Health and Safety Association New Zealand

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Discipline Definitions for HASANZ Full Member Associations

If you are not sure what type of professional would be most helpful the HASANZ disciplines and what they do, are detailed below

Discipline Definitions

  • Asbestos professionals provide asbestos surveying, removal, assessing, and risk management services to industry to manage asbestos risks.

  • Engineers apply scientific principles to design, build and maintain machines, systems, structures and products. Specialisations include mechanical, structural, electrical, fire and ventilation engineering. Engineers embed safety into design to minimise risk, oversee protocols and conduct inspections through construction and manufacturing, and in operations ensure systems are maintained, monitored, and supported by effective emergency plans to protect people and workplaces.

  • Hazardous Substance Professionals are specialists in the management of safety risks from explosive, flammable, toxic or corrosive substances being manufactured, used, stored, or transported at work.

  • Health and safety generalists provide H&S advice, support governance and leadership, planning, risk management across organisations at all levels'. 

  • Use knowledge of human performance across physical, cognitive, and organisational domains to provide analysis and advice for the design of work equipment, environments, processes, and work systems to support healthy and productive work.

  • Occupational and Environmental Medicine Specialists are Doctors who specialise in medicine related to the effects of work on health, and health on work.

  • Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) are Registered Nurses governed by the Nursing Council of New Zealand and guided by NZOHNA.  OHNs have the specialist qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience to provide PCBUs with comprehensive health services that focus on the prevention of work- and non-work-related injury, illness and disease.  Occupational health services include pro-active health strategies which promote health, wellbeing, the identification of health risks and the reduction of potential workplace harm to workers. 

  • Occupational Health Physiotherapists optimise worker wellbeing and overall system performance through the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

  • Occupational Hygienists specialise in the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and communication of health hazards (chemical, physical and biological) and their potential health risks in the workplace.  The objective is to protect worker health and well-being by preventing ill-health in the long or short term.

  • Organisational Psychologists focus on understanding and improving workplace dynamics, creating safer or more effective working. They address issues related to employee behaviour, competence, motivation, and well-being, helping organizations create healthier and more productive work environments.

  • Occupational Therapists design and coordinate graded return to work programs. Educating clients and employers in safe work practices. Modifying the work environment to suit the needs of individuals so as to prevent or minimise injuries and ill-health.