Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002

1: Title
1: This Act is the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002.
2: In this Act, the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 the principal Act
1: Preliminary provisions
2: Commencement
This Act comes into force on 5 May 2003.
3: Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to—
a: make the principal Act more comprehensive in its coverage, in particular by—
i: including the maritime, rail, and air industries; and
ii: confirming that persons who are mobile while they work are covered; and
iii: providing protection to volunteers, persons receiving on the job training or gaining work experience, and employees on loan; and
iv: confirming that harm can be caused by work-related stress; and
v: confirming that certain temporary conditions may cause a person's behaviour to be hazardous; and
b: include provisions in the principal Act requiring good faith co-operation between employers and employees in relation to health and safety; and
c: provide for more effective enforcement of the principal Act; and
d: prohibit persons from being indemnified and from indemnifying others against the cost of fines and infringement fees for failing to comply with the principal Act; and
e: promote compliance with International Labour Convention 155 concerning Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment.
2: Amendments to principal Act
4: Interpretation
1: Section 2(1) all practicable steps
2: Section 2(1) approved code of practice Armed Forces section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990
3: Section 2(1) at work coastal cargo section 198(6) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994
4: Section 2(1) crew compliance order section 137 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 demise charter section 2(1) of the Ship Registration Act 1992
5: Section 2(1) employee employee sections 3C to 3F
6: Section 2(1) employer employer subject to sections 3C to 3F,
7: Section 2(1) employer enforcement action
a: in relation to an inspector,—
i: the laying of an information under this Act; or
ii: the issuing of an infringement notice under this Act; or
iii: the making of an application for a compliance order; and
b: in relation to a person other than an inspector,—
i: the laying of an information under this Act; or
ii: the making of an application for a compliance order.
8: Section 2(1) harm hazard harm
a: means illness, injury, or both; and
b: includes physical or mental harm caused by work-related stress hazard
a: means an activity, arrangement, circumstance, event, occurrence, phenomenon, process, situation, or substance (whether arising or caused within or outside a place of work) that is an actual or potential cause or source of harm; and
b: includes—
i: a situation where a person's behaviour may be an actual or potential cause or source of harm to the person or another person; and
ii: without limitation, a situation described in subparagraph (i) hazard notice section 46A(1) health and safety committee health and safety representative
9: Section 2(1) improvement notice infringement notice section 56B
10: Section 2(1) machinery matter sections 54, 54A, 54C, 54E, 56B, and 56C
a: a failure to comply with this Act or regulations made under this Act; or
b: a series of such associated failures arising out of, or relating to, the same incident, situation, or set of circumstances.
11: Section 2(1) Minister New Zealand New Zealand ship section 2(1) of the Ship Registration Act 1992
12: Section 2(1) place of work or structure , structure, or vehicle
13: Section 2(1) serious harm ship section 2(1) of the Ship Registration Act 1992
14: Section 2(1) trained health and safety representative section 46A(1) union section 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 volunteer
a: means a person who—
i: does not expect to be rewarded for work to be performed as a volunteer; and
ii: receives no reward for work performed as a volunteer; and
b: does not include a person who is in a place of work for the purpose of receiving on the job training or gaining work experience.
15: Section 2 subsection (3)
3: To avoid doubt, a person is in a place of work whenever and wherever the person performs work including in a place that—
a: the person moves through; or
b: itself moves.
5: New
section 2A The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 2
2A: All practicable steps
1: In this Act, all practicable steps, in relation to achieving any result in any circumstances, means all steps to achieve the result that it is reasonably practicable to take in the circumstances, having regard to—
a: the nature and severity of the harm that may be suffered if the result is not achieved; and
b: the current state of knowledge about the likelihood that harm of that nature and severity will be suffered if the result is not achieved; and
c: the current state of knowledge about harm of that nature; and
d: the current state of knowledge about the means available to achieve the result, and about the likely efficacy of each of those means; and
e: the availability and cost of each of those means.
2: To avoid doubt, a person required by this Act to take all practicable steps is required to take those steps only in respect of circumstances that the person knows or ought reasonably to know about.
6: New
sections 3A to 3F The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 3
3A: Application of Act to aircraft
1: This Act applies to—
a: a person employed or engaged to work on board an aircraft; and
b: the person who employs or engages the person specified in paragraph (a)
c: the aircraft as a place of work.
2: However, this Act applies only while an aircraft is—
a: operating on a flight beginning at a place in New Zealand and ending at that same place; or
b: operating between 2 places in New Zealand (not as part of a flight beginning or ending outside New Zealand); or
c: operating outside New Zealand, and the person is employed or engaged under an employment agreement or contract for services governed by New Zealand law.
