Purpose

Between 600–900 New Zealanders are estimated to die from work-related illness every  year, many from chronic illness arising from poor controls on the handling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals. This course is designed to train people to identify the health and safety risks of the chemicals in a workplace; and to identify, select and apply the legislated and other controls designed to minimise the exposure of workers to these

risks, and ensure the proper reporting. The course addresses the requirements of a ‘Competent Person’ as specified under s19.1 and in Schedule 27 of the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017.

Who Should Attend

Any person responsible for the management, storage, use, disposal or otherwise handling

of hazardous substances in a workplace, especially those substances requiring the maintenance of tracking and/or other application records. This would include store persons, team leaders, supervisors, shift managers, safety offices, purchasing officers and other managers responsible for the PCBU Hazardous Substances controls.

It may be useful for line managers who need awareness to inform the decisions they make and to ask questions regarding hazardous substances.

All applicants seeking certification as a Certified Handler must attend this course.

Course Objectives

After the successful completion of this course trainees will be able to demonstrate and explain the:

• classification of workplace chemicals according to their hazardous property thresholds;
• routes of contamination, pollution and/or exposure, the safety risks and health effects of workplace chemicals;
• storage, handling, and disposal controls compliant to the legislation and workplace requirements;
• monitoring of controls managing the risks of workplace chemicals;
• management of workplace chemical emergencies and the reestablishment of controls;
• documentation and reporting requirements under the current legislation.

Entry Criteria

Skills and knowledge of workplace procedures relating to hazardous substances, or hold

unit standard: 31292 Demonstrate knowledge of workplace procedures relating to hazardous substances.

NZQA Unit Standards

31290   Demonstrate knowledge of the safe management and potential adverse effects of hazardous substances in the workplace.

31293   Demonstrate safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances in the workplace.

Legislative Driver

Aligned to Section 19.1, and the requirements under Schedule 27, of the Health and  Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017.less