Our 2024 annual report analyses trends and highlights risks in electrical and gas accidents.

Read the executive summary and download the full report.

Executive summary

Overview of 2024

During 2024, 6 notifiable and 31 non-notifiable accidents¹ in New Zealand were reported to WorkSafe’s Energy Safety team comprising of:

• 2 electrical notifiable and 18 non-notifiable accident (non-fire) were reported during 2024. Two notifiable accidents resulted in 1 fatality and injury to 1 person
• 3 notifiable and ten non-notifiable LPG accidents were reported. One notifiable accident resulted in no fatality but injuries to one person
• 1 notifiable and 3 non-notifiable natural gas accidents were reported. There was not any casualty by the notifiable accident.

High-risk groups 1993–2024

Since 1993, electrical and gas (natural and LPG) accidents in New Zealand have been analysed according to high-risk groups to provide information about trends, frequency, common causes and severity.

Electrical accidents

The previously known general public accidents (1993–2008), and all public electrical accidents investigated since 2009 by Energy Safety, are aggregated as a single electrical accident category to enable analysis.

Two categories of particular interest are accidents involving young people and electrical safety in domestic residential environments.

Only notifiable shock electrical accidents were recorded in the database until the end of 2007. A new database that has been in use since the beginning of 2008 allows to record non-notifiable electrical accidents.

Young people (17 years old and under)

Since 1993 these young people were involved in 39% (117) of the total notifiable general public accidents (300), involving 19 fatalities and injury to 96 people.

Domestic environment

More than 55% (167 of 300) of the notifiable electrical accidents involving the general public in the last 32-years occurred in a domestic environment, resulting in 33 fatalities (of a total of 53 Fatalities [62%]) and injuries to 136 people, out of a total of 264 injuries [52]%.

Natural gas accidents

More than 56% (214) of the total 379 non-notifiable accidents involving the general public in the last 17-years (2008-2024).

EQUIPMENT

Cookers and ovens

A total of 38 (17%) notifiable natural gas accidents involved cookers or ovens. Twelve of 38 cooker or oven accidents resulted in one fatality and injury to 14 people.

Cookers and ovens accounted for 76 (12%) of reported non-notifiable natural gas accidents.

Space heaters

A total of 60 (28%) notifiable natural gas accidents involved space heaters. Of these, 16 notifiable space heaters accidents resulted in three fatalities and injury to 22 people.

Space heaters accounted for 135 (20%) of reported non-notifiable accidents.

Water heaters and boilers

A total of 72 (33%) notifiable natural gas accidents reported, involved water heaters or boilers. Of these, 17 resulting in one fatality and injury to 20 people.

Water heaters and boilers also accounted for 41 (6% of) reported non-notifiable accidents.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

In the last 32-years, a total of 460 notifiable LPG accidents and 634 non-notifiable accidents were reported to Energy Safety.

EQUIPMENT

Cookers and ovens

Of the 460 notifiable LPG accidents reported, 138 (30%) involved cookers or ovens. Out of the 138 notifiable accidents involving cookers or ovens, 102 resulted in 19 fatalities and injury to 130 people.

Cookers and ovens accounted for 107 (17%) of reported non-notifiable LPG accidents.

Cabinet heaters

There were 143 (31%) notifiable LPG accidents reported that involved cabinet heaters. Out of these, 66 accidents resulted in 13 fatalities and injury to 67 people.

Cabinet heaters accounted for 173 (27%) of reported non-notifiable accidents.

Containers (refillable)

There were 26 (6%) notifiable accidents reported that involved LPG refillable containers. This resulted in 17 container accidents that caused four fatalities and injured 20 people.

Refillable containers accounted for 94 (15%) of reported non-notifiable accidents.

ENVIRONMENT

Caravans and campervans

There were 49 (11%) out of the 460 notifiable LPG accidents that occurred in caravans or campervans. Of these, 35 caused 11 fatalities and injured 41 people.

¹ See Appendix for definitions of ‘notifiable’ and ‘non-notifiable’ accidents.

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