3: For the purposes of subsection 2(c)
4: Section 16
5: To avoid doubt, where this Act applies outside New Zealand, the provisions relating to offences apply even though an act or omission that constitutes an offence occurred in respect of an aircraft outside New Zealand.
3B: Application of Act to ships
1: This Act applies—
a: to a person—
i: employed or engaged under an employment agreement or contract for services governed by New Zealand law to work on board a New Zealand ship or on board a foreign ship carrying coastal cargo while the foreign ship is on demise charter to a New Zealand-based operator; or
ii: performing work on a foreign ship while it is carrying out petroleum operations in New Zealand continental waters (as defined in section 222(1) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994
b: to the person who employs or engages the person described in paragraph (a)
c: to the ship as a place of work.
2: Where this Act applies in respect of a New Zealand ship, it applies whether the ship is operating inside or outside New Zealand.
3: Section 16
4: To avoid doubt, where this Act applies outside New Zealand, the provisions relating to offences apply even though an act or omission that constitutes an offence occurred in respect of a ship outside New Zealand.
3C: Application of certain provisions to volunteers doing regular work
1: This section applies if—
a: a volunteer does work for another person (being an employer or self-employed person) with the knowledge or consent of the other person; and
b: the volunteer does the work on an ongoing and regular basis for that other person; and
c: the work is an integral part of the business of the employer or self-employed person.
2: When this section applies, sections 6 to 12, 19, and Part IV
a: as if the volunteer were an employee of the other person; and
b: as if the other person were the volunteer's employer; and
c: as if the volunteer were at work when doing work for the other person.
3: This section does not apply in respect of a volunteer doing any of the following voluntary work activities:
a: participation in a fundraising activity; or
b: assistance with sports or recreation for—
i: a sports club:
ii: a recreation club:
iii: an educational institution; or
c: assistance with activities for an educational institution outside the premises of the educational institution; or
d: providing care for another person in the volunteer's home.
3D: Protections for other volunteers
1: This section applies in respect of all volunteers doing any voluntary work activity in respect of whom section 3C
2: The person for whom such a volunteer does the work activity should take all practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of the volunteer while he or she is doing the work activity, in particular by taking hazards into account when planning the work activity.
3: If an inspector becomes aware of a significant hazard relating to the work activity, the inspector must, as soon as practicable, contact the person for whom the volunteer is doing the work activity (or the person's representative) to discuss means of eliminating, isolating, or minimising the hazard.
4: If this section applies, sections 39, 41, and 49
3E: Application of Act to persons receiving on the job training or gaining work experience
1: This Act, except for Part 2A (person A)
2: For the purposes of this Act,—
a: person A must be treated as if he or she were an employee of the person who has agreed to provide the on the job training or work experience (person B)
b: person B must be treated as if that person were person A's employer; and
c: person A must be treated as if he or she were at work when in the place of work for the purposes set out in subsection (1)
3F: Application of Act to loaned employees
1: This Act, except for Part 2A
a: an employer or principal ( person A loaned employee person B
b: there is no contractual relationship between person A and person B regarding the work to be performed by the loaned employee.
2: For the purposes of this Act,—
a: a loaned employee must be treated as if he or she were an employee of person B (instead of person A) while the loaned employee is working for person B; and
b: person A has a duty to ensure that the loaned employee is capable of doing the proposed work safely and that person B is aware of person B's duties under this Act; and
c: person B must be treated as if person B were the employer of the loaned employee (instead of person A) while the loaned employee is working for person B; and
d: the loaned employee must be treated as if he or she were at work when doing work for person B.
7: New
section 5 The principal Act is amended by repealing section 5
5: Object of Act
The object of this Act is to promote the prevention of harm to all persons at work and other persons in, or in the vicinity of, a place of work by—
a: promoting excellence in health and safety management, in particular through promoting the systematic management of health and safety; and
b: defining hazards and harm in a comprehensive way so that all hazards and harm are covered, including harm caused by work-related stress and hazardous behaviour caused by certain temporary conditions; and
c: imposing various duties on persons who are responsible for work and those who do the work; and
d: setting requirements that—
i: relate to taking all practicable steps to ensure health and safety; and
ii: are flexible to cover different circumstances; and
e: recognising that volunteers doing work activities for other persons should have their health and safety protected because their well-being and work are as important as the well-being and work of employees; and
f: recognising that successful management of health and safety issues is best achieved through good faith co-operation in the place of work and, in particular, through the input of the persons doing the work; and
g: providing a range of enforcement methods, including various notices and prosecution, so as to enable an appropriate response to a failure to comply with the Act depending on its nature and gravity; and
h: prohibiting persons from being indemnified or from indemnifying others against the cost of fines and infringement fees for failing to comply with the Act.
