Getting It Right: Choosing the Right Health and Safety Expertise for Your Business

Part 2: What is HASANZ? Using the Register to Find Trusted H&S Experts

Good health and safety advice protects people, boosts productivity, and builds trust — but only if it comes from the right person. Whether hiring or contracting, it’s vital to understand the qualifications and standards that matter.

This three-part series explains what to look for and where to find trusted professionals:

  • Part 1: NZISM – New Zealand Institute of Safety Management
  • Part 2: HASANZ – Health and Safety Association of New Zealand
  • Part 3: How to Choose the Right Health and Safety Person

The Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) is the national umbrella group for workplace health and safety professions. It doesn’t just represent one type of expert — it connects a wide range of disciplines, from generalist advisors to occupational hygienists, ergonomists, health nurses, and hazardous substances specialists.

HASANZ: www.hasanz.org.nz

Why it matters

HASANZ is backed by WorkSafe and the Government. Its national register of verified professionals is the best place to start if you’re looking for qualified, credible health and safety support. To be listed, professionals must:

  • Belong to a recognised professional body (like NZISM, NZOHNA, HFESNZ, etc.)
  • Meet minimum qualification and experience standards
  • Maintain professional development
  • Follow a code of ethics

What guidance does HASANZ offer?

HASANZ has produced guidance to help recruiters, managers and individuals make informed decisions, including:

  • What to ask before hiring a health and safety adviser
  • How to verify qualifications and experience
  • Why specialist help is often essential for technical risks (e.g. chemicals, machinery, health monitoring)

Full guidance available here:
https://www.hasanz.org.nz/scholarships-and-training/h-and-s-generalist-career-pathway-initiative

When health and safety is done well, it protects your people, strengthens your reputation, and supports productivity. But the quality of advice you receive depends entirely on the person providing it.

Whether you’re recruiting your next health and safety advisor or engaging external support, it’s essential to understand the qualifications, registrations, and professional standards that apply. This three-part series breaks down what to look for, how to check credentials, and where to find reliable information.

In Part 3, we explore Hiring or Contracting? How to Choose the Right Health and Safety Person.

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Hear It from Our Clients

See the impact we've had on businesses and how we could do the same for you.

Derek provided excellent health & safety consultancy. His advice was practical, thorough, well-delivered, and easy to implement. He helped us identify risks we’d overlooked and suggested cost-effective solutions. Recommend for any business needing H&S guidance.

Murray Beadle
General Manager

BFA Business Advisors and Accountants – Taupo

Highly recommend this health and safety company! They provided top-notch service for our roofing business, ensuring everything was up to standard. Their team was professional, thorough, and easy to work with. We feel confident knowing our safety measures are in excellent hands. Great job.

Laurence
Director

 

Storm Tech Roofing – Hawkes Bay

We are a small yet complex organisation and have been working with Derek for the past year with the goal of creating a robust health and safety system that is maintained through internal ownership and embedded into business as usual. While Derek is knowledgeable, professional, and enthusiastic, his real superpower is working alongside the team to create a system which is tailored and practical, all while growing internal capacity. We would absolutely recommend Derek.

Lake Taupo Hospice

“I got Derek in to update our H&S management system. He was honest and did a great job. Highly recommend.”

Mark Bowsher
Station Manager

Whareroa Station – Waikato

Derek was approachable, experienced, and readily available (at very short notice) for what was required for our H&S work site induction. Highly recommend should your company be in need of a person to tackle H&S matters.

Grace Solomon
Resident Manager

Two Trees Ngā Rākau e Rua – Taupō

Thank you, Derek, for your professional and objective advice. Your insights were incredibly helpful. We also really appreciated your enthusiasm in sharing your social networks and experiences, it was truly inspiring!

Eve Liu

Office Manager

Hauraki Civil Engineering – Rotorua

“Very knowledgeable and willing to put the effort in upfront to understand our situation. Tailored things to fit our business requirements without creating a pile of confusing admin for us”

Spenser Christiansen
Director 

That Dingo Guy – Manawatu

Connect with Lakes Safety Services – Practical Support, Real Results

Health and Safety Expertise That Works for Your Business

With over 25 years of real-world experience, Lakes Safety Services provides practical health and safety consultancy, coaching, and support across Taupō and the Central North Island. We specialise in solutions that fit your people, tasks, and risks — not just checklists. From technical systems and governance advice to contractor management and SafePlus assessments, we help you build safer workplaces with confidence.