Hazardous Substances

Policy

We have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 to ensure any hazardous substances kept at the practice are managed appropriately to minimise the risk to staff, patients, and visitors.

Team members are trained to work safely with hazardous substances. In the event of an accident or near miss involving a hazardous substance, staff follow the practice's incident management procedure.

For more information on working safely with hazardous substances, refer to the Hazardous Substances Toolbox, and Worksafe: Hazardous Substances.

Keeping inventories

1. Use the WorkSafe | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa Hazardous Substances Calculator to determine whether any chemicals or other substances used or stored at the practice are "hazardous", e.g. medical oxygen, Entonox, alcohols, hydrogen peroxide.

   Note: If the practice has any highly hazardous substances (e.g. Class 6.1A or 6.1B substances, such as phenol or formalin), then these need to be under the personal control of a certified handler or a certified handler needs to be physically present and able to guide and assist an uncertified handler.

2. Generate a hazardous substances inventory, using the WorkSafe calculator to help you.

   Refer to Worksafe | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa: Managing your hazardous substances for more information on the regulations, and creating an inventory.

3. Make a separate inventory of any other hazardous substances, including hazardous waste, held at the practice.

   Hazardous substances, such as detergents, are not required to be entered into the practice inventory due to their grading, but must be entered into the hazards and risks register.

   Source: RNZCGP Indicator 13.2 Hazardous substances

   Use a template like this, and include the relevant information.

   For each hazardous substance your inventory must include:

   • the substance's name and UN number (if available)
   • the maximum amount likely to be at the workplace
   • its location
   • any specific storage and segregation requirements
   • a current safety data sheet or a condensed version of the key information from the safety data sheet
   • any hazardous waste.

   Source: Worksafe | Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa

4. Add both inventories (the Worksafe, and the practice inventory) to your hazards and risks register.
   • Update both inventories whenever there is a change, e.g. there is a new substance or the maximum quantity of an existing substance changes.
   • Keep both inventories, and your hazards and risks register, readily available to emergency services, including after the practice has been evacuated.

     For example, you may keep a hard copy, electronic copy that can also be accessed off site, or a copy in some other form.

5. Carry out a hazardous substance risk assessment for all substances on your inventories.

   Consider:

   • quantity
   • storage and containment
   • health hazards
   • potential reactions with other substances
   • flammability and sources of flame or heat
   • likelihood and consequences of exposure.
6. Determine how to manage the risks.

Management

1. Keep safety data sheets for all hazardous substances:
   • Check a safety data sheet is provided with the substance when it is first supplied.
   • If the safety data sheet changes, get a copy of the amended sheet with the next supply.
   • If there is no safety data sheet or it is out of date, contact the supplier to get a copy.
2. Add hazardous substances to the hazards and risks register.
3. Make sure all hazardous substances are properly labelled with:
   • product or chemical name
   • hazard pictogram
   • hazard statement.
4. Make sure hazardous substances are kept in appropriate, sound, and properly labelled containers.
5. Display signage where indicated by the Hazardous Substances Calculator.
6. Provide staff with required information, instruction, training, and supervision before they carry out or supervise work involving hazardous substances.
7. Provide staff with any appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
8. Dispose of any surplus and non-recyclable hazardous substances according to the safety data sheet.
9. Have an emergency response plan and provide emergency equipment, e.g. spill kits and fire extinguishers, at hazardous substances locations.

In an emergency involving hazardous substances, call 111 and advise which substances are involved, and the quantity. Provide the hazardous substances inventory to emergency services when they arrive. If necessary, evacuate the practice.

Review and monitoring

Hazardous substances are reviewed during health and safety meetings:

• if a new hazardous substance has been identified.
• if anything has changed that may alter the risk and how it is managed.
• if an incident involving a hazardous substance has occurred.
• at least once every 5 years.

Resources

• Worksafe: What the Hazardous Substances Regulations mean for you
• Worksafe: Hazardous Substances Calculator
• The Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017

safety data sheets