Second set of HSWA guidance now available

WorkSafe has released further guidance to help businesses prepare for upcoming changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA).

Following our first guidance release earlier this month on critical risk and business size, this latest release focuses on officer duties and overlapping duties. It is designed to help businesses develop a clear understanding of the amended legislation and what it means in practice, so they can prepare for the changes before they come into force on 1 April 2027.

The new guidance provides further clarity on what the amendments mean for officers (namely directors, partners and chief executives), including governance responsibilities for Health and Safety rather than a day-to-day focus. It also explains how responsibilities are shared when more than one organisation is involved in the same work or activity.

It is now available on the WorkSafe website:

This second release continues WorkSafe’s phased approach to supporting businesses with a final guidance release due around the end of October. Alongside the guidance, WorkSafe will continue to publish supporting information, tools and educational resources to help businesses prepare for the changes.

In addition, a comprehensive advertising campaign will be launched towards the end of the year to help raise awareness among all businesses both large and small.

Subscribe to our general health and safety updates and visit the WorkSafe website regularly to stay up to date as new guidance and resources are added.