NewsBrief  

No. 39 - November 2002

  TM


Features:

  • DG Transfer Off

  • Applause for PRINCE

  • Readership Survey

  • Chromatography Remembered

  • Compliance Costs

  • Poisons at Risk

  • Help!

  • PRINCE Invaluable

  • Our Members!

  • CEOs' Briefing

  • ICCA Expands

  • WSSD Action Plan

  • Sustainable Reporting

  • Environmental Clipboard

  • Kyoto Claims

  • Diary

  • Survey

Transfer of Dangerous Goods Postponed

ERMA New Zealand has postponed the target date for the Transfer
of Dangerous Goods and Scheduled Toxic Substances from
mid 2002 to mid 2003.

The reason is the need to amend the Hazardous Substances section of the HSNO Act 1996 to allow ERMA NZ to selectively apply designated controls to individual hazardous substances. ERMANZ's inability to do so would mean every control applicable
to a category of hazardous substances, e.g. Class 3 (Flammable Liquids), would need to be implemented, despite local circumstances which could make one or more controls inappropriate or unnecessary.

While disappointed because the decision means suppliers will continue to grapple with two chemical management and control systems in parallel, the NZCIC sees benefits in delaying the Transfer.

"The New Zealand Chemical Industry Council is presently identifying the need to train and qualify Test Certifiers and the thousands of Approved Handlers necessary to successfully implement the Hazardous Substances Regulations. Discussions with ERMA NZ, OSH, and key stakeholders such as the Logistics and Transport sector, together with the Health and Safety Industry Training Organisation, reveal many potential difficulties", notes NZCIC CEO Barry Dyer. "We all need a credible and robust process which will provide suitably qualified and competent individuals at minimal cost. The present system for training drivers to DG Licence Endorsement standard could provide a model we can build on to minimise the cost and disruption to businesses, while maximising the benefits of a well established training and qualification system", Barry explained.

The postponement also allows employers and employees to familiarise themselves with the HSNO Approved Codes of Practice developed by the Council. The three NZCIC key codes covering the requirements of the HS (Identification) Regulations 2001 are well advanced.
The "Signage" Code is awaiting approval by ERMA NZ, while "Safety Data Sheets" and "Labelling" will be posted on the NZCIC website for public comment this month.

"We are encouraging our members and suppliers of hazardous substances to use this "breathing space" to review their operations against the HSNO Regulations and implement the appropriate compliance measures. A PRINCE© site assessment report is an excellent management "tool" to help achieve this increasingly complex task", Barry said.



 

 

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