8: Significant hazards to employees to be minimised, and employees to be protected, where elimination and isolation impracticable
1: Section 10(2)﻿(b) To ensure that there is provided for, accessible to, and used by the employees to provide, make accessible to, and ensure the use by the employees of
2: Section 10
3: An employer does not comply with subsection (2)﻿(b)
a: paying an employee an allowance or extra salary or wages instead of providing the protective clothing or equipment; or
b: requiring an employee to provide his or her own protective clothing or equipment as a pre-condition of employment or as a term or condition in an employment agreement.
4: However, an employer does not have to comply with subsection (2)﻿(b)
a: an employee genuinely and voluntarily chooses to provide his or her own protective clothing for reasons of his or her comfort or convenience; and
b: the employer is satisfied that the protective clothing is suitable in terms of subsection (2)﻿(b)
5: An employee who has chosen to provide his or her own protective clothing under subsection (4) subsection (2)﻿(b)
6: Nothing in subsections (4) or (5) subsection (2)﻿(b)
9: Information for employees generally
1: The heading to section 12 and health and safety representatives
2: Section 12 in such a form and manner that the employee is reasonably likely to understand it, information and is provided with ready access to, information in a form and manner that the employee is reasonably likely to understand
3: Section 12 subsection (2)
2: An employer must ensure that all health and safety representatives in a place of work have ready access to sufficient information about health and safety systems and health and safety issues in the place of work to enable the representatives to perform their functions effectively.
10: Section 14 Section 14
11: New
section 18A The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 18
18A: Duties of persons selling or supplying plant for use in place of work
1: A person who hires, leases, or loans to another person plant that can be used in a place of work must—
a: ascertain from the other person (so far as is practicable) before hiring, leasing, or loaning the plant—
i: whether the plant is to be used in a place of work; and
ii: if so, the intended use of the plant; and
b: if he or she ascertains that it is to be used in a place of work, take all practicable steps to ensure that the plant is designed and made, and has been maintained, so that it is safe for its intended use.
2: A person who sells or supplies (other than in a situation covered by subsection (1)
3: In addition to the other obligations in this section, if a person who hires, leases, sells, or otherwise supplies to another person plant to be used in a place of work agrees to install or arrange the plant, the person must take all practicable steps to install or arrange the plant so that it is safe for its intended use.
4: This section does not apply to the sale of plant, whether or not in trade, if the plant—
a: is secondhand; and
b: is sold as is.
5: In subsection (4)﻿(b)
6: This section does not limit the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
12: Duties of employees
Section 19(a) work (including by using suitable protective clothing and suitable protective equipment provided by the employer or, if section 10(4)
13: New
Part 2A The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 19
2A: Employee participation
19A: Purpose of
Part 2A The purpose of this Part is to require the participation of employees in processes relating to health and safety in the place of work so that—
a: all persons with relevant knowledge and expertise can help make the place of work healthy and safe; and
b: when making decisions that affect employees and their work, an employer has information from employees who face the health and safety issues in practice.
19B: General duty to involve employees in health and safety matters
1: Every employer must provide reasonable opportunities for the employer's employees to participate effectively in ongoing processes for improvement of health and safety in the employees' places of work.
2: Without limiting subsection (1) sections 6 to 13
3: In complying with this Part, an employer must take into account any approved code of practice for employee participation in workplace health and safety.
4: If a health and safety committee or a health and safety representative makes a recommendation regarding health and safety in a place of work, the employer must either adopt the proposal or provide a written statement to the health and safety committee or health and safety representative setting out the reasons for not adopting the proposal.
5: In subsection (1)
a: the number of employees employed by the employer; and
b: the number of different places of work for the employees and the distance between them; and
c: the likely potential sources or causes of harm in the place of work; and
d: the nature of the work that is performed and the way that it is arranged or managed by the employer; and
e: the nature of the employment arrangements, including the extent and regularity of employment of seasonal or temporary employees; and
f: the willingness of employees and unions to develop employee participation systems; and
g: the overriding duty to act in good faith.
19C: Development of employee participation system
1: This section applies if an employer employs—
a: fewer than 30 employees, whether or not at a single location, and 1 or more of the employees, or a union representing them, requires the development of a system for employee participation; or
b: 30 or more employees, whether or not at a single location.
