Critical Risk Management Training
Critical Risk Management training that helps organisations identify critical risks, implement effective controls, and meet their new legislative obligations under HSWA.
In 2027, New Zealand's health and safety legislation changes. Organisations will need to place greater focus on the hazards that could lead to serious injury, illness, or loss of life. IMPAC's Critical Risk Management Training provides practical training in programme governance, fundamentals, and critical control verification — building the capability organisations need at every level, from the boardroom to the worksite.
IMPAC Training
Category overview
Too many organisations are still mistaking safety activity for safety effectiveness — systems that look thorough on paper but don't actually keep people safe. Under the new legislation, organisations must prioritise the risks that can kill people, seriously injure them, or change lives permanently, and be able to show the controls they have in place are actually working.
With more than 25 years of experience supporting New Zealand organisations, IMPAC understands that critical risk is where health and safety gets real. Our experienced trainers facilitate learning through discussions, real-world examples, and practical activities that make the content relevant to the audience. Through this approach, organisations build the capability to manage their critical risks — from identifying and controlling them to ensuring they are continuously in place and effective.
Whether you are responsible for governance and oversight, operational implementation, or on-the-ground verification, IMPAC's Critical Risk Management courses help build the capability to manage your critical risks and meet your obligations under the new legislation.
Key Focus Areas
What this training covers
Identifying Critical Risks and Controls
Learn to recognise the risks in your organisation that could cause a fatality or serious injury/illness, and identify the specific controls needed to manage them.
Governing and Overseeing a Programme
Build the knowledge and confidence to oversee a critical risk programme at governance level, and know the right questions to ask.
Carrying Out Critical Control Verification
Gain the practical skills to verify that controls are actually working in the field, determine the right frequency, and know what to look for.
Measuring Effectiveness and Reporting
Understand how critical control effectiveness is measured and reported, and how the results are used to focus remedial action where it's needed most.
Building a Critical Risk Culture
Understand the role organisational culture plays in a critical risk programme, and how it supports consistent, reliable control performance over time.
Available Courses
Our Critical Risk Management courses
Working with New Zealand’s legal framework
Applicable Safety Regulations and Standards
Managing critical risk includes understanding relevant legislation, standards, and guidance. Relevant legislation and guidance may include:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) — The primary health and safety legislation in New Zealand, requiring PCBUs to identify and manage risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 — Amends HSWA to sharpen its focus on critical risk, requiring PCBUs to identify their critical risks, implement effective critical controls, and demonstrate those controls are working. Comes into effect 1 April 2027.
- Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 — Sets out requirements for managing workplace risks, including risk assessment, control measures, and emergency planning.
- Health and Safety at Work (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2016 — Sets requirements for facilities handling major hazards, including demonstrating that critical controls are in place and effective.
- Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 — Sets requirements for managing hazardous substances, one of the hazard types most commonly identified as a critical risk.
- AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 — An internationally recognised risk management standard adopted in Australia and New Zealand, providing principles and guidance for managing risk and supporting informed decision-making.
- ISO 45003:2021 — An international standard providing guidance on managing psychosocial risks, relevant where a psychosocial hazard has been identified as a critical risk to workers.
- WorkSafe New Zealand Guidance — Practical guidance on identifying critical risks, implementing critical controls, and verifying their ongoing effectiveness.
Who Should Enrol
Industries and Roles
Directors, Trustees and Executive Leaders
Leaders responsible for governance oversight of health and safety who need to understand what an effective critical risk programme involves.
Health and Safety Managers and Professionals
People responsible for developing, overseeing, or improving a critical risk programme, and understanding what an effective programme looks like in practice.
Operational Leaders and Supervisors
People who oversee work where critical risks are present, or who carry out and oversee critical control verifications as part of their role.
Workers and Subject Matter Experts
People involved in verifying critical controls for the tasks and equipment they know best.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
