Office Risk Assessment Template for New Zealand

An Office Risk Assessment is your legal obligation under New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to systematically identify, evaluate, and control workplace hazards in your office environment. This comprehensive document ensures you meet your primary duty of care as an employer while creating a safer workplace for all employees and visitors.

When do you need this document?

You must complete an Office Risk Assessment when establishing new office premises, relocating to different buildings, or making significant changes to your workspace layout. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires regular reviews, typically annually, or following any workplace incidents or near-misses. You'll also need this assessment when introducing new equipment, technology, or work processes that could affect employee safety. If you're expanding your team or changing work arrangements, such as implementing hybrid working models, a fresh assessment ensures all potential risks are properly managed.

Key legal considerations

Your Office Risk Assessment must demonstrate compliance with the primary duty of care under section 36 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. This includes identifying reasonably foreseeable risks, implementing control measures following the hierarchy of controls, and ensuring ongoing monitoring and review. The document should address ergonomic hazards from display screen equipment under the 1995 Guidelines, fire safety requirements per the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017, and building safety standards under the Building Act 2004. You must involve your workers in the risk assessment process, document consultation efforts, and ensure findings are communicated effectively to all staff members. The assessment should also consider psychological hazards, workplace violence prevention, and emergency evacuation procedures.

Legal requirements in New Zealand

Under the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, your assessment must follow a systematic risk management process including hazard identification, risk evaluation, and control implementation. You're required to maintain current records, review assessments when circumstances change, and ensure competent persons conduct or supervise the assessment process. WorkSafe NZ expects you to address specific office hazards including manual handling, slips and falls, electrical safety, indoor air quality, and workstation setup. Your assessment must align with approved codes of practice and guidance materials, particularly for display screen equipment and first aid requirements. The document should demonstrate how you're managing risks to the lowest reasonably practicable level and include clear action plans for addressing identified hazards.