2: The following persons must co-operate in good faith to seek to develop, agree, implement, and maintain a system that sets out the ways in which the employer must seek to comply with section 19B(1)
a: the employer:
b: the employees who wish to be involved:
c: a union or unions representing any of the employees.
3: A system must specify a process by which it must be reviewed, but otherwise may include any matters on which the employer, employees, and any union representing them, agree complies with this Part; provided that in doing so they must take into account Part 1 of Schedule 1A Part 2 of Schedule 1A
4: A system may include a provision increasing or decreasing the maximum—
a: number of days' paid leave that the employer is required to allow a health and safety representative to take for health and safety training under section 19E(1)
b: total number of days' paid leave that the employer is required to allow health and safety representatives to take for health and safety training under sections 19E(2) and 19F
5: A system may allow for more than 1 health and safety representative or health and safety committee and, in that case, each representative or committee may represent a particular type of work, or place of work of the employer, or another grouping.
6: Subsection (2)
a: it complies with section 19B section 19B
b: it specifies a process for its review or is amended to specify a process for its review; and
c: it is acceptable to the persons referred to in subsection (2)
7: If a system is no longer in place, or functioning, a new system must be developed, agreed, implemented, and maintained in accordance with this section.
19D: Provisions that apply if employer and employees fail to develop system for employee participation
Part 3 of Schedule 1A section 19C Part 3 of Schedule 1A
19E: Training of health and safety representatives
1: An employer must allow a health and safety representative 2 days' paid leave each year to attend health and safety training approved under section 19G
2: The number of days' paid leave that an employer must allow a health and safety representative to take in a year is subject to the maximum total number of days' paid leave that that employer is required to allow under section 19F
3: Sections 78 and 79 of the Employment Relations Act 2000
a: the representative were an eligible employee; and
b: the leave were employment relations education leave.
4: In this section and section 19F year
a: means a period of 12 months beginning on 1 April and ending on the close of 31 March; and
b: includes the period beginning on 5 May 2003 and ending on the close of 31 March 2004.
5: Subsections (1) and (2) section 19C(4)
19F: Calculation of maximum total number of days' paid leave for health and safety training
1: The maximum total number of days' paid leave that an employer is required to allow in a year under section 19E Employees as at the specified date in a year Maximum total number of days' paid leave that employer is required to allow to be taken 1–5 2 6–50 6 51–280 1 day for every 8 employees or part of that number 281 or more 35 days plus 5 days for every 100 employees or part of that number
2: In this section, specified date
a: means 1 April; and
b: for the period beginning on 5 May 2003 and ending on the close of 31 March 2004, includes 5 May 2003.
3: This section is subject to section 19C(4)﻿(b)
19G: Minister may approve occupational health and safety training
1: The Minister may approve, by notice in the Gazette
2: The Minister may approve a course only if he or she is satisfied that the course is—
a: consistent with the object of this Act; and
b: relevant to the role of a health and safety representative.
3: The Minister may delegate his or her power under subsection (1) to 1
4: To avoid doubt, a course approved under this section may be a course that is also approved under section 72 of the Employment Relations Act 2000
19H: System for employee participation in Armed Forces
1: This Part does not apply to members of the Armed Forces.
2: The Chief of Defence Force must develop and implement a system for employee participation in workplace health and safety for members of the Armed Forces.
3: The system must be consistent with section 19B
4: The Chief of Defence Force must consult with the Secretary when developing the system.
19I: Meaning of employee in
sections 19C(1) and 19F(1) In sections 19C(1) and 19F(1)
14: Codes of practice
1: Section 20 subsection (1)
1AA: The Minister may direct the Secretary to prepare, and submit for the Minister's approval in accordance with this section, a statement, amendment, or revocation referred to in subsection (1)
2: Section 20(1) paragraph (ac)
ad: a statement of preferred practices or arrangements relating to employee participation in health and safety in the place of work; or.
15: Regulations
Section 21(1)﻿(a)
iv: principals, or self-employed persons:
16: Recording and notification of accidents and serious harm
1: Section 25 subsection (1)
1A: Every self-employed person must maintain (in the prescribed form) a register of accidents and serious harm, and must record in the register the prescribed particulars relating to—
a: every accident that harmed (or, as the case may be, might have harmed) the self-employed person at work; and
b: every accident resulting from the work of the self-employed person that harmed (or, as the case may be, might have harmed) any person; and
c: every occurrence of serious harm to the self-employed person—
i: while at work; or
ii: as a result of any hazard to which the self-employed person was exposed while at work.
