Do You Need to Follow an Approved Code of Practice?

Oct 2

4 min read

If you've spent any time reading WorkSafe guidance or following recent health and safety updates, you've probably come across the term Approved Code of Practice, or ACOP.

For many businesses, that's where the understanding stops.

It's easy to assume an ACOP is just another piece of guidance sitting somewhere between legislation and best practice. But ACOPs occupy a unique position within New Zealand's health and safety framework, which means understanding them can help you make more informed decisions about how health and safety is managed in your workplace.

So, do you need to follow an ACOP?

The answer is a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

What Is an Approved Code of Practice?

An Approved Code of Practice sets out one recognised way of meeting health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Unlike general guidance documents, ACOPs go through a formal approval process and have a specific status under health and safety legislation. They are designed to provide practical direction on how risks can be managed and what good practice looks like in particular situations.

In simple terms, an ACOP helps answer a question many businesses ask:

What does good health and safety practice look like for this type of work?

Rather than requiring every business to work that out from scratch, an ACOP provides a recognised benchmark.

If ACOPs Aren't Law, Why Do They Matter?

This is where many people become confused.

An ACOP is not legislation. You cannot simply be prosecuted because you failed to follow a specific ACOP.

However, that doesn't mean they can be ignored.

ACOPs can be used as evidence when determining whether a business has met its health and safety duties. They provide an example of a recognised and accepted approach to managing particular risks.

Think of it this way…

If something goes wrong and questions are asked about how risks were being managed, an ACOP may become part of the conversation. Following an applicable ACOP can help demonstrate that reasonable steps were taken to manage risks. Choosing a different approach may also be acceptable, but you should be confident that your approach provides an equivalent or better level of protection.

Why Are ACOPs Becoming More Important?

Recent changes introduced through the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 have increased interest in Approved Codes of Practice.

Many businesses are hearing terms such as "safe harbour" and are wondering what that means in practice.

While the practical implications will continue to evolve, the overall direction is clear. Approved Codes of Practice are expected to play a more significant role in helping businesses understand what is expected and how duties can be met.

For businesses that want greater confidence in their approach to health and safety, ACOPs can provide a useful starting point.

Are ACOPs Relevant to Your Business?

Many organisations assume ACOPs only apply to large businesses or high-risk industries.

In reality, they may be relevant whenever WorkSafe develops guidance for specific activities, hazards, or industries.

For example, recent Approved Codes of Practice have been developed for the agriculture sector, covering:

However, ACOPs are not limited to farming. As more are developed and updated, they are likely to become increasingly relevant across a range of industries and work activities.

The key question isn't whether an ACOP applies to every part of your business; it’s whether there are ACOPs that address the particular risks your business manages.

ACOPs Aren't a Replacement for Thinking

One of the biggest misconceptions about health and safety is that compliance can be achieved simply by following a document.

Health and safety doesn't work that way.

An ACOP can provide valuable guidance, but it doesn't replace the need to understand your workplace, your workers, and the risks that exist in your environment. If you need a hand reviewing your workplace, book a free consultation [link contact us] with us to discover how we may be able to help you.

The organisations that get the most value from ACOPs tend to use them as a guide rather than a checklist. They consider how the principles apply to their work and how they can be used to strengthen existing systems.

Effective health and safety is still about understanding risk, engaging workers, and making practical decisions that help people stay safe.

Could an ACOP Help You Manage Risk More Effectively?

Many businesses spend significant time trying to work out what "good" health and safety looks like.

Approved Codes of Practice can help answer that question.

They provide practical guidance, establish recognised standards, and help create consistency in how risks are managed across industries.

The real value isn't that they tell you exactly what to do.

The value is that they provide a clear starting point for understanding what effective risk management may look like in practice.

If you're introducing new processes, reviewing existing systems, or trying to better understand your health and safety responsibilities, it may be worth asking:

Are there any Approved Codes of Practice relevant to the risks we manage every day?