Issue : August 2026

THIS ISSUE:

• Team Insights: Small actions, big impact. Plus H&S trends shaping 2026.
• Training: Turn knowledge into action with practical training solutions.
• News: Review findings, citizen arrest changes, toxic gas, transport safety developments, updates in retail and more.
• Know Better, Do Better: Risk assessments simple to do, costly to ignore.
• Quick Clicks: Tools, trends & insights at your fingertips.
• Best Practice: New guidance from WorkSafe NZ and fresh thinking from OHS Body of Knowledge.

Read. Reflect. Share.

When we think about workplace incidents, it’s easy to focus on the big events. But more often than not, serious incidents are preceded by a series of small warning signs that were missed, overlooked, or left unresolved.

A loose cable, a rushed task, a hazard that wasn’t reported. Individually, they may seem insignificant. Together, they can create the conditions for something much more serious.

Strong health and safety cultures aren’t built through grand gestures. They’re built through everyday actions: taking a moment to assess a risk, reporting a near hit, checking in with a colleague, and speaking up when something doesn’t seem right.

At WSAS, we see time and again that organisations achieving the best safety outcomes are not necessarily the ones doing extraordinary things. They’re the ones consistently doing the ordinary things well. Want to know more about how we can support you to embed safety into everyday work? Get in touch.

If there’s one theme emerging in 2026, it’s that workplace health and safety is becoming more practical and people-focused.

With many businesses feeling the effects of a challenging economy, there’s understandable pressure to do more with less. But the best workplaces are recognising that good health and safety isn’t about adding more paperwork. It’s about focusing on the things that matter most and looking after the people who make the business run.

Some key topics we’re seeing across New Zealand and internationally include:

The common thread? Safe workplaces are built on good conversations, sensible risk management and looking out for one another.

Build knowledge, gain confidence and apply learnings at your workplace.

We offer a range of engaging, interactive public workshops throughout the year. Options are available in Auckland and Christchurch.

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The review into the Mount Maunganui landslide is a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising and responding to emerging risks.

The report outlines how warning signs developed in the hours before the fatal slip and details the courageous efforts of one camper who tried to protect others.

The findings offer valuable lessons for anyone involved in safety, emergency planning, and risk management. Additionally, there were systematic failures that went back decades.

Read the full article for more insights

Recent changes to New Zealand’s Crimes Act expand citizen’s arrest powers, allowing members of the public to detain someone suspected of committing a Crimes Act offence at any time of day. While intended to help address retail crime, Retail NZ has warned that these changes may increase risks for both workers and customers.

What does this mean for workplace safety?

• Higher risk of confrontation: Attempts to detain offenders could escalate situations, increasing the potential for violence, injury, or the involvement of weapons.
• Ongoing health and safety duties: Employers must continue to protect workers from harm and consider whether physical intervention aligns with their health and safety obligations.
• Clear guidance is essential: Staff should understand their role, including when to disengage, prioritise personal safety, and contact Police.
• Focus on de-escalation: Training in conflict management and de-escalation remains critical, with Retail NZ continuing to recommend avoiding physical intervention wherever possible.

Key takeaway: While the law now provides broader citizen’s arrest powers, worker safety should remain the priority. Businesses should review their policies, procedures, and training to ensure staff are equipped to respond safely and confidently.

Learn more

A TAIC investigation into a serious incident aboard a fishing vessel at Lyttleton Port has highlighted the risks of confined spaces and hazardous gases. Five workers were injured when hydrogen sulphide gas from decomposing fish waste was released after an offal pumping system was inadvertently activated.

The report reinforces the need for effective hazard identification, machinery isolation, permit controls, and clear coordination of workplace risks across multiple organisations.

Read the full RNZ article here.

A cross-sector partnership between WorkSafe New Zealand and industry representatives is working to improve health and safety across the Transport, Postal and Warehousing sectors.

In 2019 alone, truck-related incidents resulted in 57 fatalities, 170 serious injuries and 521 minor injuries. To help reduce this toll, the project developed 13 recommendations aimed at strengthening safety practices and fostering greater shared responsibility across the supply chain. As Road Transport Forum Chief Executive Nick Leggett notes, the initiative has the potential to drive a step change in safety outcomes for the industry.

