Agriculture & Horticulture · Employer knowledge

Contractors & work coordination

Before contractors arrive, identify where duties and risks overlap, exchange the information each business needs, agree practical arrangements and check that those arrangements are working.

Current law: under sections 33 and 34 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, more than one PCBU can have a duty for the same matter. Each duty holder retains responsibility to the extent it can influence and control the matter, and PCBUs with the same duty must, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult, co-operate and co-ordinate activities with each other.

WorkSafe's agriculture guidance applies this directly to farms: farmers and contractors must work together on overlapping duties whenever contractors come on farm. A pre-work conversation can clarify where the contractor will work, what other activity is occurring, what risks each party creates and who will do what.

Upcoming change: the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 has been enacted but is not yet in force. WorkSafe states the changes take effect on 1 April 2027. NZQC will review this guide before that date because the amended framework changes how overlapping duties operate, including different treatment of small PCBUs and critical risks.

What should a manager have in place?

Before work startsConfirm the job, work area, timing, access and who may be affected. Tell the contractor about relevant farm or property risks and ask what risks their work may introduce to workers, visitors, animals or other activities.

Clear responsibilitiesAgree who is best placed to manage each overlapping risk, based on actual influence and control. A contract can record arrangements, but under current HSWA a PCBU cannot contract out of its own legal duties.

Coordinate the workConsider vehicle movements, machinery, animals, agrichemicals, electricity, excavation, working at height, restricted areas and simultaneous work where relevant. Make sure affected people receive the information they need.

Monitor proportionatelyCheck that agreed arrangements are being followed and remain suitable as the job changes. The level of monitoring should make sense for the work, risk and each party's influence and control.

Manager check

Before the contractor starts, have we discussed what they will do, where and when?
Have we told them about relevant risks from our operation and asked about risks their work creates?
Have we considered how their work interacts with workers, vehicles, animals, machinery and other contractors?
Is it clear which PCBU is best placed to manage each overlapping risk?
Are agreed responsibilities communicated to the people who need to know?
Are we checking that the arrangements continue to work rather than assuming the contract transferred our duties?
For work continuing beyond 1 April 2027, have we checked the amended HSWA requirements that apply to our PCBU size and the risks involved?

WorkSafe: contractors on farms →WorkSafe: PCBUs working together →2026 HSWA Amendment Act →Back to Agriculture & Horticulture Hub

NZQC provides practical educational information. It is not legal advice and does not certify that a provider is compliant. Check the official source and the requirements that apply to your service, contracts and scope.