The two ACOPs, Roles and responsibilities in agriculture and Safe farm vehicle operation, will come into effect on 1 April 2027, reflecting amendments to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 that also come into effect from that date.

The ACOPs are being launched now to help the agriculture sector prepare for upcoming changes to health and safety law. They provide practical, sector-specific information to help farmers, growers, contractors, workers and other agriculture businesses understand and meet their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

The ACOP for Roles and responsibilities in agriculture focuses on situations where farmers, managers, workers, contractors, suppliers and others have overlapping health and safety duties. It explains that tasks can be delegated, but legal duties cannot simply be assigned to others.

ACOP: Roles and responsibilities in agriculture

The ACOP for Safe farm vehicle operation explains what good practice looks like when using farm vehicles and attached machinery, helping reduce serious harm and supporting safer farms.

ACOP: Safe farm vehicle operation

WorkSafe Chief Executive Sharon Thompson says the ACOPs are an opportunity for the agriculture sector to better understand their health and safety responsibilities and improve health and safety outcomes on farms.

“These ACOPs are not about creating new duties; they are about making existing health and safety duties clearer so people understand who needs to do what, where responsibilities overlap, and how serious risks should be managed.

“Agriculture is one of New Zealand’s highest-risk sectors, accounting for around a quarter of all work-related deaths and serious injuries while employing only 6% of New Zealand’s workforce.

“People often work in changing environments where different businesses, contractors and workers need to coordinate activities and manage risks together.

“The more people understand their roles and responsibilities and safe farm vehicle use, the better placed they are to work together, make good decisions and keep everyone safe.

“Our message is simple: know your role, work together and manage risks well.

“The ACOPs do not come into effect until 1 April 2027, so we encourage people to use this time to become familiar with them and what it means for their business, workers and day-to-day operations.

“Taking the time now to understand the ACOPs will help support healthier and safer farms and better outcomes for everyone working in the sector.

“We thank the farmers, growers, contractors, industry representatives and others who contributed their time and practical experience to help make the ACOPs workable for the sector.”

Following an ACOP is not mandatory, but an ACOP sets a recognised standard for compliance with legal duties. Businesses can meet their duties in other ways if this achieves at least the same standard described in the ACOP.

After 1 April 2027, the ACOPs may be granted safe harbour status, meaning that taking the actions in the ACOPs may provide sufficient evidence that a business or worker has met their legal duty. The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety would need to reapprove the ACOPs following consultation for this to happen.

Read the ACOPs