What the HSWA means to Regional Tourism Organisations.

As a PCBU, the RTO has the Primary Duty of Care, its Directors and CEO's by definition are it's Officers and are bound by the Due Diligence Duties. Managers, staff, volunteers and clientele are bound by the duties applied to Worker and Others. This means that everyone involved or associated with the business or organisations activities has a role and responsibility to learn, engage and continuously improve on health and safety planning, management and implementation.


The resources, information and guides below are available to assist you in the formation of your planning. There is no manual or template that can ensure you have complete compliance with the OH&S legislation because the law requires each and every business to review its own risks and put into place a continuous management and review system that involves everyone within and associated with the business (PCBU).


The Health and Safety at Work Act and Regulations


The Health and Safety at Work Act (2015)
On 4 April 2016, the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) comes into force bringing new responsibilities for everyone in the workplace. The new law is part of a reform package aimed at reducing the number of serious work-related injuries and deaths in New Zealand by at least 25 percent by 2020. Everyone who goes to work deserves to come home healthy and safe.
To review the Act in full visit www.legislation.govt.nz

There are several regulations that relate to specific industries, i.e. mining, asbestos etc. The two below are of specific interest. The Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation Regulations 2016  is relevant to every business and the Adventure Activities Regulations 2016 is specific to the adventure activity sector.

Worker Engagement, Participation and Representation Regulations 2016  These regulations prescribe matters relating to work groups, health and safety representatives, and health and safety committees to support more effective worker participation. This includes information on who can be a health and safety representative or on a health and safety committee, and health and safety representative training.The regulations also include matters that an inspector may decide if the parties are unable to reach an agreement themselves, and specify the sectors that are high risk for the purposes of worker participation requirements.
 View the full Regulation on the Legislation website here

Adventure Activities Regulations 2016 These regulations deal with the provision of adventure activities. They set out the process for becoming registered as an adventure activity operator and make it an offence for unregistered operators to offer adventure activities to participants. These regulations revoke and replace the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011. Only minimal changes were made to align terminology and concepts with the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and to add a new offence of offering adventure activities while unregistered.
View the full Regulations on the Legislation website