High-risk, fast-moving environments — with a new regulator and a new code
Ports are complex, dynamic and high-risk, and after two worker deaths in 2022 the rules changed. From 1 July 2024, Maritime NZ became the primary HSWA regulator across New Zealand's 13 major ports — on land as well as on ships — and New Zealand's first code of practice for stevedoring has been approved. The big risks are vehicles and pedestrians, falling loads, working at height and fatigue, all made harder by the number of businesses sharing the same space.
From 1 July 2024, Maritime NZ became the primary regulator for health and safety across New Zealand's 13 major ports, covering land at the port as well as ships. Most notifiable incidents on ports now go to Maritime NZ.
WorkSafe keeps responsibility for major hazard facilities, inland ports, HSWA authorisations and exemptions, and activities under laws such as the Gas, Electricity and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Acts. The two regulators work together under an agreed schedule. The change followed advice from the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group after two port-worker deaths in 2022.
| Risk | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Vehicles & pedestrians | Straddle carriers, forklifts, trucks and trains moving among people in a busy yard. |
| Falling loads | Containers and cargo lifted by cranes; loads or lashings failing. |
| Caught or crushed | Lashing, twistlocks and machinery; the ship-to-shore interface. |
| Working at height | On and between containers, in ship holds, and during lashing. |
| Fatigue | Shift work in a 24/7 operation. |
| Other | Noise, dangerous goods, weather and working over water. |
Separating people from machines is the priority: traffic management, marked walkways, exclusion zones, and clear communication — see traffic management plans. Add rigorous lift planning and load control, fall protection for height and lashing work (working at height), fatigue management for shift work, and good manual handling. The new stevedoring code of practice sets minimum standards for loading and unloading cargo.
A port brings the port company, stevedores, the shipping line and transport operators into the same area at the same time, so overlapping duties are constant. The parties must consult, co-operate and co-ordinate so that one business's work does not put another's workers at risk. Foreign-flagged vessels are generally not PCBUs, so shore-based businesses should engage the ship's master to keep their own workers safe.
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From 1 July 2024, Maritime NZ became the primary HSWA regulator across New Zealand's 13 major ports, on land and on ships. WorkSafe retains major hazard facilities, inland ports, and certain named activities.
Yes. New Zealand's first approved code of practice for stevedoring has been approved as part of the Safer Ports Programme, setting minimum standards for loading and unloading cargo.
Vehicle and pedestrian interaction, falling loads, being caught or crushed during lashing and at the ship-to-shore interface, working at height, and fatigue from shift work.
Because the port company, stevedores, shipping lines and transport operators all work in the same space at once, so they must consult, co-operate and co-ordinate to keep each other's workers safe.
Most notifiable incidents on major ports now go to Maritime NZ, which became the primary regulator on 1 July 2024.
