重大改革通过：新西兰健康与安全法律大修完成三读

新西兰《工作场所健康与安全修正法案》（Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill）今日完成三读通过，标志着政府对国家健康与安全体系进行重大改革迈出关键一步，同时也兑现了 ACT–国家党联合执政协议中的承诺。

工作关系与安全部长 Brooke van Velden 表示，长期以来企业一直在应对一个“复杂、难以遵守”的制度。

她指出：“这个体系过于混乱，并没有真正提升工人安全，反而让企业将资源投入到不必要的合规事务中，而不是关注真正的风险。”

她表示，此次改革反映政府“倾听一线企业的声音”，并已经落实必要改变。

她强调，新制度将更加聚焦于防止工作场所中的严重伤害事件。

“这将更好地保护工人，同时持续降低严重工伤和死亡事故的发生率，同时也让企业能将更多资源投入到提升生产力与经济增长上，而不是无意义的合规程序。”

改革重点

新法案的核心是将监管重点放在“关键风险”（critical risks）上，即可能导致死亡、重伤或重大疾病的风险，使企业更有效分配资源。

改革还包括：

• 强化《批准行为准则》（ACOPs），为企业提供更清晰、实用的合规指导
• 明确 WorkSafe 的监管重点，集中处理关键风险并提供实际支持
• 若企业遵循 ACOP 指引，将可更有信心满足法律义务

她表示，企业希望获得“更清晰、更实用”的指导，新法案正是对此回应。

对于中小企业，制度将采取更“比例适当”的监管方式，重点仍是关键风险管理，同时减少不必要负担，并确保基本的员工安全设施。

其他重要变化

• 明确公司董事责任，使其更专注治理而非日常经营
• 减少与其他监管体系的重复，提高合规效率
• 澄清土地上休闲活动的责任界定
• 明确严重事故报告要求

新法案将于 2027年4月1日 起正式生效，政府将在未来几个月发布配套指导文件。

Van Velden表示：“这些改革在保障工人安全的同时，建立一个更简单、更高效、聚焦关键风险的制度，从而改善整体安全结果。”

The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, marking a major milestone in the Government’s overhaul of New Zealand’s health and safety system, and delivering on the ACT-National coalition agreement, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says.

“For too long, businesses have been dealing with a system that is confusing and difficult to comply with. Rather than making workers safer, it has distracted from the risks that really matter and increased regulatory burden.

“This Bill reflects that this Government is listening to the people on the ground having to deal with our laws day in and day out. They told us change was needed, and we have delivered.

“These changes make it clear that the focus should be on preventing serious harm in the workplace.

“This will better protect workers and support a continued reduction in serious workplace injuries and fatalities. At the same time, it frees up businesses to put more of their resources and efforts towards the things that improve their organisation and contribute to economic growth and quality of life for Kiwis, rather than towards compliance for the sake of compliance.

The legislation introduces a stronger focus on critical risks – those that can result in death, serious injury, or illness – so businesses can better prioritise where to direct their time and resources.

The reforms also respond to concerns about unclear expectations and limited guidance by strengthening Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and sharpening WorkSafe’s focus on critical risks and practical support.

“Businesses told us they need clearer, more practical guidance. The Bill clarifies that if a business follows an ACOP’s processes for managing a risk, they can be confident they are meeting their health and safety obligations for that risk.”

Changes also introduce a more proportionate approach for small businesses, which will focus on managing critical risks while continuing to provide essential worker welfare facilities.

“These changes give small businesses clarity about what they need to focus on to keep people safe, without unnecessary compliance burden.”

Other key changes in the Act include:

clearer duties for directors, so they can focus on governance rather than day-to-day management of a business
reduced duplication with other regulatory systems, making compliance simpler
clarifying responsibilities for recreational activities on land
clearer requirements for reporting serious incidents.

The changes will come into force on 1 April 2027. Guidance to support businesses to understand and meet their obligations will be released over the coming months.

“These reforms strike the right balance – maintaining strong protections for workers while delivering a simpler, more effective system that focuses on critical risks and improves safety outcomes,” says Ms van Velden.