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Chemical safety stories

Safety review highlights risks of mismanaging agri-chemicals
Risk & Compliance

Safety review highlights risks of mismanaging agri-chemicals

More than a third of farm safety checks found hazardous substances management needed improvement, WorkSafe says.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Sat, 6th Jun 2026
Construction health and safety leaders recognised at Site Safe Evening of Celebration
Construction

Construction health and safety leaders recognised at Site Safe Evening of Celebration

Safer sites and stronger wellbeing were rewarded as construction teams and leaders were honoured for cutting risk and driving change.

By Staff Writer • 7 min read • Wed, 11th Mar 2026
WorkSafe finally stirs on industry supported ACOP
Agricultural Technology

WorkSafe finally stirs on industry supported ACOP

Businesses face new compliance guidance as WorkSafe begins consulting on three draft industry-led approved codes of practice.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Thu, 5th Feb 2026
Need for workplace safety and NaTech awareness
Risk & Compliance

Need for workplace safety and NaTech awareness

Poorly coded rules leave factories and hazardous sites exposed when floods, quakes or storms trigger fires, explosions or toxic leaks.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Wed, 29th Oct 2025
The danger we still do not see
Risk & Compliance

The danger we still do not see

Asbestos still claims about 220 lives a year in New Zealand, making proper identification on older worksites crucial to prevent exposure.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Wed, 10th Sep 2025
Hazardous dust is dangerous but easily controllable
Risk & Compliance

Hazardous dust is dangerous but easily controllable

Poorly controlled dust can trigger serious lung disease, but WorkSafe says the right industrial vacuum can keep it contained.

By Staff Writer • 5 min read • Tue, 9th Sep 2025
Good practice guide for asbestos surveys
Risk & Compliance

Good practice guide for asbestos surveys

Buildings erected before 2000 are most at risk, as WorkSafe's new guide aims to help surveyors spot asbestos and prevent unsafe exposure.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read • Tue, 12th Aug 2025
Where there is a will, there are always the willing
Risk & Compliance

Where there is a will, there are always the willing

Frustrated employers could soon get clearer chemical safety guidance as WorkSafe NZ weighs a more supportive role and updated industry codes.

By Staff Writer • 5 min read • Thu, 31st Jul 2025
Survivors recount toxic gas ordeal
Risk & Compliance

Survivors recount toxic gas ordeal

Two workers have described flashbacks, burns and lasting trauma after being overcome by hydrogen sulphide at a Greymouth waste site.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Wed, 23rd Jul 2025
Fraudulent asbestos removals catch up with project manager
Risk & Compliance

Fraudulent asbestos removals catch up with project manager

Customers may have been exposed to unsafe asbestos handling after a project manager used a firm's name to pocket NZD $21,938.75.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Sun, 13th Apr 2025
Responsibilities of a PCBU
Risk & Compliance

Responsibilities of a PCBU

New Zealand employers can face wider safety duties than many realise, covering mental health, training, equipment and worker accommodation.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Wed, 12th Feb 2025
Where there’s a will, there’s always a way
Risk & Compliance

Where there’s a will, there’s always a way

New Zealand’s 545,000 small businesses could gain cheaper chemical compliance if ministers revive industry codes of practice, the sector says.

By Staff Writer • 6 min read • Tue, 11th Feb 2025
AI tech deployed after chemical burn incident
Risk & Compliance

AI tech deployed after chemical burn incident

The safeguard deal follows eye burns to a worker and will see Ecostore spend more than GBP £160,000 on AI alerts, training and PPE.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Fri, 31st Jan 2025
What to think about when picking the right PPE
Health and Safety

What to think about when picking the right PPE

Choosing PPE without matching it to jobsite hazards can leave tradespeople exposed to injury, chemicals and fines.

By Michael Curreen • 6 min read • Wed, 2nd Oct 2024
Restrictions proposed around pesticide use
Risk & Compliance

Restrictions proposed around pesticide use

Workers could face tighter protection from pesticide residues, as WorkSafe consults on new exclusion periods and updated guidance.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Tue, 13th Aug 2024
New regulations for engineered stone
Regulation

New regulations for engineered stone

Worker exposure to silica will be tighter from July, as Australia rolls out new rules backing the engineered stone ban and broader material controls.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Wed, 15th May 2024
Pressure mounting to ban engineered stone
Regulation

Pressure mounting to ban engineered stone

Calls are growing for New Zealand to follow Australia and ban the material, as experts warn silica dust can cause fatal lung disease.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Wed, 20th Mar 2024
Long way to go after more asbestos prosecutions
Risk & Compliance

Long way to go after more asbestos prosecutions

Preventable asbestos disease still kills about 220 people a year, prompting WorkSafe to warn tradies and businesses after fresh prosecutions.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Mon, 11th Dec 2023