Which authority should I report a dangerous situation to?
It depends on what is causing the dangerous situation, the location and whether it is a 'place of work' in terms of the Health and Safety in Employment (HSE) Act. In the first instance, any dangerous situation should be reported to the owner or manager of the building or place where the danger exists. If this is not possible, or there is no response, then the matter should be referred to a relevant authority. The table below links situations to a relevant authority.
If there is imminent serious danger, and you are in doubt of which authority to contact, contact emergency services - fire, police or ambulance on phone 111 or the Department of Labour on phone 0800 20 90 20.
| Situation | Authority |
|---|
| A 'Place of Work' e.g. factory, office environment, logging or construction site (but not ships or aircraft) |
The Department of Labour |
| Marine environment, including ships |
Maritime New Zealand |
| Civil aircraft |
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand |
| Shop, shopping centres, restaurant or nightclubs |
The Department of Labour (Health and Safety) - Refer to further detail on |
| Road and rail infrastructure |
Land Transport NZ |
| Footpath, sports grounds, parks |
Local government territorial authority OR where the location is a 'place of work', Department of Labour (Health and Safety) Refer to further detail on |
| Hazardous substances such as fireworks, chemicals |
Local government territorial authority OR Department of Labour (Health and Safety) |
| School playgrounds |
Ministry of Education |
| Hospital environment |
District Health Board |
| Rubbish and sewerage |
Local government territorial authority |
| Food hygiene |
Food Safety Authority |
Date Modified: Monday, December 06, 2010
Disclaimer: The content on this website covers common problems. It will not answer every question
and should not be used as a substitute for legislation or legal advice. State sector employers
and employees may be affected by some differences in the laws that apply to them (e.g. State
Sector Act 1988). The Department of Labour takes no responsibility for the results of any actions taken
on the basis of information on this website, nor for any errors or omissions.
