These substances are usually referred to as hazardous
substances.
The Palmerston North District Plan describes the potential
effect of hazardous substances to the following factors:
- Its hazardous characteristics, being whether it is toxic,
ecotoxic, explosive, flammable, corrosive or oxidizing;
- The quantity and form in which it is used, stored disposed and
transported;
- The method of management in terms of how it is used, stored,
disposed and transported; and
- Its siting in relation to other hazardous substances and
environmentally sensitive areas, for example residential areas and
water bodies.
There exist a number of legislative requirements which deal with
the safety aspect of hazardous substances which includes the
following:
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and
Regulations;
- The Building Act 1991;
- The Radiation Protection Act 1955 and Regulations;
- The Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996;
- The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1922;
- The Animal Remedies Act 1967 and Regulations;
- The Land Transport Act 1993 and relevant New Zealand
Standards
Under Sections 30 and 31 of the Resource Management Act of 1996,
the primary responsibility of Palmerston North City Council is to
mitigate any adverse effects that may result from the use, storage,
disposal or transportation of hazardous substances. As a result
Council maintains a Contaminated Sites Register as part of the Land
Information Management database and ensures hazardous facilities
are designed, contracted and managed in an approved manner.
Hazardous Substances at Home and Public Places
Council is also obligated, under the HSNO Act, to administer the
Act in public places and private dwellings. Everyday products
we use at home can be hazardous and have the potential to cause
harm to human health and the environment. Common household
hazardous substances include:
- Solvents - Mineral Turpentine;
- Cleaning fluids - oven and drain cleaners and bleaching
agents;
- Garden chemicals - herbicides, fungicides and pesticides;
- Paints - enamel based paints and surfaces coated with lead
based paints;
- Dyes - textile and hair dyes;
- Adhesives containing solvents;
- Stored fuels - petrol and oil; and
- Old can batteries,
- Asbestos containing materials.
If you find a hazardous substance that has expired or is no
longer in a suitable state to be used and disposal is the safest
option, follow the guidelines for the disposal of hazardous
waste.
Related Websites
Fireworks General Rules for Safe Retail Sale and Safe
Handling
The selling of fireworks of classification 1.3G, 1.4G and 1.4S
at retail outlets are regulated under the Hazardous Substances and
Now Organisms Act and related Hazardous Substances (Fireworks)
Regulations 2001.
You may only display fireworks for retail sale or sell them for
four (4) days prior to and including Guy Fawkes Day. The period
includes from 2 November to the close of 5 November.
The following general rules include:
- Fireworks may only be sold to persons aged 18 and over
- Sparkles can now only be sold in retail fireworks packages
together with other fireworks
- They cannot be sold to the public unless tested and have a test
Certifi9cate
Quantities below 500 kg
You may hold up to 500 kg of retail fireworks inside a retail
premise, or in a container so long as the fireworks are secured so
that a person cannot gain access to them without tools, keys, or
any other device for operating locks. Where greater than 300 kg of
retail fireworks are held you must ensure that a fire extinguisher
is available within 30m of the fireworks. You do not have to be an
approved handler in order to handle this quantity of retail
fireworks before the point of their sale to the public.
Quantities greater than 500 kg and below 1000 kg
Must be under the personal control of an Approved Handler or
handled by a person under the direct supervision of an Approved
Handler. Up to 1000 kg of retail fireworks may be held inside a
retail premise, or in a container secured so that a person cannot
gain access to them without tools, keys, or any other device for
operating locks.
Quantities greater than 1,000 kg and below 10,000 kg
Quantities of retail fireworks above 1000 kg require the
establishment of a hazardous substance location. They must be
secured under lock and key in a container that is of fire-resisting
construction. This container must also be monitored by a security
system. The container must be located at least 2 metres from any
occupied buildings and must be well clear of the exits of any
buildings.
The area surrounding the container must also be clear of any
combustible material.
Quantities greater than 10,000 kg (gross weight)
Any location holding over 10,000 kg of fireworks must have a
location Test Certificate verifying that the location meets the
HSNO requirements. The fireworks must be secured under lock and key
in a container that is of fireresisting construction. This
container must also be monitored by a security system.
The container should be separated from public access ways and
from other buildings by distances of not less than 5 metres. It
should be separated from other hazardous substances by a distance
of not less than 15 metres, and from any other readily combustible
material by at least 5 metres.
Not withstanding the above, no more than 10,000 kg (gross
weight) of retail fireworks may be stored, at any one time, at a
location to which the public have access.
To obtain more information you can find the following documents
on the ERMA website:
For a summary of the controls applicable to the retail sale of
fireworks:
Your Guide to Selling Retail
Fireworks
Access to the Code of Practice for retail Fireworks
Code of Practice for Retail Fireworks: Design, Performance,
Testing, Storage, Transport, Sale and Use (Code Reference: HSNOCOP
18-1).
Disposal of LPG Cylinders
National Gas Ltd is able to carry out the disposal of un-wanted
LPG cylinders at no charge to non-commercial entities.
They are situated at:
56 Bourke Street
Palmerston North
phone (06) 358 9895
You can also contact the local waste disposal contractors. You
can find contact details in the Yellow pages.
Further information about Hazardous Substances
For the identification and removal of asbestos containing
materials
Mid Central Health
Provider service for MidCentral and Whanganui District Health
Boards.
Districts covered: Manawatu, Wanganui, Ruapehu
Public Health Unit
PO Box 2056
Palmerston North
Community Health Village
Palmerston North Hospital
Palmerston North
Tel (06) 350 9110
Fax (06) 350 9111
After hours (06) 350 8465
Environmental Risk Managed Authority (ERMA)
For more information on Hazardous Substances and the HSNO
Act
http://www.ermanze.govt.nz
Palmerston North City Council
Contact the local HSNO compliance officer
Phone: (06) 356 8199
During business hours
The Department of Building and Housing
The government agency that looks after building issues related
to the Building Act and the Building Code.
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/
New Zealand Chemical Industry Council
The New Zealand Chemical Industry Council (NZCIC) is a "not for
profit" industry association responsible for implementing and
promoting responsible Caretm, the international safety, health and
environmental (SH & E) protection initiative practiced by the
chemical industry in more than 45 countries worldwide.
http://www.nzcic.org.nz/
The National Poison Centre
The National Poisons Centre answers enquiries both from health
professionals and from the general public concerning acute
poisoning and the toxic effects of chemicals, which may be
encountered in emergencies of any sort.
In addition to the emergency telephone service, general enquiries
concerning potential toxic effects of chemicals encountered in
occupational and other settings are answered from the computerised
database along with other available literature sources. For 24 hour
poisons advice, telephone 0800 POISON / 0800 764766.
TOXINZ Database
The TOXINZ database has been developed jointly with the
University of Otago and the New Zealand National Poisons
Centre.
http://www.toxinz.com
Energy Safety Services
Energy Safety is the government agency which monitors and
encourages compliance with the laws rating to energy safety. The
areas of the energy sector in which Energy Safety works, is within
the fuel gas and electricity industries.
http://www.energysafety.govt.nz/