders, builders and other tradespeople who work with asbestos. Learn more...

Check out our TV commercial promoting our Home Time campaign – you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more about this throughout the year. Everyone who goes to work should be able to return home healthy and safe.

Our Advocates

We invited some key New Zealand business and industry leaders to take part in our TV campaign. Hear what they have to say about why workplace health and safety is important to them and why it’s good for business.

Want to hear more from these business leaders? Visit our Home Time campaign page. The campaign’s message is one you’ll be seeing a lot: “Getting you home healthy and safe. That’s what we’re working for.”

As well as giving you online tools to help make your workplace safer – listen to The Rock every Monday at 7am and 9am for The Monday Morning WorkSafe Check with Rog Farrelly. They’ll give you the lowdown on useful health and safety information that you can use on your site.

Go to our website for the latest information on HSWA.

For general health and safety information  please visit www.worksafe.govt.nz.