1B: Every principal must maintain (in the prescribed form) a register of accidents and serious harm, and must record in the register the prescribed particulars relating to—
a: every accident that the principal becomes aware of that harmed (or, as the case may be, might have harmed) a self-employed person while at work and contracted to the principal; and
b: every accident that the principal becomes aware of—
i: resulting from the work of a self-employed person while at work and contracted to the principal; and
ii: that harmed (or, as the case may be, might have harmed) any person; and
c: every occurrence of serious harm to a self-employed person—
i: while at work and contracted to the principal, or
ii: as a result of any hazard to which the self-employed person was exposed while at work and contracted to the principal.
1C: Subsection (1B)
2: Section 25(2)﻿(a) is required by subsection (1)﻿(b) of this section , self-employed person, or principal is required by this section
3: Section 25 subsection (3)
3: If there occurs any serious harm or accident to which this subsection applies, the employer, self-employed person, or principal concerned must,—
a: as soon as possible after the occurrence becomes known to the employer, self-employed person, or principal, notify the Secretary of the occurrence; and
b: within 7 days after the occurrence, or, if the occurrence is not known to the employer, self-employed person, or principal within that period, as soon as possible after it becomes known, give the Secretary written notice, in the prescribed manner, of the circumstances of the occurrence.
17: New headings and
sections 28A 28B The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 28 Right of employees to refuse to perform work likely to cause serious harm
28A: Employees may refuse to perform work likely to cause serious harm
1: An employee may refuse to do work if the employee believes that the work that the employee is required to perform is likely to cause serious harm to him or her.
2: An employee who, under subsection (1)
a: the employee attempts to resolve the matter with the employer as soon as practicable after first refusing to do the work; and
b: the matter is not resolved; and
c: the employee believes on reasonable grounds that the work is likely to cause serious harm to him or her.
3: Without limiting subsection (2)﻿(c)
4: A health and safety representative must not give advice under subsection (3)
5: An employee may not refuse to do work that, because of its nature, inherently or usually carries an understood risk of serious harm unless the risk has materially increased beyond the understood risk.
6: An employee who refuses to do work must do any other work within the scope of the employee's employment agreement that the employer reasonably requests.
7: This section does not limit an employee's right to refuse to do work under another enactment or the general law.
8: To avoid doubt—
a: in situations to which this section applies, the employer, employee, and health and safety representative must deal with each other in good faith; and
b: a question about the application of this section to a particular situation is an employment relationship problem for the purposes of the Employment Relations Act 2000
9: Subsection (8)﻿(b) Enforcement by other agencies
28B: Enforcement by other agencies
1: The Prime Minister may, having regard to the specialist knowledge of relevant agencies, by notice in the Gazette
2: In carrying out functions under this Act, the chief executive of the agency must comply with policy directions on occupational safety and health given to him or her and signed by the Minister and the Minister responsible for that agency.
3: A copy of the policy direction must be presented to the House of Representatives within 10 working days after the date that it is given to the chief executive.
4: This Act applies as if references to the Secretary were references to the chief executive of the agency.
5: In this section,— agency
a: a government department:
b: a Crown entity within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989
c: the New Zealand Police:
d: the New Zealand Defence Force chief executive
18: Functions of inspectors
Section 30(b) is being and will has been, is being, or is likely to
19: Powers of entry and inspection
1: Section 31 subsection (1)
1A: An inspector may do any of the things referred to in subsection (1)
a: the inspector or the person whom the inspector is dealing with is in the place of work; or
b: the place of work is still a place of work; or
c: the employer's employees work in the place of work; or
d: the person who was in control of the place of work is still in control of it; or
e: the employer's employees are still employed by the employer; or
f: in respect of a document or information, the document or information is—
i: in the place of work; or
ii: in the place where the inspector is; or
iii: in another place.
2: Section 31(2) subsection (1) or subsection (1A)
20: Powers to take samples and other objects and things
1: Section 33 subsection (1)
1: An inspector who enters a place of work or a former place of work under section 31
a: monitoring conditions in the place; or
b: determining the nature of any material or substance in the place; or
c: determining whether or not this Act has been, is being, or is likely to be complied with; or
d: gathering evidence to support the taking of enforcement action.
2: Section 33
3: This section does not allow an inspector to take a sample from a person's body unless the inspector has that person's informed consent to the taking of the sample.
21: Matters may be completed by different inspectors
Section 45 subsection (2)
2: This section does not apply to an infringement notice.
22: New heading and
section 46A The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 46 Hazard notices
46A: Trained health and safety representatives may issue hazard notices
1: In this section,— hazard notice
a: describes a hazard identified in a place of work; and
b: is in the prescribed form; and
c: may set out suggested steps to deal with the hazard trained health and safety representative Gazette section 19G
2: Subsection (3)
a: believes on reasonable grounds that there is a hazard in the place of work of the representative's employer; and
b: has brought the hazard to the attention of the employer; and
c: has discussed or attempted to discuss with the employer steps for dealing with the hazard.
