In November 2016, we issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the delivery of a New Zealand Workforce Survey of self-reported occupational exposures. The purpose of the survey was to gather information across all industry groups and occupations in the New Zealand workforce to establish the prevalence of a wide range of occupational risk factors.

The Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR) proposed a two-fold strategy to address the RFP requirements including:

1. a comprehensive report involving new analyses from two large existing workforce surveys conducted by CPHR in 2004-2006 and 2009-2010; and
2. a worker exposure survey in seven targeted occupational groups.

Worker Exposure Survey Report – Part 1

All data presented in part 1 are based on the only two New Zealand general population workforce surveys that collected information on self-reported occupational exposures: the New Zealand Workforce Survey (NZWS; 3,003 participants from the general population) and the Māori NZWS (2,107 participants from the Māori general population). These workforce surveys were conducted by CPHR in 2004-2006 and 2009-2010, respectively.

Worker Exposure Survey Report – Part 2

The Part 2 Report provides worker exposure data for the following occupational groups:

• community-based nurses
• collision repair workers
• construction workers
• hospitality workers
• clerical workers
• sawmill workers
• agricultural workers.

These occupational groups were chosen so we could cover the full range of occupational exposures (biological, physical, ergonomic, chemical, psychosocial risk factors).