Asia Pacific Infrastructure | Property & Build: April - May 2021

Page 3

April - May 2021

No better investment than chemical safety training

C

hemical suppliers and their customers continue to adjust to a Covid operational environment, struggling with inflexible, prescriptive regulation, rising compliance costs, diminishing resources and increasing public safety expectations. The ill-founded decision to replace the mandatory HSNO Approved Handlers with the general employer responsibility provisions of the 2015 Health and Safety at Work Act, is reflected in a growing number of significant workplace chemical incidents across the country, threatening people and our environment. Departing industry veterans with years of expertise and an ability to mentor new staff are warnings of a declining national capability. Combine this with increasing community concerns about their vulnerability to chemical exposure and damage to our fragile environment,. Chemical suppliers striving to cope with regulatory and operational challenges, ranging from Covid-19 disruptions, supply chain delays, the loss of experienced staff and frustration with unanswered queries to increasingly risk-averse officials, are understandably concerned. Ensuring staff are competent to safely manage the harmful chemicals essential to everyday life and now often present in increasing stockpiles, is an increasingly risky business.

A crucial factor is the loss of onsite chemical safety advice, due to replacing flawed but effective mandatory Approved Handler training with whatever employers now deem sufficient. The pragmatic, onsite Responsible Care NZ (RCNZ) Competent Chemical Handler certification is tailored to reflect chemical inventory and delivers results. It enables employers to meet and exceed their regulatory responsibility to ensure employees can not only safely handle chemicals, but also provide useful chemical safety advice, Practical, onsite advice

number of persons adversely affected by unwanted exposure to chemicals. Incomplete or sensationalised media reporting can irretrievably damage reputations with customers and suppliers, particularly if employers have not taken all practicable steps to safely manage their chemical inventory and operations. Incidentally, it has long been a mystery why a significant industrial issue triggers three separate investigations (company, emergency services and WorkSafe NZ), when one, energetic, multi-talented team could comprehensively investigate and report

Competent Chemical Handlers are in demand from competent chemical workers assumes even greater importance as the latest changes to our GHS chemical management system apply this month. RCNZ-trained Competent Chemical Handlers are increasingly in demand, commonly resulting from a site visit to assess chemical management performance throughout the product life cycle where feasible. Knowledgeable staff help avoid expensive and confusing compliance advice, often leading the effective response to chemical incidents, without requiring emergency services. Chemical incidents now guarantee media attention, especially highlighting the

their findings, which are then discussed with stakeholders and promulgated to learn from the event. When chemicals cause problems, employees, customers, WorkSafe NZ Inspectors, health protection officers and FENZ all benefit from the expertise and product information available 24/7 from 0800 CHEMCALL®, our industry’s unique chemical emergency advisory service. Supported by thousands of safety data sheets and site emergency plans, thanks to the collective expertise and local knowledge of our CHEMCALL® responders, their access to a company’s compliant site emergency plan can save

time, disruption and even lives. For non-compliant suppliers who are attracting attention from enforcement agencies, practical onsite advice helps lessen the load on a diminishing number of Compliance Certifiers, while helping to ensure site chemical safety measures remain effective. Further changes to our GHS chemical regime apply from 30 April 2021 and non-compliance will prove increasingly costly. To facilitate your transition, RCNZ updated industry codes of practice and GHS workplace educational material will be available shortly. Now is the time to schedule your RCNZ competent chemical handler course, conveniently delivered on your site, to upskill the last of your HSNO Approved Handlers (which impacts every business), accommodate Certified Handler requirements and successfully implement the GHS update.

Barry Dyer Chief Executive Responsible Care NZ safetynews.co.nz

infrastructurenews.co.nz

propertyandbuild.com

3

EQUIPMENT

A second major chemical incident in the same facility is yet another reminder that safe chemical management is not receiving the attention it deserves


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

Construction industry recovery metrics from Deloittes

11min
pages 52-56

Mixed bag of housing incentives no guarantee for success

12min
pages 46-51

Blended learning the way of the future from the Red Cross

3min
pages 40-41

ACC works for construction safety and offers subsidies for expert advice

5min
pages 42-45

Unlearning misguided muscle training keeps you pain free at home and work

6min
pages 34-35

Michelin leads the recycle tyre tech

2min
page 33

Responsible Care steps in to keep your worksite chemical safe

3min
pages 36-37

Benchmarking pay trends in New Zealand by One Staff

2min
pages 38-39

Cement solution for more than half our used tyres

2min
page 32

Goleman virtual safety training leads the way

2min
pages 24-25

Checklist for worksite safety – basic repeats

3min
pages 22-23

The city at your door in 20 minutes could be become the vogue

4min
pages 20-21

Fonterra construction culture change bears fruit in safety and productivity

4min
pages 18-19

Komatsu introduces new performance standards

2min
pages 16-17

Electric vehicles poised for mass acceptance as majors enter the market

2min
pages 8-9

Wellington leads the way in emissions control over the city of sails

5min
pages 10-11

Good time to become a property developer for the right sector

6min
pages 5-7

Responsible Care offers chemical safety advice

3min
pages 3-4
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.