3: The trained health and safety representative may give the employer a hazard notice if—
a: the employer refuses to discuss, or take steps to deal with, the hazard; or
b: the employer and representative do not agree on the steps that must be taken or the time within which the steps must be taken to deal with the hazard; or
c: the representative believes on reasonable grounds that the employer has failed to meet the requirements of section 6
4: If a hazard notice has been given by a trained health and safety representative, the representative may notify an inspector of that fact.
5: To avoid doubt, where this section applies, the employer and trained health and safety representative must deal with each other in good faith.
6: In this section, employer
23: Offences likely to cause serious harm
Section 49(3) paragraphs (a) (b)
a: imprisonment for a term of not more than 2 years; or
b: a fine of not more than $500,000; or.
24: Other offences
The principal Act is amended by repealing section 50(1)
1: Every person commits an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $250,000, who fails to comply with the requirements of—
a: a provision of Part 2 section 16(3)
b: section 19B, section 25, section 26, section 37(2), section 39(5), section 42(1), section 43, section 47, section 48, section 56I(2), section 58, or clause 6 of Schedule 1A
c: a provision of any regulations made under this Act, or continued in force by section 24
25: New
section 51A The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 51
51A: Sentencing criteria
1: This section applies when the Court is determining how to sentence or otherwise deal with a person convicted of an offence under this Act.
2: The Court must apply the Sentencing Act 2002
a: sections 7 to 10 of that Act
b: the requirements of sections 35 and 40 of that Act
c: the degree of harm, if any, that has occurred; and
d: the safety record of the person (which includes but is not limited to warnings and notices referred to in section 56C
e: whether the person has—
i: pleaded guilty:
ii: shown remorse for the offence and any harm caused by the offence:
iii: co-operated with the authorities in relation to the investigation and prosecution of the offence:
iv: taken remedial action to prevent circumstances of the kind that led to the commission of the offence occurring in the future.
3: This section does not limit the Sentencing Act 2002
26: Section 52 Section 52
27: New
sections 53 to 54E The principal Act is amended by repealing sections 53 54
53: Proof of intention not required
In a matter involving an infringement notice or in a prosecution for an offence against section 50
a: intended to take the action alleged to constitute the infringement offence or offence; or
b: intended not to take the action, the failure to take which is alleged to constitute the infringement offence or offence.
54: Notification to Secretary of interest in knowing of enforcement action taken by inspector
1: A person may notify the Secretary in the prescribed manner that the person has an interest in knowing whether a particular matter has been, is, or is to be, subject to the taking of enforcement action by an inspector.
2: The Secretary must ensure that the person who sent the notice is notified of—
a: any decision already made, or subsequently made, by an inspector as to whether or not to take enforcement action in respect of the matter, but not the reasons for the decision; and
b: any information that the Secretary is aware of relating to whether an enforcement authority has taken prosecution action as described in section 54A(2)﻿(b)
3: In this section and section 54A enforcement authority
54A: Laying information
1: An inspector may lay an information in respect of an offence under this Act unless an infringement notice has been issued to the same defendant in respect of the same matter.
2: A person other than an inspector may lay an information in respect of an offence under this Act only if—
a: an inspector or another person has not taken enforcement action against any possible defendant in respect of the same matter; and
b: an enforcement authority has not taken prosecution action under any other Act against any possible defendant in respect of the same incident, situation, or set of circumstances; and
c: any person has received notification from the Secretary under section 54(2)
3: Despite subsection (2)﻿(b)
a: the person has leave of the Court to lay the information; and
b: subsection (2)﻿(a) and (c)
54B: Time limit for laying information
1: An information in respect of an offence against this Act may be laid at any time within 6 months after the earlier of—
a: the date when the incident, situation, or set of circumstances to which the offence relates first became known to an inspector; or
b: the date when the incident, situation, or set of circumstances to which the offence relates should reasonably have become known to an inspector.
2: This section is subject to sections 54C and 54D
54C: Extension of time for person other than inspector to lay information
1: This section applies if—
a: an inspector or another person has not taken enforcement action in respect of a matter; and
b: the Secretary has notified relevant persons under section 54(2)﻿(a)
2: On application, the District Court may extend the time for a person other than an inspector to lay an information.
