Our 2023 annual report analyses trends and highlights risks in electrical and gas accidents.

Read the executive summary and download the full report.

Executive summary

Overview of 2023

During 2023, 7 notifiable and 10 non-notifiable accidents¹ in New Zealand were reported to WorkSafe’s Energy Safety team comprising of:

• 2 electrical notifiable accident (non-fire) were reported during 2023 which resulted in no fatality but injury to 2 people
• 2 notifiable and 5 non-notifiable LPG accidents which altogether resulted in no fatality but injuries to 2 people
• 3 notifiable and 5 non-notifiable natural gas accidents, which altogether resulted in no fatality but injury to 1 person.

High-risk groups 1993–2023

Since 1993, electrical and gas (natural and LPG) accidents in New Zealand have been analysed according to high-risk groups to provide information about trends, frequency, common causes and severity.

Electrical accidents

The previously known general public accidents (1993–2008), and all public electrical accidents investigated since 2009 by Energy Safety, are aggregated as a single electrical accident category to enable analysis.

Two categories of particular interest are accidents involving young people and electrical safety in domestic residential environments.

Young people (17 years old and under)

Since 1993 these young people were involved in 36% (107) of the total general public accidents (297), involving 18 fatalities and injury to 96 people.

Domestic environment

More than 55% (167) of the accidents involving the general public in the last 31 years occurred in a domestic environment, resulting in 31 fatalities (61%) and injuries to 138 people (52%).

Natural gas accidents

In the last 31 years, a total of 217 notifiable natural gas accidents and 653 non-notifiable accidents were reported to Energy Safety.

Equipment

Cookers and ovens

A total of 38 (18%) notifiable natural gas accidents involved cookers or ovens. Twelve of 38 cooker or oven accidents resulted in 1 fatality and injury to 14 people.

Cookers and ovens accounted for 76 (12%) of reported non-notifiable natural gas accidents.

Space heaters

A total of 60 (27%) notifiable natural gas accidents involved space heaters. Of these, 16 notifiable space heaters accidents resulted in 3 fatalities and injury to 22 people.

Space heaters accounted for 134 (20%) of reported non-notifiable accidents.

Water heaters and boilers

A total of 71 (33%) notifiable natural gas accidents reported involved water heaters or boilers. Of these, 17 resulting in 1 fatality and injury to 20 people.

Water heaters and boilers also accounted for 40 (6% of) reported non-notifiable accidents.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

In the last 31 years, a total of 456 notifiable LPG accidents and 624 non-notifiable accidents were reported to Energy Safety.

Equipment

Cookers and ovens

Of the 456 notifiable LPG accidents reported, 134 (29%) involved cookers or ovens. Out of the 134 notifiable accidents involving cookers or ovens, 99 resulted in 18 fatalities and injury to 129 people.

Cookers and ovens accounted for 106 (17%) of reported non-notifiable LPG accidents.

Cabinet heaters

There were 143 (31%) notifiable LPG accidents reported that involved cabinet heaters. Out of these, 66 accidents resulted in 13 fatalities and injury to 67 people.

Cabinet heaters accounted for 173 (28%) of reported non-notifiable accidents.

Containers (refillable)

There were 26 (6%) notifiable accidents reported that involved LPG refillable containers. This resulted in 16 container accidents that caused 4 fatalities and injured 20 people.

Refillable containers accounted for 94 (15%) of reported non-notifiable accidents.

Environment

Caravans and campervans

There were 48 (11%) out of the 456 notifiable LPG accidents that occurred in caravans or campervans. Of these, 35 caused 11 fatalities and injured 41 people.

¹ See Appendix for definitions of ‘notifiable’ and ‘non-notifiable’ accidents.

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