FURTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES GLOSSARY

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Eugene Wiggins
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1 FURTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES GLOSSARY 61

2 62 FURTHER INFORMATION FURTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES For information about individual hazardous substances, contact your hazardous substance supplier. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY (EPA) For information about HSNO or how to manage your hazardous substances contact the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Hazardous Substances Information Line: Keep checking the EPA website, We regularly update information and a new documents relating to hazardous substances. Visit the Toolbox website at to access the HSNO Calculator and safety videos. To find a test certifier, go to the test certifier register on the EPA website: CORRELATION BETWEEN GHS AND HSNO CLASSES The correlation between the GHS categories and the HSNO classes can be found on the EPA website: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS To assist you in preparing your emergency response plan a free Emergency Response Flip Chart is available from the EPA. Call the Hazardous Substances Information Line to request a copy of this document: MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT For information about HSE contact the Labour Group at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment: or visit their website YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL Your council might have aitional rules that need to be met when storing hazardous substances. Check with your local council for specific rules that apply in your region.

3 FURTHER INFORMATION 63 GLOSSARY This section explains some of the terms you will come across in this document. If any of the words within the explanation are italicised there is also an explanation for that word elsewhere in this section. Approval Approved filler Approved handler Classification If you are importing, manufacturing or using hazardous substances, they must be approved under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act. Once they are approved they are given an approval number and a set of controls that people using the substances need to follow to help manage the risks associated with the substance. The approval number will generally be found in Section 15 (the Regulatory Section) of your safety data sheet and will be of the format HSR00XXXX. Most domestic and workplace hazardous substances, other than pesticides, are approved under a group standard approval. An example of a group standard approval number is HSR Surface Coatings and Colourants (Flammable). An approved filler is someone who has the necessary training, knowledge and skills to fill compressed gas containers safely and has obtained an approved filler test certificate from a test certifier. Having an approved filler test certificate is a control under HSNO. An approved handler is someone who has specific knowledge and experience on how to use particular hazardous substances safely. This person needs to apply to a test certifier to get an approved handler test certificate. Having an approved handler available is one of the controls placed on very hazardous substances under HSNO. The properties of a substance are classified according to their hazards. Based on the classification, controls are set to manage the risks that arise from these hazards.

4 64 FURTHER INFORMATION Code of practice (HSNO approved) Controlled zone Controls Dangerous goods Emergency response plan Group standard approval A code of practice approved under the HSNO Act is a document that provides an approved method of achieving compliance with particular requirements of the HSNO Act. You do not have to follow a code of practice; you can use other ways of meeting the legal requirements. However, following a code of practice is a legal defence if you were prosecuted under HSNO and the code related to the alleged non-compliance. A controlled zone is an area around a flammable substance where ignition sources must be controlled to prevent unintended ignition. Access within the controlled zone must also be limited to authorised people. Controlled zones also apply to oxidising substances. Controls are rules put in place to prevent or manage the adverse effects of hazardous substances. The controls for substances differ depending on their hazard classification. The term dangerous goods is used internationally to describe the goods covered by the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations. Dangerous goods are not exactly the same as hazardous substances under HSNO. For example, radioactive materials and infectious substances are also considered to be dangerous goods but are not hazardous substances under HSNO. Aitionally, substances that cause skin irritation are hazardous substances but not dangerous goods. An emergency response plan is a written document that covers what will be done and who is responsible for doing each task in an emergency involving the hazardous substances at your workplace. An emergency response plan is a control under HSNO. Group standards approve a group of hazardous substances of a similar nature, type or circumstance of use. A group standard sets out conditions (controls) that enable a group of hazardous substances to be managed safely.

5 FURTHER INFORMATION 65 Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Hazard Hazardous atmosphere zone Hazardous substances HSE HSNO The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a single internationally agreed system of hazardous substance classification and hazard communication through labelling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). GHS has been adopted by many countries around the world and the classification and labelling system will be seen more often. The HSNO system is based on the GHS system. A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse effect (including health effects). A hazardous atmosphere zone surrounds a place where flammable substances are used or stored and flammable vapours may be present. Within these zones, special precautions need to be taken to prevent unintended ignition so that a fire or explosion does not occur. Establishing a hazardous atmosphere zone is a control under HSNO. Under HSNO a hazardous substance has one or more of the following properties: an explosive nature, including fireworks flammability, for example, petrol, turps, LPG, diesel ability to oxidise, accelerate a fire, for example hydrogen peroxide corrosiveness, for example, caustic drain cleaner acute or chronic toxicity to humans, for example, arsenic ecotoxicity, can kill living things either directly or by building up in the environment for example diesel, glyphosate pesticides. HSE refers to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, which covers legal obligations to keep people safe at work. HSNO refers to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and supporting regulations. HSNO imposes controls to safely manage hazardous substances.

