What this ACOP covers

The ACOP for Roles and responsibilities in agriculture focuses on situations where two or more people or businesses have health and safety responsibilities for the same work. This includes shared work arrangements involving farmers, contractors, and workers.

The ACOP will:

• clarify how existing HSWA duties apply in agricultural settings
• explain that while tasks can be delegated, legal duties cannot
• make clear that responsibility depends on who has influence and control over the work, the workplace, or the equipment at the time
• use practical examples of common farm scenarios.

The focus is on practical conversations before work starts, shared understanding of the plan, and the ability to pause and reset if conditions or risks change.

Effective date

The ACOP will come into effect on 1 April 2027, in alignment with the commencement of the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 (the Amendment Act).

Safe harbour provides more certainty

One of the changes to HSWA introduced by the Amendment Act is a provision known commonly as ‘safe harbour’. The intention of safe harbour is to give duty holders more certainty. This means that if a duty holder follows all relevant actions in the ACOP that apply to a specific risk, they will be treated as compliant with the law.

How to use this ACOP now

You can start familiarising yourself with the ACOP now, ahead of its commencement on 1 April 2027. The ACOP provides a useful tool for understanding health and safety expectations, improving health and safety practice, and supporting better outcomes across New Zealand’s agriculture sector. 

Support to understand the ACOP and Health and Safety at Work Act changes

Over the coming months, WorkSafe will work with the agriculture sector to support understanding and implementation of the Health and Safety at Work Act changes and this ACOP ahead of the 1 April 2027 commencement date. If you have an event that you would like us to attend to support understanding of the ACOP content as well as safe harbour, please email engagementrequests@worksafe.govt.nz

An ACOP industry support pack has been created to support industry to understand how to apply the ACOP to their everyday work:

WorkSafe will hold webinars on the HSWA legislation amendments from September through to November, including sessions with peak bodies, industry associations, and priority sector organisations. These sessions will cover the role of ACOPs and the safe harbour provisions under the amended legislation. To enquire about booking a session, please email HSWAchanges@worksafe.govt.nz