Simon Buckland ERMA Simon.Buckland@epa.govt.nz (P32, Friday 28, Ilott Theatre, 11.30)

1. HSNO - It’s not that hard!
the EPA’s strategy to help SMEs

2. HSNO
- It’s easy!

3. What am I going to talk about
Hazardous Substances
Where do you find them?
The cost to people and the environment?
How do we manage chemicals safely?
Our small business program
The key HSNO controls
What must you do?

4. The cost
In New Zealand
– 15 – 60 deaths per year - acute
– 800 – 1000 death per year – chronic
– 1,200 – 2,500 hospitalisations
– Higher than annual road death toll! (306 deaths in 2010)
– Workplace deaths (2010 – 2011) 73

5. The tragedy
These deaths are preventable
Adverse effects of hazardous substances can be
prevented or managed
Legislation in place – HSNO + HSE

6. HSNO applies to everyone
• HSNO legislation starts with words on paper
• Prevention and management of hazardous
substances requires action
• Action from importers, manufacturers, users and
those storing hazardous substances
• Action from employers, employees, and health &
safety practitioners (reps, advisors, managers)
• Action from Government

7. Characteristics of Small Businesses
Internal environment
– Owner/manager is the key person
– Short, oral lines of communication
– Poor work environment
External environment
Competition
Deadlines
Regulatory pressure
• multiplicity of legislation
• Non prescriptive, performance based

8. Characteristics of Small Businesses
Barriers to performance
– Management structure (informal, initiative based)
– Economic climate
– Communication (literacy, English a second language)
– Knowledge and perception
• No chemical inventory
• No safety data sheets
• PPE, What do I wear?
Compliance and enforcement drivers

9. Characteristics of Small Businesses
How do SME view the regulator - EPA
– Cost not a benefit
– Speak a foreign language
– Do not understand our business
– Trying to fix a problem that does not exist

10. How to get through to SME’s?
Changing behaviours – the mindset
Focus on the owner/manager
– their attitude critical to managing health and safety
Action orientated
– low cost initiatives, based on trust
– health and safety has to compete alongside cash flow
Relevant information
– simple, concise, user friendly advice
What works?
straightforward checklists

11. HSNO – it’s easy!
Where to start?
Hazardous substances are hazards (no different to
“slips, trips & falls” or unguarded machines)
Hazards need to be eliminated, isolated or
minimised to prevent harm (same as HSE – all
practicable steps)
HSNO eliminates by banning substances
HSNO sets controls to manage the risks
(classification and threshold quantity)

12. Key HSNO controls
Keep a current chemical inventory
Have the right information – labels, signs, SDS
Train the people – hazards, precautions, PPE
Maintain an emergency management plan
Manage high risk activities - test certification
Identify a responsible “person in charge”

13. EPA’s Strategy
Toolkit
Influencers
SMEs
Awareness

14. EPA’s Strategy
Working with the owner/manager
Provide information - communication tools
– simple messages – action orientated
– improving accessibility
– self assessment checklists
– chemical inventory – what and how to
– chemical calculator
– emergency flipchart

15. EPS’s Strategy
Key Influences on SME’s
– Industrial organisations
– Insurance industry
– Health and Safety practitioners
– Trades Unions – safety representatives
– Government departments
Align with other government departments
– Workplace Health and Safety Strategy – Occupational
Health Action Plan
• Training
• Research

16. Working with H&S Practitioners
H&S practitioners play a critical role
An important influencer
• Hazard identification
• Interventions
• Provide advice
• Training
• Awareness campaigns
• Compliance

17. Why you are important?
H&S practitioners are well placed
Passion
Knowledge & skills (or know where to get help)
Front line (“Johnny on the spot”)

18. How can we work together?
Bryan Watts bryan.watts@epa.govt.nz
Sarah McIntosh
sarah.mcintosh@epa.govt.nz
Simon Buckland simon.buckland@epa.govt.nz
Hazardous Substances Information Line
0800 376 234 or
hsinfo@epa.govt.nz