Code of Practice
COP 45
Issued July 2010
No 45 – HANDLING, STORING AND TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
1.
BACKGROUND TO COP
Reason for COP:
To prevent injury and protect the health and safety of
employees by taking necessary precautions when handling,
using, storing and transporting hazardous substances.
Relevant Regulations:



Employee Training/Skills Reqd:
All employees with potential to be exposed to hazardous
substances and those supervising others using hazardous
substances shall be trained in:


Purchasing Policy Tools/Plant :


Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Health and Safety In Employment Act 1992
Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005
Safe chemical handling techniques, spill response.
Procedures, appropriate use of PPE and Material
Safety.
Data Sheets (MSDS) and use of fire extinguishers.
First Aid training.
Council will ensure staff have ready access Material Safety
Data Sheets and will provide and maintain adequate
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect staff who
work with hazardous substances.
2.
COP WORK PROCEDURE
ETY
Handling Storing and Disposing Hazardous Materials:
1.
Ensure that Hazardous substances are stored and handled in accordance with the HSNO Act
1996, which is listed within the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
2.
Staff involved with handling and using hazardous substances should at all times comply with
the manufactures instructions as listed on the label. In the absence of a label the MSDS
requirements must be followed.
3.
Wear personal protective equipment (safety glasses, apron, gloves as required) in the
manner in which you have been trained and have ready access to MSDS.
4.
Ensure that the disposal of dangerous goods/hazardous substances is carried out in
accordance with all local bylaws and that the disposal does not contravene any provisions of
the Resource Management Act 1991 and any additions or amendments. If in doubt ask
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Hazardous Waste Advisor. Inappropriate disposal is a
dismissible offence.
Spills:
1.
Promptly access the Materials Safety Data Sheet to determine the actions to be taken to
clean up and dispose of the spill.
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2.
Locate the spill kit in the storage room and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment as
detailed on the MSDS. If you are by yourself, if the spill is large or if you are unsure on how to
clean it up, contact the pollution team at HBRC Dalton Street Office.
3.
Report any accident/incident involving hazardous materials immediately via HBRC
Accident/Incident Reporting system.
Transporting Hazardous Substances:
1.
Ensure that the quantity of hazardous substances being transported is within the limit defined
in the regulations. This limit can also be found in HBRC Hazardous Substances
Management Procedure.
2.
Ensure that the hazardous substance is labeled so that the contents of the container can be
quickly identified and load the vehicle safely to ensure the container does not get damaged.
Purchasing Hazardous Substances:
1.
Purchase the most appropriate and least hazardous material in the minimum quantity and
under no circumstances purchase Formalin without Managers approval.
2.
Ensure that a Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is obtained from the manufacturer when
ordering hazardous materials and update old MSDS with new MSDS.
3.
Update the hazardous substances inventory and ensure that the MSDS are placed in easy
access to where the hazardous substance will be used.
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Hazard Identification & Analysis Worksheet – HBRC
Work Task, Activity
or Item of
Equipment
What can cause
harm?
How could potential harm situation
arise?
Significant
Hazard
Yes/No*
Controls that Reduce Harm
045 – Handling, Storing and Transporting Hazardous Sustances
Using
Hazardous
Chemicals
Storing
Hazardous
Chemicals
Transporting
Hazardous
Chemicals
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Working in Laboratory – Generic Hazards
Skin and eye

Incorrect or no PPE
irritations,

Inexperience with hazardous
ingestion or
substance
chemical

No MSDS available
burns

Personal Hygiene
Date: JULY 2010
Y
Y


Y
Y




Incorrect or no PPE
No ventilation in working
area
Y
Y

Toxic fumes igniting
Y


Incompatible substances
stored together.
Hazardous chemicals not
labelled.
No MSDS Sheets available.
Y

Chemicals
stored
gradually
spilling/
leaking
Chemicals
spilling while
transported
leading to
unprotected
exposure and
possible fire

Containers of hazardous
substance unbunded
Y


Carrying more than the limit
allowed in the regulations in
inappropriate containers.
Chemical container
unsecured while driving.
Y
 Only carry chemicals in approved containers and within the
Y
approved limits for full licence holders (this can be found in
HBRC Hazardous Substances Management Procedure).
Secure the container so that it does not get knocked around
and damaged while driving.



Wear PPE when handling chemicals
Staff training on safe handling techniques and ready access
MSDS.
There is a purchasing procedure in place to ensure MSDS are
obtained when chemicals are purchased.
Eating and drinking in laboratory prohibited. Wash hands
before eating and remove protective equipment before
entering eating areas.
Using
Chemicalssplashes and
inhalation of
fumes
Toxic fumes
and fire
Incorrect
storage
leading to
corrosion, fire
explosion etc

Status

Y

Y

Wear PPE when handling chemicals and work in a well
ventilated area (open doors) /fume cupboard.
Follow manufactures instructions located on MSDS Sheets
Work in a ventilated area and always use MSDS. Allow no
naked flames in lab.
Refer to MSDS when Storing Hazardous Substances, and
only store compatible classes together i.e. Acids with acids,
and flammable with flammable.
All chemicals are to be labelled and a purchasing procedure is
in place to ensure MSDS are obtained.
Bund all hazardous chemicals and check regularly for leaks
and spills in storage cabinet.
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