The primary piece of legislation governing work health and safety in New Zealand is the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).

Download:

Policy clarification: Contaminated land and the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 (PDF 75 KB)

For more information see:

WorkSafe New Zealand, (2018). Understanding the Law. Retrieved from: worksafe.govt.nz/managing-health-and-safety/getting-started/understanding-the-law

Parliamentary Counsel Office (2018). Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017. Retrieved from: http://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2017/0131/latest/DLM7309401.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_hazardous+substances_resel_25_a&p=1(external link)

WorkSafe New Zealand, (2017). General Risk and Workplace Management Interpretive Guidelines (Part 1). Retrieved from: worksafe.govt.nz/dmsdocument/886-general-risk-and-workplace-management-part-1 [PDF, 629 KB]

WorkSafe New Zealand, (2017). General Risk and Workplace Management Interpretive Guidelines (Part 2). Retrieved from: worksafe.govt.nz/dmsdocument/1960-general-risk-and-workplace-management-part-2 [PDF, 421 KB]

Ministry for the Environment, (2016). About the National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health. Retrieved from: www.mfe.govt.nz/land/nes-assessing-and-managing-contaminants-soil-protect-human-health/about-nes(external link)

Ministry for the Environment, (2016). Hazardous Activities and Industries List (HAIL). Retrieved from: https://environment.govt.nz/publications/hazardous-activities-and-industries-list-hail/(external link)

Ministry for the Environment, (2016). Contaminated land management guidelines. Retrieved from: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/land/risks-contaminated-land/%20managing-contaminated-land/contaminated-land-management-guidelines(external link)

Contaminated soil, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Resource Management Act 1991

This document provides a decision tree for those who have contaminated soil on their site. It sets out the key legislation that needs to be considered to protect the health and safety of workers and others on and near the site, see below.