WorkSafe NZ publishes annual report on electrical and gas incidents in 2023

WorkSafe NZ Publishes Annual Report on Electrical and Gas Incidents in 2023

WorkSafe NZ has released its 2023 electrical and gas incidents annual report, offering a clear picture of how energy-related risks affected businesses across New Zealand throughout the year.

New Zealand's safety regulatory authority indicates that this report examines trends and identifies risks associated with electrical and gas-related incidents, giving safety professionals a data-backed view of where hazards are concentrated.

Key Findings From the Report

According to the report, WorkSafe's Energy Safety team documented 7 notifiable incidents and 10 non-notifiable incidents in New Zealand throughout 2023. These figures help construction, manufacturing, and healthcare organisations benchmark their own risk exposure against national data.

• Notifiable incidents: 7 cases requiring formal reporting under energy safety requirements
• Non-notifiable incidents: 10 cases recorded for trend analysis and risk monitoring
• Scope: Covers electrical and gas-related events, including exposure to hazardous substances

Why This Report Matters for Safety Professionals

Tracking notifiable incidents alongside broader trend data gives technical teams a practical benchmark for reviewing their own safety systems. Organisations handling electrical infrastructure or hazardous substances can use this report to strengthen internal controls and reduce preventable risks.

Comparable oversight exists across the Tasman, where WorkSafe WA publishes its annual work-related fatalities report, and at a national level through Safe Work Australia's 2023-24 annual report. Both resources reinforce a shared regulatory focus on transparent incident data across the region.

Managing Hazardous Substances and Energy Risks

Handling hazardous substances safely remains a persistent challenge in industries relying on electrical and gas systems. Businesses working with hazardous materials should maintain robust documentation, conduct regular risk assessments, and ensure staff understand safe handling procedures.

Strong incident reporting practices support this effort. For guidance on structuring internal reporting systems, review our Environmental Incident & Corrective Action Report Form, which helps teams document events consistently and drive corrective action.

Building a Stronger Safety Culture

Reports like this one reinforce why consistent safety monitoring matters at every organisational level. Regular review of quarterly performance, paired with clear incident tracking, strengthens overall safety culture and reduces long-term risk exposure.

Our Quarterly Objective and Targets Report template supports teams aiming to formalise their safety goals, while our Incident Investigation Procedure Checklist offers a structured approach to investigating events once they occur.

You can access the full annual report here.