Old equipment repurposed by businesses must be safe to use, WorkSafe New Zealand says, following sentencing of a Rotorua company whose modified crane became a weapon that changed the life of a teenage contractor.

Welcome to the latest edition of Kanohi Kitea, our health and safety representatives (HSR) e-newsletter.

Check out the latest guidance and resources, and a number of upcoming courses and conferences to help you ensure a healthy and safe work environment for you and your workers.

WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for an horrific death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.

WorkSafe has developed infographics on psychosocial risks in the high-risk sectors of agriculture, construction, forestry, and manufacturing, as well as psychosocial risks that affect all New Zealand workers.

WorkSafe welcomes Corey Sinclair as its new Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate. Corey started with WorkSafe on Wednesday 22 January.

AI technology with real time hazard alerts is central to a new safety commitment WorkSafe New Zealand has accepted from the well-known household brand, Ecostore.

Businesses that use scissor lifts should take a fresh look at safety, after a worker fell from height and died over the holiday period.

Our inspector Thomas recently worked with a panel beater in Hamilton to make improvements to their health and safety processes.

WorkSafe is urging businesses to prioritise safety near overhead electric lines, after three companies were sentenced within the last week for incidents that killed or injured workers.

After working with industry, we’ve set a number of new REIs for pesticides. These will come into force on 10 June 2025 to give PCBUs and suppliers time to adapt to the new REIs.

WorkSafe New Zealand is moving forward with organisational changes to deliver its strategy.

The importance of training and hazard management while working at height has been highlighted at a Timaru District Court sentencing today.

Fireworks are fun but it’s important to follow the safety instructions to keep your family, pets, and property safe, and be considerate of nearby people and animals.

This safety alert highlights the significant health and safety risk to owners and users of caravans, motor homes or camper trailers which have certain models of suburban recreational vehicle (RV) water heaters running on LPG.

This media advisory clarifies WorkSafe’s role following last Tuesday’s fire at the SkyCity Convention Centre.

This bulletin is for people whose work involves water pump systems.

Four highly experienced extractives industry practitioners have been appointed by WorkSafe for three year terms to the New Zealand Mining Board of Examiners.

In this video our Head of Health and Technical Services talks through the emerging issue of respirable crystalline silica. Find out more about what the issue is, what you can do to manage the risk, and where to go for more information.

This technical bulletin is aimed at PCBUs and workers who use drill rigs.

The Chair of WorkSafe New Zealand, Ross Wilson announced today that following a publicly advertised selection process, Phil Parkes will be the agency’s new Chief Executive.

WorkSafe New Zealand is underscoring the dangers of skylights, after a 14-year-old roofer was seriously injured falling through one in Hawke’s Bay.

This alert is for ‘persons conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBUs) and their workers who use small petrol engine plant.

WorkSafe New Zealand has held an Auckland businessman liable for failures that led to the death of a subcontractor, who fell from the roof of a house while spray painting.

Our September work-related health update.

On 8 July 2022 at 10.55pm, two tunnel workers observed smoke emerging out of a heavy-duty steel toolbox that was stored underground.

Our October hazardous substances update.

WorkSafe New Zealand has prosecuted a business for failing to play its part before a worker suffered significant injuries on the job in a fall from height.

This technical bulletin is aimed at businesses who design, manufacture, install, maintain, or repair air-conditioning, heat pump or refrigeration equipment that uses a hydrocarbon refrigerant.

Two agricultural companies in Taranaki have been taken to task over ineffective workplace traffic safety, after their worker was knocked unconscious by a moving vehicle.

A Manawatū factory worker’s death underscores the importance of carrying out a dedicated risk assessment before modifying machinery in a workplace.

WorkSafe New Zealand is again urging vigilance on the risks of exposed machinery, in light of a steel fabrication worker suffering a significant injury on the job in Northland.

The death of a nine-year-old girl in a Northland traffic crash has been traced back to a badly worn down towball and coupling on a trailer used by a local trucking business.

Three organisations dedicated to reducing and eliminating asbestos exposure are calling on businesses and tradies to do better and keep themselves, their workers and others safe as Asbestos Awareness Week ends.

Read about the updated timeframe for revoking 2001 notices, retaining access to gas and electrical certificates, and preventing the fatal risk of ovens tipping over.

Leptospirosis is the most common work-related infectious disease in New Zealand. See our updated guidance for practical suggestions to manage the risks to protect people from getting sick.

Including an update from the Chief Inspector, recent electric shock incidents, and a new resource for warehouses.

This Asbestos Awareness Week we sat down with Garrett Davidson, the Operations Manager at The Floor Store Commercial, to talk about how they tackle asbestos.

WorkSafe is again urging the forestry sector to reflect on what more it can do to improve safety, as the details of yet another worker death emerge from a court prosecution.

Read our November 2024 work-related health newsletter