What are the most common work-related injuries in New Zealand?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soft tissue damage was by far the most prevalent injury type, with 134,200 claims. These include ligament, tendon and muscle injuries, but exclude fractures and organ damage. Abdominal injuries \u2013 covering the lower back, spine, pelvis and kidney \u2013 were the most common injury site at 38,200 claims. Wrist and hand injuries followed at 37,300 claims.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Industrial deafness was the leading gradual onset condition, with 3,700 claims recorded in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How should HR leaders respond to these workplace injury trends?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The data makes clear that workplace injury risk is not evenly distributed. Older and younger workers, those in physical trades, and employees in agriculture or construction face measurably higher exposure than the national average.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For HR teams managing diverse workforces, safety programs cannot be one-size-fits-all. Tailored inductions for younger workers, ergonomic assessments for older employees, and sector-specific hazard controls are baseline obligations under New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n