Daily Risk Assessment Template for New Zealand

A Daily Risk Assessment is a structured safety document that helps you identify, evaluate and control workplace hazards before starting work each day. Under New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, you have a legal duty to systematically manage workplace risks, making this assessment a critical compliance tool for your business operations.

When do you need this document?

You need to complete a Daily Risk Assessment whenever you're starting work in environments where hazards may change daily or when specific high-risk activities are planned. This is particularly important in construction sites, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and any workplace where equipment, weather conditions, or work processes vary from day to day. The assessment is also required when new workers, contractors, or subcontractors join your site, ensuring everyone understands the day's specific risks and control measures.

Key legal considerations

Your Daily Risk Assessment must demonstrate systematic hazard identification and risk evaluation processes. The document should clearly record the assessment team members, including their roles and qualifications to conduct risk assessments. You must document specific control measures for each identified hazard, ensuring they follow the hierarchy of controls required under New Zealand regulations. Worker participation is legally mandated, so your assessment must show how workers and their representatives were involved in identifying hazards and developing control measures. The document also needs sign-off procedures that confirm all team members understand the risks and agreed control measures before work begins.

Legal requirements in New Zealand

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, you must ensure your Daily Risk Assessment complies with the General Risk and Workplace Management Regulations 2016, which specify detailed requirements for hazard identification and risk assessment processes. The Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation Regulations 2016 mandate that workers must be meaningfully involved in your risk assessment process, including the right to participate in identifying hazards and developing control measures. If your workplace involves hazardous substances, you must also consider requirements under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. WorkSafe New Zealand expects your assessments to be documented, regularly reviewed, and accessible to all affected workers, with clear evidence of how identified risks are being managed throughout the workday.