6 66 FURTHER INFORMATION Incompatible substances Inventory Location test certificate Packing group Person in charge Regulations Risk Risk phrase Incompatible substances are substances that must to be kept away from each other to prevent them from mixing and causing a fire or explosion. An inventory is a list of all of the types and amounts of hazardous substances stored at your workplace. A location test certificate certifies that the place where hazardous substances are used and stored is safely managed, according to the rules. Test certificates are issued by test certifiers. A location test certificate is a control under HSNO. Packing group refers to a standard of packaging under the United Nations rules for transporting dangerous goods. The standard of packaging to be used depends on how dangerous a hazardous substance is. Packing group I is used for the most dangerous substances. HSNO assigns duties to the person in charge. The person in charge is the person who is in control of the part of the workplace that uses and stores hazardous substances. The role is similar to the person in control of a workplace under HSE. In a small workplace the person in charge may be the manager or owner of the business. In a larger operation with multiple locations and activities, several people could be designated persons in charge. Regulations are rules that must be complied with under a specific Act, such as the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. Risk is the combination of the likelihood of adverse effects occurring and the magnitude of the effects, if they were to occur. Risk phrases (or R-phrases) are a classification system used overseas to classify hazardous substances. Risk phrases are being phased out in favour of the GHS system.

7 FURTHER INFORMATION 67 Safety data sheet (SDS) Secondary containment (bunding) Stationary container system Test certificates Test certifier Tracking A safety data sheet includes information about how to safely use and store a hazardous substance, first aid information and what to do in an emergency. Safety data sheets must be provided by your supplier when you purchase a hazardous substance for the first time. Safety data sheets are a control under HSNO. A secondary containment system ensures that liquid substances (or liquefiable substances) can be contained if they leak or spill from the container in which they are stored. The system should also enable recovery of a spilled substance. Secondary containment is a control under HSNO. A stationary container system is a fixed tank and its associated pipe work and fittings. If you have a stationary tank containing a gas or a liquid hazardous substance you may need a stationary container system test certificate. This certifies that your tank is safe and complies with the rules. Test certificates are a type of certification issued by test certifiers to show that users of hazardous substances have appropriate controls in place or have the appropriate knowledge and training. You might need a test certificate for people, locations or equipment. Test certificates are controls under HSNO. A test certifier is an independent service provider approved by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to issue test certificates. You can find a list of test certifiers on the EPA website: Tracking refers to recording what happens to very hazardous substances from their manufacture through to use or disposal. Tracking is a HSNO control.

8 68 FURTHER INFORMATION UN Hazard class Workplace exposure standards (WES) The UN Hazard class is the classification for transporting dangerous goods. This classification is found in the transport section of the safety data sheet for a substance (in a 16 header safety data sheet this is section 14). There are nine classes based on their hazardous properties as shown below. The classes are similar to the HSNO classes but in some cases do not include all of the HSNO sub-classes. The UN classes shown in brackets below are outside of the HSNO legislation but must be included in any workplace inventory. Class 1 Explosives Class 2 Gases Class 3 Flammable liquids Class 4 Flammable solids Class 5 Oxidising substances Class 6 Toxic and (Infectious substances) Class 7 (Radioactive material) Class 8 Corrosives Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous goods A Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) refers to the level of a substance in the air that is believed to be safe for nearly all workers repeatedly exposed day after day to that substance. The values are usually calculated based on exposure over eight hours, 15 minutes or, in some cases, instantaneous exposure.

Case Study: New Zealand Group Standards

2010/SOM1/CD/WKSP/014 Agenda Item: Afternoon Session II Case Study: New Zealand Group Standards Submitted by: New Zealand Case Study Workshop on the Chemicals Sector - From Principles to Practice Hiroshima,