With an estimated 700 to 1,000 New Zealand workers dying each year, a new action plan has been launched to improve occupational health in this country.

The Department of Labour has released the Occupational Health Action Plan - part of the National Action Agenda to reduce the rates of death, injury and disease in the workplace.

"We know that more than 17,000 new cases of work-related disease are estimated to occur every year," says the Department's Deputy Chief Executive Lesley Haines.

"Everyone has a role to play in improving occupational health for New Zealand workers - this is the only way we can reduce the number of workers dying or becoming ill," Ms Haines says.

"The Department is committed to leading this Occupational Health Action Plan - it contains 21 individual initiatives each led by government, industry or occupational health researchers and practitioners."

Priority is given to reducing exposure to five occupational health hazards; occupational cancer, respiratory hazards, noise, skin irritants and psycho-social hazards.

Actions include improving surveillance of occupational disease, monitoring dust exposure during the Christchurch rebuild, as well as an initiative to educate the next generation of workers about the dangers of excessive noise.

"It's pleasing to see health professionals, industry and worker organisations contributing to this Action Plan," says Ms Haines.

"We will work closely with the Workplace Health and Safety Council, industry, researchers and practitioners to reduce the number of New Zealand workers dying or becoming ill because of their work."