Articles

Four summer workplace hazards businesses should plan for

Summer brings long days, dry conditions, and a rush to finish work before Christmas. Some hazards get worse in the heat, and a few only appear at this time of year. This article covers four that catch New Zealand businesses out most often. New and seasonal workers and UV exposure matter...

Christmas shutdown checklist for NZ workplaces

Most health and safety problems around the Christmas break are not caused by the work itself. They happen in the rush to finish before everyone leaves, or on the first day back, when people are rusty and the site has been sitting for weeks. This Christmas shutdown checklist covers what to...

Working in the heat – simple ways to keep your team safe

In New Zealand, UV levels are high enough to need sun protection from September to April, and hot spells can arrive well before summer officially starts. If your people work outdoors, in a hot vehicle, or near heat-producing equipment, now is the time to check your controls. This article is general...

Psychosocial hazards at work – what employers must do

Most businesses have a process for physical hazards, like a wet floor or a faulty ladder. Fewer have one for the hazards you can't see - chronic overwork, poor management, bullying, or a worker carrying too much on their own. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), "health"...

What the 2027 health and safety changes mean for your business

From 1 April 2027, health and safety changes under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) put critical risks at the centre of how your business manages health and safety. WorkSafe has released guidance to explain what this means. This post sums up the key points and links to each...

Why do employees take risks at work, even when they know better?

Ask almost any worker if they know the safe way to do their job, and they'll say yes. Ask why they sometimes do it differently anyway, and the answers get more interesting. Risk-taking at work is rarely about not knowing the rules. WorkSafe's 2025 Workforce Insights survey found most employers are...

What is the Take 5 safety method?

Most workplace incidents don't happen because there was no safety plan. They happen because something changed on the day, and nobody stopped to notice. The Take 5 method exists for exactly that gap. It's a short, on-the-spot check a worker does immediately before starting a task, designed to catch the hazards...

What are the legal requirements for first aid kits in New Zealand workplaces?

Most employers assume there's a checklist somewhere: buy this kit, tick this box, done. There isn't. The law takes a different approach, and it catches a lot of businesses out. This article provides general guidance and shouldn't be treated as legal advice. Is a first aid kit legally required in New Zealand? Yes, but not...

Health and safety at work events: a practical guide

Christmas parties, team lunches, conferences, client functions, offsite workshops, end of year drinks. Work events are a great way to build culture and celebrate wins. But whether it happens in the office or at a venue down the road, it's still a work event, and your health and safety responsibilities...

How to manage common spring workplace hazards in New Zealand

As winter fades and business activity picks up, spring brings its own set of workplace health and safety challenges for New Zealand businesses. From new and returning workers to rising pollen levels, stronger UV, and the fatigue that follows daylight saving, spring conditions can increase risk across industries like construction, horticulture,...