Working with hazardous substances
Handling hazardous substances in the workplace, from household cleaners to petrol and explosives, requires special care. There are more than 10,000 hazardous substances in common use in our homes, at work and in public places.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) sets rules for hazardous substances to ensure they are used safely. You’ll need to identify hazardous substances at your work, obtain any required approval to use them, and ensure that you comply with the rules for using, storing and transporting these substances.
This article explains what hazardous substances are and what is required to work safely with these products.
On this page:
- What are hazardous substances?
- Working with hazardous substances
- Certificates and licences
- Importing and manufacturing hazardous substances
What are hazardous substances?
We’re surrounded by thousands of hazardous substances – this includes anything that is flammable, has the ability to oxidise and accelerate a fire, is corrosive, toxic or explosive (including fireworks), becomes hazardous on contact with water or air or is harmful to the environment.
More than 150,000 workplaces in New Zealand use hazardous substances. Find out more about what specific industries must do to manage hazardous substances at their workplace.
Find out what is a hazardous substance in more detail. You can also find out if there are any controls that apply to the substance you are working with.
Working with hazardous substances
You may need to comply with certain requirements if your business works with hazardous substances. For example, there are requirements to be met when you use or import gas cylinders and fire cylinders, including scuba tanks.
Find out about the rules pertaining to gas cylinders and fire extinguishers. There are also restrictions on how much LPG you can store indoors and how often you must have your cylinders tested. Read about the restrictions for using LPG indoors.
Vehicles and containers used to transport or store hazardous substances also require approval or have special disposal requirements. Find out more about tanks and stationary container systems and tank wagons used to transport liquid or gaseous hazardous substances.
If you trade in or use flammable and oxidising substances, all your buildings – including the doors – will need to be fire resistant. Read up more on Buildings for flammable and oxidising substances and whether you need a location test certificate.
Certificates and licences
Your workplace may need a location test certificate if you handle or store explosive, flammable or oxidising substances, or if you have containers that hold hazardous liquids or gases over a specified quantity. Find out more about certification of work sites.
For very hazardous substances such as vertebrate poisons, fumigants and explosives, you will need a controlled substance licence from a test certifier to use the substance. Find out how to apply for a controlled substance licence or replace your controlled substance licence if the original has expired or been lost.
For other very hazardous substances, you may need to be certified as an approved handler if you keep the substances at your site in quantities above certain amounts. And people who fill compressed gas containers (such as LPG cylinders) are required to be certified as approved fillers.
Importing and manufacturing hazardous substances
All hazardous substances need to be approved by the EPA before they can be imported or manufactured in New Zealand. Read more about how to get an approval.
This includes workplace products such as solvents, paints, adhesives, cleaners and chemicals used in manufacturing; household products including detergents, cleaners and soap powders; cosmetics including sunscreens and oral hygiene products; agrichemicals, timber treatments and substances toxic to vertebrates, usually grouped as pesticides; veterinary medicines; laboratory chemicals; and explosives.
Most domestic and workplace hazardous substances are approved under group standards. A group standard applies rules to a group of hazardous substances that have a similar nature, type or use. Find out if your substance fits into an existing group standard or how you can assign your substance to one.
Download and keep this publication on handling emergencies with hazardous substances for reference when you need it.
- This information is provided by the Environmental Protection Authority
www.epa.govt.nz
