Sometimes serious things happen at work that can hurt people or make them sick. When this happens, there are rules about who needs to know and what to do next. This guide explains when and how to report these events.
Who Needs to Report These Events?
If you run a business or are in charge of a workplace, you're called a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking). Think of this as the person responsible for keeping workers safe. When something serious happens at work, PCBUs must tell WorkSafe New Zealand as quickly as possible.
Who Do You Contact?
You'll contact WorkSafe New Zealand to report these serious workplace events.
What Events Need to Be Reported?
You need to report what we call "notifiable events." These are serious work-related incidents that fall into three main categories:
1. Work-related fatality
Any death that happens because of work activities must be reported, even if it happens away from the main workplace.
2. Notifiable Injuries or Illnesses
You must report injuries or illnesses when:
Hospital admission is needed
If someone needs to stay in hospital overnight (even for a short time) because of a work injury
This doesn't include just visiting the emergency room and going home the same day
Specific serious injuries, including:
Any body part that gets cut off and needs immediate medical help
Serious head injuries (like concussions or skull fractures)
Bad eye injuries (but not things like getting dust in your eye)
Serious burns that need special treatment, like skin grafts
When skin gets torn away from the body
Spinal injuries affecting the backbone
Losing body functions (like hearing, sight, or movement)
Deep cuts that need immediate medical care
Getting sick from chemicals or substances within 48 hours
Catching serious infections from work activities
3. Notifable Incidents
These are scary situations that could have seriously hurt someone, even if nobody actually got injured. Examples include:
Chemicals spilling or leaking
Explosions or fires
Gas escaping
Electrical shocks from dangerous equipment
Things falling from high places
Equipment breaking down or collapsing
Buildings or structures falling down
Problems with underground tunnels or digging sites
Boat accidents or water rushing into vessels
What Doesn't Need to Be Reported?
Not everything that happens at work needs to be reported to WorkSafe NZ. For example, you wouldn't need to report in the following situations as they are not classed as work-related:
Medical conditions that aren't caused by work (like someone with diabetes having a medical episode)
Car accidents on the way to work in personal vehicles
Injuries to patients in hospitals or care homes caused by their medical conditions
Someone fainting from non-work related causes
What to Do When Something Serious Happens
Step 1: Secure the Area
Don't move or change anything at the scene unless you need to. Here are some exceptions:
Help an injured person
Remove someone who has died
Make the area safe
Follow police instructions
Get permission from a WorkSafe NZ Inspector
Keep everything else exactly as it is until a WorkSafe NZ inspector says it's okay to return to normal work.
Step 2: Report It Quickly
Contact WorkSafe New Zealand as fast as possible. You can call, use their website, or send an email - whatever is fastest in your situation.
For WorkSafe:
Someone died: Call 0800 030 040 immediately (available 24/7)
Emergency situations: Call 111
Other serious events: Use their online reporting tool or report through the HazardCo App
Step 3: Keep Records
Log the incident in the HazardCo App - Records are to be kept for at least five years from when you reported the incident.
What Happens After You Report with WorkSafe NZ?
WorkSafe will look at your report and decide what to do next. They might:
Start an investigation
Ask you to review your safety procedures
Provide guidance on preventing similar incidents
Take no further action if everything was handled properly
Why Is This Important?
Reporting these events helps:
Keep other workers safe by learning from what went wrong
Make sure proper investigations happen when needed
Improve workplace safety for everyone
Meet your legal responsibilities as an employer
Need Help Deciding If You Should Report?
If you're not sure whether something needs to be reported, then give us a call - remember it's part of your membership. We also monitor any incidents that are reported, so if we think it could be notifiable, we will give you a call to chat about the situation.
The HazardCo App makes it easy to report incidents right from your phone, helping you meet your legal requirements quickly and efficiently.
Remember: The goal is to keep everyone safe at work and learn from serious incidents so they don't happen again.