New Zealand's health and safety law is getting its biggest overhaul since 2015, and if you're running a small trade business, this one matters. The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill 2026 — introduced to Parliament in February 2026 — promises to cut red tape for small operators while keeping focus on the hazards that actually kill and seriously injure people on site.
Here's a plain-English breakdown of what's changing, what isn't, and what you should do before the law kicks in.
What Is the HSAW Amendment Bill 2026?
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill 2026 (often called the HSAW Amendment Bill) was introduced by the Coalition Government in February 2026 and passed its First Reading on 12 February. The Select Committee is due to report back on 12 June 2026, and the Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent before Parliament rises on 24 September 2026 — meaning changes could be law before the end of 2026.
The reform is being led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and is described as a way to reduce compliance costs without reducing protections for workers where it matters most.
The Big Change: A New Category for Small PCBUs
Under the current Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, all PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking — basically any business) have broadly the same obligations, regardless of size. That's long frustrated sole traders and small crews who've had to navigate the same paperwork burden as large construction companies.
The Amendment Bill creates a formal "small PCBU" category for businesses with fewer than 20 workers. This is significant because 97% of all New Zealand businesses fall under that threshold — and the vast majority of trade businesses operate with far fewer people than that.
For small PCBUs, the duty to manage health and safety is narrowed to focus on critical risks — hazards that are likely to cause death or serious injury. Think working at height, operating heavy machinery, exposure to hazardous substances, and live electrical work.
This does not mean you can ignore general health and safety. You still have a general duty to ensure the health and safety of your workers so far as is reasonably practicable. What changes is the level of documentation and process required to demonstrate compliance, especially for lower-risk, day-to-day work.
Approved Codes of Practice as "Safe Harbours"
One of the most useful changes in the Bill is strengthening the legal status of Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs). Under the new framework, WorkSafe's ACOPs will act as safe harbours: if you follow the relevant ACOP for your type of work, you can rely on that as evidence of compliance if you're ever investigated.
For tradies, this is good news. It means you can look up the ACOP for your trade — whether you're a plumber, electrician, builder, or roofer — follow its guidance, and have reasonable confidence you're meeting your legal obligations. You won't need to reinvent your own H&S system from scratch.
WorkSafe is updating and publishing ACOPs ahead of the law change, so keep an eye on worksafe.govt.nz for updates relevant to your trade.
What Still Applies: Don't Drop Your Guard
The simplified rules for small PCBUs do not remove your core obligations. These still apply regardless of business size:
- Notifiable events must still be reported to WorkSafe immediately — this includes serious injuries, illnesses, or near misses that could have caused death or serious harm.
- Specific high-risk work regulations remain unchanged. Scaffolding, asbestos removal, working with pressurised gas, and electrical work all have their own rules that sit alongside the general Act.
- Worker consultation is still required. You still need to involve your workers in identifying and managing risks — the Bill doesn't change that duty.
- Health monitoring requirements stay in place for workers exposed to hazardous substances, noise, or other long-term health risks.
If you work as a subcontractor, remember that your principal/PCBU also owes you duties — and you owe duties to them. Those overlapping responsibilities remain in place.
For a full breakdown of your current obligations, see our NZ Tradies Health & Safety Guide.
How This Affects ACC Levies
One question tradies often ask is whether a change in H&S law affects their ACC levies. The short answer: not directly. ACC levies are based on your industry risk classification and claims history, not on your specific H&S compliance status. However, better H&S practices do reduce injury rates, which over time can lower levy costs across an industry classification.
You can check your current ACC levy classification and estimate your annual costs using our ACC Levy Calculator.
What Should You Do Now?
The Bill is still going through the Select Committee process and isn't law yet. But there are practical steps you can take now to prepare:
1. Know whether you're a small PCBU. If you regularly have fewer than 20 workers (including contractors working under your direction), you'll likely qualify. Keep an eye on the final definition once the Bill is enacted.
2. Review your current H&S documentation. Many small tradies have H&S systems that are either non-existent or buried in a folder somewhere. Use this reform as a prompt to review what you actually have — and what critical risks exist in your day-to-day work.
3. Find the ACOP for your trade. WorkSafe has ACOPs for most trade sectors. Familiarise yourself with the one that applies to your work. Once the new law is in effect, following the ACOP will be your clearest path to compliance.
4. Keep records of critical risk management. Even under the simplified framework, you'll want to show that you've identified the critical risks in your work and taken steps to manage them. A simple job-specific hazard checklist is usually enough for most small trade jobs.
5. Stay updated through WorkSafe. WorkSafe NZ will be releasing updated guidance as the Bill progresses. Sign up for their industry updates at worksafe.govt.nz.
The Bottom Line
The HSAW Amendment Bill 2026 is genuinely good news for most small trade businesses in New Zealand. It doesn't remove your duty to protect your workers — it simplifies the way you demonstrate that you're doing it. Fewer forms, clearer guidance, and a focus on the risks that actually matter.
If you're already running a tidy operation with sensible site practices, the new law will largely formalise what you're already doing. If you've been letting H&S slide because it felt overwhelming, this reform is a good time to build some simple habits before inspectors start applying the new framework.
Download our free NZ tradie templates at tradietools.nz/templates/ — including a job hazard checklist, site safety plan, and subcontractor agreement template.
Want to manage your tradie business more efficiently? Check out Fastcrew — a NZ-built app for scheduling crews, tracking jobs, and managing health and safety records in one place.
NZ Tradie Tools provides free calculators, templates and guides for New Zealand tradies. Visit tradietools.nz.