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The Toitū te Waiora Workforce Development Council will be closing operations from 19 December, and disestablished from 31 December 2025. The Education, Health and Community Industry Skills Board will pick up its functions.

PUBLISHED 28/04/23

Development of Occupational Health and Safety (‘OHS’) skill standards

Toitū te Waiora is pleased to announce the development of new skill standards that will – over time ­- replace unit standards listed in the Occupational Health and Safety subfield:

  • Hazardous Substances and Materials (21 standards)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Practice (31 standards)
  • Workplace Health and Safety Management (9 standards)

Skill standards will be developed to align with NZQCF qualifications in Workplace Health and Safety Practice:

New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice (Level 3) [Ref: 3533]

New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice (Level 4) [Ref: 3534] 

New Zealand Diploma in Workplace Health and Safety Management (Level 6) [Ref: 3645] 

As part of this work, consideration will also be given to possible micro-credentialing.

OHS Skills standards project structure:

Toitū te Waiora has established a reference group to advise on the:

  • Structure of skill standard development
  • Skill standard coverage
  • Engagement/consultation strategy.

The reference group has representation from:

  • WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa
  • Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ)
  • Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA)
  • New Zealand Council of Trade Unions(NZCTU)
  • Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ)
  • Government Health and Safety Lead
  • New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM)
  • Te Rōpū Marutau o Aotearoa – Māori Health and Safety Authority (TRMA)

A panel (and potentially, panels) will be established to help develop the skill standards. Panel members will be selected on the advice of the reference group.

Panel members will have:

  • subject matter expertise
  • understanding of workplace and safety qualifications
  • understanding of health and safety frameworks (e.g. INSHPO framework), and current research in health and safety
  • experience with assessment standards, programme design and delivery.

If you are interested in being part of this work, we invite you to join our email network. Send us an email to [email protected]

We would very much appreciate you sharing this pānui across your networks!