Glossary
On this page
Approved Code of Practice (ACOP)
ACOPs describe preferred or recommended methods that can be used (or standards to be met) to comply with regulations and the duties imposed by the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Part 1 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (the Act)
Sets out the Act’s purpose, its general coverage and application, and definitions (such as ‘reasonably practicable’, ‘worker’, ‘volunteer’, ‘PCBU’, ‘workplace’, etc).
Part 2 of the Act: Health and safety duties
Sets out the Act’s key principles, including in relation to risk management processes, overlapping duties, and overlapping regimes; duties of the four key duty holders (PCBU, worker, officer/director, and others at a workplace); offences and penalties; liabilities; the duty to notify harm and incidents.
Part 3 of the Act: Worker engagement, participation, and representation
Sets out provisions for worker engagement, participation, and representation worker engagement, participation, and representation, including work health and safety representatives and Committees, the right to refuse unsafe work, and prohibitions on adverse conduct.
Part 4 of the Act: Enforcement and other matters
Sets out enforcement and other matters, including different enforcement mechanisms, from notices through to prosecutions, and provisions relating to inspectors and their enforcement powers.
PCBU
PCBU means a ‘Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking’. This is a broad concept that describes all types of modern working arrangements which we commonly refer to as businesses. Most New Zealand businesses, whether large corporates, sole traders, or self-employed, are classed as PCBUs.
WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe)
WorkSafe is New Zealand’s primary work health and safety regulator, established by the WorkSafe New Zealand Act 2013. There are two other designated work health and safety regulators: Maritime New Zealand (for work health and safety on ships and in major ports) and the Civil Aviation Authority (for work health and safety on aircraft).