Kia ora koutou

Welcome to the latest edition of the hazardous substances newsletter. Updates in this edition include:

• consultation on a proposed safe work instrument
• findings from the New Zealand Carcinogens Survey 2021
• new guidance on cutting and welding drums and tanks
• signage requirements for a new rat and mice control vertebrate toxic agent; and
• a training course on vertebrate toxic agent safe handling and use.

Thank you for your continued mahi and support to improve the health of workers in New Zealand.

Ngā mihi nui

Public consultation is now open on a proposed safe work instrument which outlines the controlled substance licence requirements for specified class 1 hazardous substances (explosives).

More information on the proposed safe work instrument and how to provide feedback is available on our website. Submissions close at 5pm on Wednesday 17 May 2023.

WorkSafe, in collaboration with the Occupational Integrated Database Exposure Assessment System (OccIDEAS) team and Research New Zealand, conducted the New Zealand Carcinogens Survey. This survey estimates current exposure to carcinogens among New Zealand workers.

Key findings:

• over half (57.5%) of workers are probably exposed to at least one carcinogen at any level
• 23.3% are probably exposed to five or more carcinogens at any level
• over half (53.1%) of workers are exposed to at least one carcinogenic agent at a low level
• nearly 3 in 10 (28%) workers are probably exposed to at least one carcinogen at a high level.

Findings from the survey will support the Government Health and Safety at Work Strategy 2018–2028 and WorkSafe's carcinogens and airborne risks programme.

Drums and tanks that seem to be empty can contain residues of flammable substances or flammable vapours. These substances or vapours can explode or ignite on contact with a flame or spark, causing serious injuries.

This new quick guide provides information on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of fire and explosion when cutting and repairing drums and tanks.

The Environmental Protection Agency has recently approved a new vertebrate toxic agent (VTA) - a block bait and soft bait containing 0.05 g/kg difenacoum (approval number HSR101550) for rat and mice control.

WorkSafe has set signage requirements for 12 months when this substance is used in outdoor areas, under regulation 13.19(5) of the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017, due to its persistence in the environment.

The signage warns of the presence of VTAs and is intended to raise awareness of pest control operations in the area so children and small animals are supervised to ensure they are less likely to accidentally ingest VTAs. 

VTAs are an important tool to help achieve New Zealand’s predator free 2050 aspiration.

The Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) has engaged with industry partners to offer a level 6 training course for health and safety professionals to provide grounding information on this specialised area.

The course provides tools to check, audit and certify people who wish to become a certified handler for VTAs. It will be held in Auckland on Wednesday 24 May. 

The first six trainees to book onto this course will be subsidised.