What this ACOP covers

Farm vehicles and attached machinery are a leading cause of serious harm in agriculture. This ACOP sets a clear, practical standard for safe vehicle use on farms.

It focuses on:

• choosing the right vehicle for the job and terrain
• reassessing risks when conditions change, such as weather, terrain, or fatigue
• managing work-related health risks like fatigue, heat, cold, noise, and vibration, not just vehicle rollovers
• safe operation and maintenance of high-risk vehicles and attached machinery
• managing risks when children are present around vehicles and attached machinery.

Vehicles in scope include quad bikes, side-by-sides, two-wheel motorbikes, utes, four-wheel drives, tractors, and attached machinery that affects stability or function.

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 (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.

As this ACOP was approved before the Amendment Act’s commencement date, it does not have safe harbour status. It will need to be reapproved after 1 April 2027, once the legislative changes take effect. If the ACOP is reapproved, it will then have safe harbour status as described above.

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 understanding and application of the ACOP in everyday farm 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