Health and safety regulations in New Zealand come with various abbreviations and industry-specific terms that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you're a business owner, manager, or worker, understanding these key abbreviations is essential for ensuring compliance and maintaining a safe workplace.
In this blog, we break down the most commonly used health and safety abbreviations in New Zealand, helping you navigate workplace safety with confidence.
ACOP/Approved code of practice
Sets out WorkSafe’s expectations about how to comply with legal duties imposed by HSWA and regulations. Other practices can be used to achieve compliance as long as the level of health and safety is equivalent to, or higher, to that in an ACOP.
Business or undertaking -
The usual meanings are:
- business: an activity usually carried out with the intention of making a profit
- undertaking: an activity that is non-commercial in nature (eg certain activities of a local authority or a not-for-profit group).
Officer
A person who has the ability to significantly influence the management of a PCBU. This includes, for example, company directors and chief executives.
Officers must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU meets its health and safety obligations.
Also see Duty holder
Hazard
Anything that can cause harm. Under HSWA, the hazard is defined as “includes a person’s behaviour where that behaviour has the potential to cause death, injury, or illness to a person (whether or not that behaviour results from physical or mental fatigue, drugs, alcohol, traumatic shock, or another temporary condition that affects a person’s behaviour)”
Risk
Risks to health and safety arise from people being exposed to hazards (anything that can cause harm). Risk has two components – the likelihood that it will occur and the consequences (degree of harm) if it happens.
Good Practice Guidelines/GPG
Describes current ‘good practice’ to help duty holders understand and apply their duties under HSWA.
Notifiable incident
When someone has been immediately exposed to a serious risk to their health and safety because of an unplanned or uncontrolled work incident. For example, exposure to a leaked substance, an electric shock, or the collapse/partial collapse of a structure.
See guidance on what is a notifiable event.
Hazardous substance
Any product or chemical that has explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic, corrosive or ecotoxic properties:
- explosive: explodes or causes an explosion.
- flammable: ignites easily and burns rapidly.
- oxidising: could be gaseous, solid or liquid and can cause or intensify fire and explosion.
- toxic: can harm people if it enters the body through contact, being inhaled or ingested. The effects can range from mild to life-threatening and can be immediate or long-term.
- corrosive: can cause severe skin burns and eye damage.
- ecotoxic: is toxic to the environment.
Directive Letter
A written enforcement tool used by WorkSafe Inspectors that sets out steps the recipient must follow in order to comply with HSWA or its regulations.
Directive Letters are non-statutory enforcement measures. They are used when the inspector makes a decision that the non-compliance does not require a statutory notice.
WorkSafe keeps a record of the advice given in these letters in case there is a similar breach in the future.
Enforceable undertaking
An agreement between WorkSafe and a duty holder following a breach (including an alleged breach) of HSWA. Once in place, it’s legally binding. Generally used as an alternative to prosecution.
Improvement notice
A notice issued by a health and safety inspector, requiring changes to be made within a certain time period to improve a risky situation.
Infringement notice (HSWA and associated Acts and regulations)
A notice issued by a health and safety inspector or a technical officer, requiring a responsible party to pay a fine for breaching specified health and safety obligations. Infringement notices may be used for specified breaches under HSWA, the Gas and Electricity Acts, or associated regulations.
Non-Disturbance Notice (NDN)
A notice that requires a worksite to remain undisturbed for a set amount of time after a notifiable event (for example, a death or a serious injury) or in other circumstances.
A Non-Disturbance Notice is used by an inspector to help them determine if there has been a breach of HSWA or the regulations. The inspector may determine there has been no breach.
A Non-Disturbance Notice does not affect a PCBU’s compliance history.
Prohibition Notice
A notice issued by a WorkSafe Inspector when there is a serious risk to people’s health and safety. A Prohibition Notice requires all activities that pose a serious risk to people’s health and safety to stop immediately until the problem is resolved.
A prohibition notice may require a PCBU to:
- cease importation
- cease the use, sale, or manufacture of the product or installation
- alert the public of safety risks
- specify how to follow the instructions given by WorkSafe
Verbal Direction (HSWA)
A verbal enforcement tool used by WorkSafe inspectors to set out steps that the recipient must follow in order to comply with HSWA or its regulations.
Verbal Directions are non-statutory enforcement measures. They are used when the inspector decides that the non-compliance does not require a statutory notice.
WorkSafe keeps a record of the advice given in case there is a similar breach in the future.
Familiarity with these abbreviations can make it easier to understand workplace safety requirements and communicate effectively about health and safety matters.
However, regulations and best practices continue to evolve, so it’s always a good idea to stay informed and consult experts when needed.
If you need tailored health and safety advice for your workplace, get in touch with 3C Safety today—we’re here to help keep your business compliant and your team safe.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is accurate at the time of writing and is intended for general guidance only. Health and safety regulations may change, and it is essential to refer to the latest legislation and official guidelines. 3CSafety accepts no liability for reliance on this content, and we recommend consulting a qualified health and safety professional for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
