Napier Port, which has recorded 624 days without a lost-time injury, has formed a Port Safety Council because the new Act requires a more structured engagement with PCBUs.
Port chief executive Garth Cowie said it comprised senior leaders of port users, such as stevedores and tenants, and port managers.
"We are the first port in New Zealand to introduce such a forum, in the context of the new legislation and definitions," he said.
"Changes as a result of the legislation are less around activities on the ground - those processes have been progressively developed over a number of years. It's more around taking a stronger port-wide view to safety.
"This puts stronger emphasis on the way in which we engage with other PCBUs on port."
Gemco managing director Darren Diack said it was well prepared for the new Act so there would be no new changes. "From what we can see it is just making people more aware of their responsibilities and liabilities," he said.
"As long as you are doing everything required under the Act already there shouldn't be any change.
He said the new Act would persuade those who were non-compliant "to get their act together".
Master Builders Hawke's Bay president Ian Welch said compliance could possibly be an issue with smaller construction companies. "Smaller operators haven't got the resources to have one person look after health and safety," he said.
He said increased compliance brought increased cost "which has to filter down sooner or later".
"A lot of things are already in place - it is just making sure they actually do happen."
The new Act brought a new awareness.
"The other day I had some visitors on-site and I went to sign them in, but they said they had already done it themselves - people are looking for it.
"Everyone is that much more aware of it and a lot more are following the rules now."
The region's biggest single employer, the Hawke's Bay District Health Board, has 57 health and safety representatives and a health and safety committee for its staff of nearly 3000. "The new legislation has encouraged us to more actively work with staff to make sure everyone is aware of the changes to the Act and how it affects them, as we want everyone to return home healthy and safe at the end of the working day," HR general manager John McKeefry said.
Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Will Foley said the main impact of new law among farmers was increased awareness.
He said health and safety plans in place, identifying hazards and risks, were a longstanding requirement.
"A year ago, the general talk among farmers would have been 'Why do we have to more spend money around these health and safety plans,' but now I think most people are saying 'What do I have to do to get an effective health and safety plan in place?'".
Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Wayne Walford said there was a greater health and safety awareness at governance level.
"I am sure it will now be a re-occurring agenda item on all board meetings and there will be an awareness of positive health and safety."
He said, because the new Act was altruistic, there was a general acceptance.
"Everyone has the right to go work, be safe and cared for, get paid and go home."
A Hawke's Bay forestry death last Thursday was a timely reminder of health and safety in the workplace.
Blair Palmer, a foreman for a forestry company, died while felling a tree by himself away from other members of his crew.
Pan Pac managing director Doug Ducker said the company and its Japanese owners were horrified at Mr Palmer's death - the only death in a Pan Pac forest in 15 years.
Its forests have several hundred people employed by independent contractors such as the one that employed Mr Palmer.
WorkSafe is investigating.
