Source: New Zealand Government
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today launched two new Approved Codes of Practice [ACOP] that outline practical steps businesses and workers can take to meet their health and safety responsibilities on farms.
“These will provide practical, sector-specific information to help farmers, growers, contractors, workers and other agriculture businesses prepare for upcoming changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015,” says Ms van Velden
The two ACOPS, Roles and Responsibilities in Agriculture and Safe Farm Vehicle Operation will come into effect on 1 April 2027, reflecting recent amendments to the Health and Safety at Work Act that will also come into effect from that date. The legislative amendments include clarifying responsibilities for recreational activities, clearer duties for directors, and reducing the compliance burden for small businesses.
Roles and Responsibilities in Agriculture focuses on situations where farmers, managers, workers, contractors, suppliers and others have overlapping health and safety duties.
Safe Farm Vehicle Operation sets out practical ways to manage serious vehicle-related risks, including choosing the right vehicle for the job, checking conditions, reassessing risks when things change, and keeping people clear of vehicle movements.
“Farm work often happens in changing environments, with different people and businesses working together. Developed with input from the agriculture sector, the ACOPs use practical examples that reflect how farms operate day to day, including before work starts, when bringing contractors onto farm, when choosing or using farm vehicles, and when conditions change.”
The ACOPs are being launched now to help the agriculture sector prepare for upcoming changes. The ACOPs provide a useful tool for understanding health and safety expectations, improving health and safety practice, and supporting better outcomes across New Zealand’s agriculture sector.
After 1 April 2027, the ACOPs may be granted a safe-harbour status, meaning that taking the actions in the ACOPs will provide sufficient evidence of businesses and workers meeting their legal duty. The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety would need to reapprove the ACOP following consultation for this to happen.
“These ACOPs are not about creating new duties; they are about making existing health and safety duties clearer so businesses understand who needs to do what, where responsibilities overlap, and how serious risks should be managed.
“While following an ACOP is not mandatory, an ACOP sets a recognised standard for compliance. I expect that this will provide greater clarity and certainty for the farming sector, particularly if the ACOP is confirmed to provide a safe harbour following the commencement of this Government’s health and safety legislative changes.
WorkSafe will work with industry to support businesses to understand and apply the ACOPs in their day-to-day work.
Note to editors:
You can find links to the ACOPS here:
Approved code of practice: Roles and responsibilities in agriculture | WorkSafe
Approved code of practice: Safe farm vehicle operation | WorkSafe
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/01/new-acops-clarify-health-and-safety-responsibilities-on-farms/