Business Law Library & Tracker
Workplace Health & Safety
Work risks, safety systems, incident response and officer oversight.
Sources last reviewed 28 July 2026
Main law guides
157
Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first
Topics
60
Plain-English clusters
Published case explainers
96
Selected cases with a business lesson
Tracked updates
8
New, amended & reviewed
Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.
Get legal helpMain laws
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
1996 No 30
Accident Compensation Act 2001
2001 No 49
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
2015 No 70
Psychoactive Substances Act 2013
2013 No 53
Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Act 1988
1988 No 157
Gas Act 1992
1992 No 124
Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023
2023 No 1
Harassment Act 1997
1997 No 92
Occupiers' Liability Act 1962
1962 No 31
Water Services Act 2021
2021 No 36
Cases
Edgecumbe Supermarket v Petersen
Employers must ensure that employment agreements are clear, that they follow proper procedures when addressing employee concerns or disciplinary matters, and that...
Healey v Health New Zealand
The practical lesson is procedural. An employee does not need to say "I am raising a personal grievance" for a grievance to be raised. If their communications,...
LMN v STC
LMN v STC shows that New Zealand employers must get consent before contacting employee references and must process sick leave correctly when medical certificates...
Lyttelton Port Company Limited v Maritime Union of New Zealand
Employers should ensure any health monitoring policy is consistent with the terms of collective agreements and statutory obligations. Policies that go beyond agreed...
Ford v Henry Brown and Co Ltd
Ford v Henry Brown and Co Ltd is a reminder that employers must be proactive and transparent during recruitment and dismissal. If you do not ask direct questions...
Fredricsen and anor v Air New Zealand Ltd and Air New Zealand Ltd v Fredricsen and anor
Employers must act in good faith when making decisions that affect employees, particularly in situations involving health and safety requirements like COVID-19...
Hu v Passion Fresh Ltd
Employers and host businesses must understand their roles and obligations when engaging labour hire workers. Employees must raise personal grievances directly with...
Anna Elizabeth Osborne and Sonya Lynne Rockhouse v Worksafe New Zealand
Keep two tracks separate after a serious workplace event. One track is victim support, compensation, apologies and practical assistance. The other is the...