3: An application under subsection (2) subsection (1)﻿(b)
4: The Court must not grant an extension of time unless it is satisfied—
a: that another person wishes to decide whether to lay an information in respect of that matter; and
b: it is unreasonable, having regard to the time taken by an inspector to respond to the matter, to expect, or to have expected, the person to make that decision before the 6-month period referred to in section 54B
c: an application under section 54D
5: The Court must give the following persons an opportunity to be heard:
a: the person seeking the extension:
b: any proposed defendant:
c: any other person who has an interest in whether or not an information should be laid, being a person described in section 54(1)
54D: Extension of time if inspector needs longer to decide whether to lay information
1: This section applies if an inspector considers that he or she will not be able to lay an information by the end of the 6-month period referred to in section 54B
2: On application, the District Court may extend the time for laying an information.
3: An application under subsection (2)
4: The Court must not grant an extension unless it is satisfied that—
a: an inspector reasonably requires longer than the 6-month period to decide whether to lay an information; and
b: the reason for requiring the longer period is that the investigation of the events and issues surrounding the alleged offence is complex or time consuming; and
c: it is in the public interest in the circumstances that an information is able to be laid after the 6-month period expires; and
d: laying the information after the 6-month period expires will not unfairly prejudice the proposed defendant in defending the charge.
5: The Court must give the following persons an opportunity to be heard:
a: the person seeking the extension:
b: the proposed defendant:
c: any other person who has an interest in whether or not an information should be laid, being a person described in section 54(1)
54E: Continuing or repeated matters
Nothing in this Act prevents the taking of enforcement action by an inspector or another person in respect of a matter, despite enforcement action having been taken in respect of the matter, if the matter is continuing or repeated.
28: Other provisions relating to offences
1: Section 55
5: An inspector may lay an information for an offence against the Department of Labour, or any other agency designated under section 28B
6: If the Solicitor-General gives authority under subsection (5)
2: Section 25 Crown Organisations (Criminal Liability) Act 2002
29: New headings and
sections 56A to 56I The principal Act is amended by inserting, after section 56 Infringement offences
56A: Infringement offences
In sections 56B to 56H section 50(1)
56B: Infringement notices
1: An inspector may issue an infringement notice if—
a: the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that the person is committing, or has committed, an infringement offence; and
b: the person has had prior warning of the infringement offence under section 56C
c: an inspector or another person has not taken enforcement action against the same defendant in respect of the same matter.
2: An inspector may revoke an infringement notice before the infringement fee is paid, or an order for payment of a fine is made or deemed to be made by a Court under section 21 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
3: An infringement notice is revoked by giving written notice to the person to whom it was issued that the notice is revoked.
56C: Prior warning of infringement offence
A person has had prior warning of an infringement offence if the person has been the subject of 1 or more of the following for an infringement offence arising out of, or relating to, the same or a similar matter:
a: a written warning from an inspector:
b: an improvement notice:
c: a prohibition notice:
d: an infringement notice:
e: a conviction for an offence under this Act:
f: a hazard notice:
g: a compliance order.
56D: Inspector may require information
1: If an inspector is considering issuing to a natural person an infringement notice, the inspector may require the person to provide all or any of the following details:
a: the person's full name:
b: whether, in relation to the place of work, the person is 1 or more of the following:
i: an employer:
ii: an employee:
iii: a self-employed person:
iv: a principal:
v: a contractor:
vi: a subcontractor:
vii: a person who controls the place of work:
c: the person's date of birth:
d: the person's residential address and, if different, postal address.
2: If an inspector is considering issuing an infringement notice to a person that is a body corporate, the inspector may require a person who appears to represent the body corporate to provide all or any of the following details:
a: the body corporate's legal name:
b: whether, in relation to the place of work, the body corporate is 1 or more of the following:
i: an employer:
ii: a principal:
iii: a contractor:
iv: a subcontractor:
v: a person who controls the place of work:
c: the postal address of the body corporate.
56E: Procedural requirements for infringement notices
1: An infringement notice may not be issued after the close of the 14th day after the inspector becomes aware of the alleged infringement offence.
2: An infringement notice may be served on a person—
a: by delivering it personally to the person who appears to have committed the infringement offence; or
b: by sending it by post, addressed to the person at the person's last known place of residence or business.
3: For the purposes of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
4: An infringement notice must be in the prescribed form and must contain—
a: details of the alleged infringement offence that are sufficient to fairly inform a person of the time, place, and nature of the alleged infringement offence; and
b: the amount of the infringement fee; and
c: an address at which the infringement fee may be paid; and
d: the time within which the infringement fee must be paid; and
e: a summary of the provisions of section 21(10) of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
f: a statement that the person served with the notice has a right to request a hearing; and
g: a statement of what will happen if the person served with the notice does not pay the fee and does not request a hearing; and
h: any other prescribed matters.
