Home > Health & Safety > Services > Notifications > Notification of serious harm and accidents

Notification of serious harm and accidents

Employers, principals and self-employed persons must notify the Department of Labour as soon as possible of workplace accidents and occurrences of serious harm.

  1. You may notify by phone (0800 20 90 20), by email (SeriousHarm.Notification@dol.govt.nz), or by fax (find your nearest Department of Labour Office).
  2. You must provide the Department with written notice of the circumstances of the accident or serious harm within 7 days by using the notification form below (or by providing the same details). This written notice can be made by email (SeriousHarm.Notification@dol.govt.nz), or by fax or post to the nearest Department of Labour Office.

Email notifications may not be responded to until the next business day.

If necessary, contact emergency services by phoning 111. If you are reporting a hazardous substances emergency, please call the New Zealand Fire Service on 111 and then our Contact Centre directly on 0800 20 90 20.

It is a legal requirement not to disturb an accident scene until clearance is authorised by a health and safety inspector except in certain situations, including when persons or property are at risk, as provided for by section 26 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. If you require scene clearance or other immediate assistance from a health and safety inspector, please call 0800 20 90 20.

If you are calling from overseas, our telephone number is +64 9 969 2950.

Form of register or notification of circumstances of Accident or Serious Harm