Health and safety in the workplace is not taken as seriously in New Zealand as in many other countries, New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) national manager Ian Clark says.
For the first time, health and safety officers would have a career path to follow, he said.
The qualifications would be internationally recognised, he said.
Unlike in many other countries, health and safety officers in New Zealand often wore other hats at work.
Health and safety tended to be seen as valuable but additional, rather than an integral part of day-to-day operations in New Zealand workplaces.
"It is unbelievable that businesses are engaging non-professional people, who manage huge occupational health and safety risks.
"There seems to be no requirement for these incumbents to belong to a professional body nor indeed have occupational health and safety qualifications," Mr Clark said.
In 2008-09, 55 people died in workplace accidents, 53 in 2007-08, 55 in 2006-07, 65 in 2005-06 and 47 in 2004-05.
To date, 52 people had died in 2009-10, with just over two months remaining in the reporting period, a spokesman for the Department of Labour said.
The figures did not include work-related road, sea or air fatalities, or deaths from long-term exposure to hazardous substances.
The department did not keep international data for comparison.
Mr Clark was pleased the department had agreed its staff would participate in the programme.
"This is a huge benefit for all concerned as it will allow both the regulator and business to be on the same page and speak the same language."
The best-practice guidelines had been adopted from the United Kingdom's Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
An independent committee was being set up to oversee the new system; it was important to remember NZISM was run by volunteers, Mr Clark said.