5: If an infringement notice has been issued, proceedings in respect of the infringement offence to which the notice relates may be commenced in accordance with section 21 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
a: reminder notices may be prescribed under regulations made under this Act; and
b: in all other respects, section 21 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
56F: Infringement fees
1: The fee to be specified by an inspector in an infringement notice for any infringement offence except for a failure to comply with section 7(1)
2: In determining the amount of a fee under subsection (1)
a: whether or not harm resulted from the offence; and
b: if harm resulted from the offence, the extent of the harm; and
c: what potential harm could have resulted from the offence; and
d: in the case of an employer, principal, or contractor, the size of the business of the employer, principal, or contractor; and
e: the financial circumstances of the person; and
f: the safety record of the person (which includes but is not limited to warnings and notices referred to in section 56C
3: The fee to be specified by an inspector in an infringement notice for a failure to comply with section 7(1)
4: In determining the amount of a fee under subsection (3)
a: the size of the business of the employer; and
b: the financial circumstances of the employer; and
c: the safety record of the employer (which includes but is not limited to warnings and notices referred to in section 56C
56G: Payment of infringement fee
The Secretary must pay all infringement fees received into the Crown Bank Account.
56H: Effect of infringement notice
1: If an infringement notice is issued, a criminal record must not be created in respect of the infringement offence.
2: Subsection (1) Insurance against fines unlawful and of no effect
56I: Insurance against fines unlawful and of no effect
1: To the extent that an insurance policy or contract of insurance indemnifies or purports to indemnify a person for the person's liability to pay a fine or an infringement fee under this Act,—
a: the policy or contract is of no effect; and
b: No court or tribunal has jurisdiction to grant relief in respect of the policy or contract, whether under section 7 of the Illegal Contracts Act 1970
2: A person must not—
a: enter into, or offer to enter into, a policy or contract described in subsection (1)
b: indemnify, or offer to indemnify, another person for the other person's liability to pay a fine or an infringement fee under this Act; or
c: be indemnified, or agree to be indemnified, by another person for that person's liability to pay a fine or an infringement fee under this Act; or
d: pay to another person, or receive from another person, an indemnity for a fine or an infringement fee under this Act.
3: If an insurance policy or contract of insurance described in subsection (1)
a: subsections (1) and (2)﻿(c) and (d)
b: this section does not prevent the parties to it agreeing to the refund of an amount of the premium.
30: New
Schedule 1A The principal Act is amended by inserting, after the Schedule 1 Schedule 1A
31: General transitional provision
The principal Act continues to apply as if this Act had not been passed in respect of an incident, situation, or set of circumstances occurring before the commencement of this section.
32: Transitional provision for ships at sea
1: The Director of the Maritime Safety Authority is responsible for administering the principal Act for ships at sea until any designation regarding the maritime industry is made under section 28B
2: While subsection (1) section 29(1)
3: This section is subject to section 31 Consequential amendments
33: Employment Relations Act 2000
1: Section 104 Employment Relations Act 2000 indirectly of that employee's refusal to do work under section 28A of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
2: Section 107 Employment Relations Act 2000 subsection (2)
2: An employee who is representing employees under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 subsection (1)﻿(g)
3: Section 137(1)﻿(a) Employment Relations Act 2000
xi: Part 2A section 19K Schedule 1A of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
4: Section 137 Employment Relations Act 2000 subsection (4)
4: The following persons may take action against another person by applying to the Authority for an order of the kind described in subsection (2)
a: any person (being an employee, employer, union, or employer organisation) who alleges that that person has been affected by non-observance or non-compliance of the kind described in subsection (1)
b: a health and safety inspector appointed under section 29 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 subsection (1)﻿(a)﻿(xi)
5: Section 138(1) Employment Relations Act 2000 paragraph (b)
b: on the application of—
i: any party to the matter; or
ii: in the case of section 137(4)﻿(b)
34: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 Section 2(1) Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 place of work 2(1) and (2A)
35: Maritime Transport Act 1994
1: The Maritime Transport Act 1994
a: repealing paragraph (e)
b: repealing, from section 2(1) all practicable steps significant hazard
c: repealing Part 2
d: repealing sections 61 to 63
e: repealing section 72
f: repealing sections 80 81
2: Section 198(2) Maritime Transport Act 1994 appropriate (including any conditions relating to occupational safety and health)
3: Section 431(1)﻿(h) Maritime Transport Act 1994
36: Transport Services Licensing Act 1989 Section 6H Transport Services Licensing Act 1989