Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 controls at work

Information to help workplaces manage COVID-19 - including whether employer vaccination or regular surveillance testing requirements are necessary.

Our enforcement approach during the COVID-19 pandemic

Our inspectors are authorised enforcement officers under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (COVID-19 legislation) and its Orders. Their role is to enforce COVID-19 legislation requirements for work and workplaces. We have updated our enforcement approach to cover the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system).

Managing the impact of COVID-19 at your business

Business.govt.nz has some guidance abut planning for COVID-19, particularly the Omicron variant, affecting your workers, suppliers or customers. You want to do everything you can to protect your workplace, workers and community.

COVID-19 Protection Framework guidance for businesses

Business.govt.nz has put together a comprehensive suite of guidance for businesses for the COVID-19 Protection Framework. The requirements apply by activity and your business might need to apply different rules depending on the situation.

Using disposable respirators to protect from COVID-19

Some businesses, services, and workers want to use disposable respirators – like P2 and N95 – to protect from COVID-19. In New Zealand these are recommended for healthcare workers who are at the highest risk of infection and specific high-risk areas, such as border and managed isolation facilities.

Operating safely – what you need to think about

It’s important that you continue thinking about how to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work. These prompts are general and apply for all businesses and services.

Working from home

Having workers work from home is one way that businesses and services can manage the risk of work-related COVID-19 transmission. Working from home may be appropriate for some workers, depending on the type of work they do.

Information for workers

Here’s what workers need to know about how the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) applies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Managing supply issues for PPE

The flow-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic means there is a global shortage of some PPE.

Resources for maintaining mentally healthy work during COVID-19

There is a range of specific COVID-19 mental health guidance available for people, including for those working from home.

PECPR under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights)

We’ve set out our expectations for managing PECPR (pressure equipment, cranes and passenger ropeways) equipment under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system).

Checking that people are safe and well to work

It is vital that workers who are unwell do not come into contact with other workers or other people at work.

COVID-19 potential breach data

This page contains information on possible breaches of COVID-19 Orders which have been raised with WorkSafe since the move to the COVID-19 Protection Framework on December 3 2021.

COVID-19 case studies

Find out how these New Zealand businesses are keeping their customers and staff safe during COVID-19.

Hazardous substances compliance certificates at Red

Our expectations of businesses about hazardous compliance certificates at Red in the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

WorkSafe’s operations under the COVID-19 Protection Framework

Our work means we interact with a large number of people across a variety of workplaces. Because of this we need to do our best to ensure we don’t facilitate the spread of COVID-19. All WorkSafe staff you interact with in person are vaccinated.