The Health and Safety at Work Act Regulations, supported with information and guidance from WorkSafe New Zealand, are intended to support businesses (particularly small businesses) to understand what they need to do to comply with the general duties of the Act.

Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 

These regulations set out that businesses have duties to ensure that risks to people's health and safety from their work is eliminated or minimised.

Health and Safety at Work (Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation) Regulations 2016  

These regulations prescribe matters relating to work groups, health and safety representatives, and health and safety committees to support more effective worker participation. This includes information on who can be a health and safety representative or on a health and safety committee, and training for health and safety representatives.

The regulations also include matters that an inspector may decide if the parties are unable to reach an agreement themselves, and specify the sectors that are high risk for the purposes of worker participation requirements.  

Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017

These regulations deal with matters relating to hazardous substances, including applications, labelling and signage, emergency management, compliance certification, tracking, controlled substance licencing, substances and gases under pressure, tank wagons and stationary container systems. 

Health and Safety at Work (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2016  

These regulations deal with matters relating to the health and safety of people involved in the operation of, and local communities located near, major hazard facilities.

The regulations provide threshold quantities of specified hazardous substances, ways to determine whether a facility is a lower tier or an upper tier major hazard facility, and the duties of operators.

Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 

These regulations impose additional duties on businesses in relation to work involving asbestos. This includes managing asbestos risks, removal of asbestos and licensing of asbestos removalists.

Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016 

These regulations deal with the provision of adventure activities. They set out the process for becoming registered as an adventure activity operator and make it an offence for unregistered operators to offer adventure activities to participants.

In 2016, these regulations revoked and replaced the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011. At that time, only minimal changes were made to align terminology and concepts with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and to add a new offence of offering adventure activities while unregistered.

In 2023, these regulations were amended to: strengthen requirements for risks to be communicated to persons seeking to participate in adventure activities; and strengthen registration and notification requirements. The amendments came into force on 1 April 2024.

Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016 

The regulations prescribe matters concerning health and safety in mining operations, including competency requirements in relation to safety-critical roles in mining operations, quarrying operations, and alluvial mining operations. 

These regulations revoke and replace the Health and Safety in Employment (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2013. Only minimal changes were made to align terminology and concepts with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and fix some drafting and minor implementation errors in the 2013 regulations. 

Health and Safety at Work (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2016 

These regulations deal with matters relating to the health and safety of people involved in the operation of installations for petroleum exploration and extraction. 

They revoke and replace the Health and Safety in Employment (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2013. Only minimal changes were made to align terminology and concepts with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, to use clearer terminology for duty holders, and to improve the emergency response duty in relation to onshore non-production installations. 

Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016

These regulations prescribe the levy required to be paid by employers and self-employed persons under section 201 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

They also revoke and replace the Health and Safety in Employment (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 1994. Only minimal changes were made to align terminology and concepts with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. No changes to levy rates were made.

Health and Safety at Work (Infringement Offences and Fees) Regulations 2016

These regulations specify which provision the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and Regulations infringement notices apply to and the dollar amount of the offences. They also specify the form and content of an infringement notice.