A Guide to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

Including the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002

Foreword

The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 is fundamental to the wellbeing of 
New Zealanders.
It allocates responsibilities for safety and health in the workplace, and in doing so affects most
people — whether as employers, the self-employed, employees, volunteers, trainees, contractors,
principals, people who control places of work, or those who sell or supply plant.
Duties also extend through regulations to those who control workplaces, or design, manufacture
or supply plant or equipment.
This guide provides some detail on how the legislation works, and what it means for people. It is
for you if you are an employer, manager, union representative, human resource specialist or
anyone else who needs to know how the law applies in a place of work.
This “Blue Guide”, as it has become known, was originally produced in printed form in 2000. It
summarised a growing body of case law and the "bedding in" of the law in New Zealand
workplaces since the legislation was first enacted in April 1993. It is now published in its current
electronic form.
Since the first edition, the Government has completed a comprehensive review of the Act and
passed the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002. These extensive
amendments are summarised in this new edition, with cross references to fact sheets outlining
various aspects of the amendment as appropriate.
The amendment Act came into force on 5 May 2003. It has not affected the essential scheme of
the Act, or this guide, but  has provided, in particular, new means of increasing employee
involvement, alternative enforcement mechanisms, and addressed some other issues concerning
the Act’s coverage. As the new provisions themselves “bed in” in New Zealand workplaces,
additional information will be added to this guide. 
In the meantime, users of this guide are also encouraged to make themselves familiar with the

Bob Hill
General Manager
Occupational Safety and Health Service
July 2003

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