Full article

The retail sector continues to face a unique mix of health, safety, and security challenges. Here are four key developments making headlines and shaping conversations across New Zealand workplaces.

Violence and aggression toward retail workers
Retail NZ has reported ongoing concerns about increasing incidents of customer aggression, intimidation, and violence in stores. Learn more

Proposed changes to trespass laws
A bill currently progressing through Parliament would give retailers stronger tools to manage repeat offenders, including longer trespass periods and broader trespass powers for some retail premises. Learn more

Retail crime a major workplace risk
Retail crime is estimated to cost New Zealand businesses billions of dollars each year, but its impact goes beyond financial loss. Learn more

H&S Reforms, Retail and critical risk
Risks such as workplace violence, slips and trips, manual handling injuries, fatigue, and worker wellbeing should remain key areas of focus. Learn more

WorkSafe New Zealand has achieved its highest-ever ranking in the Verian Public Sector Reputation Index, rising from 30th to 14th place among 58 government agencies.

The organisation recorded improvements across all measures, including significant gains in perceptions of leadership and fairness, while its social responsibility score placed it in the top quartile. Public confidence also strengthened, with positive sentiment increasing to 41% and half of those who had direct experience with WorkSafe rating it positively.

Full article

No matter where we work, whether in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, warehousing, offices, or community services, health and safety processes exist for a simple reason: to identify risks before they become incidents.

When risk assessments, safety checks, and workplace procedures are followed consistently, they help prevent harm and protect the people around us. While these steps can sometimes feel routine, they are often the controls that make the difference between a near hit and a serious incident.

A recent hospital incident serves as a sobering reminder of why these processes matter. Several required safety checks and fall-risk controls were not completed before a patient suffered a fatal fall. Investigators found that following the required procedures would likely have reduced the risk.

The same lesson applies to every workplace. Risk assessments, safety checks, and control measures are not just paperwork. They are practical tools that help us spot hazards early, put protections in place, and keep people safe.

Every assessment completed, every hazard identified, and every procedure followed adds another layer of protection for our people.

Read full article

• Glossary of Terms – Not sure what a health and safety term means? Confused by all the acronyms? Check out this handy resource.
• What do toothpaste, explosives, veterinary medicine and solvents have in common? They are all classified as regulated hazardous substances.
• Consultation: Proposed changes to maritime rules for vessel design, construction and equipment. Check out a snapshot of the proposed changes.
• Flu Risk: Are you vaccinated? New Zealand’s population is growing and aging and this shift has real implications for flu risk.
• Health and Safety At Work Amendment Act comes into effect in April 2027. Get up to speed fast with this short article highlighting key changes.

WorkSafe NZ has recently released and updated a range of practical guidance materials to help businesses strengthen their health and safety practices.

WorkSafe New Zealand has launched a fresh set of plain-language resources to help businesses get to grips with workplace exposure standards (WES) and the risks of harmful airborne substances.

From bite-sized videos and real-world case studies to practical guidance on working with occupational hygienists, the new resources make a complex topic much easier to understand.

WorkSafe has also updated inspector training to ensure consistent advice and support.

Check out the full article to see what’s new and how it could help your workplace.

The Safe Use of Machinery good practice guidelines has been updated to refer to the hierarchy of controls for managing risk, and to reflect current legislation and standards.

It now includes separate sections on topics such as lockouts and isolation procedures as well as a checklist for businesses identifying hazards, based on industry feedback.

The guidance has been updated to better reflect the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) and current industry expectations.

Updates include revised information on WorkSafe notification and notifiable-event requirements, and introduces newer content and examples around risk management, safety decking, worker engagement, competency, and contemporary control expectations.

Learn More

Looking to refresh your health and safety knowledge?

The recently updated “Hazard as a Concept” chapter by Pam Pryor AO explores one of the most fundamental ideas in OHS: understanding what constitutes a hazard and how hazards should be identified, assessed and managed.

Part of the internationally respected OHS Body of Knowledge (OHS BoK), this resource combines research, theory, and practical application to help strengthen risk management and safety decision-making.

If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of risk management or simply revisit the foundations of good safety practice, this resource is well worth your time.

Read the full article and learn more about the OHS Body of Knowledge.