It was Benjamin Franklin that said: “Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn,” and it’s a message to remember as I write.
A highlight of the much loved and (sometimes) sorely missed HSNO regime were the industry developed codes of practice. HSNO Approved Codes provided the necessary information to enable employers to identify solutions and provide the required training, which was then enforced by workplace inspectors in their dual role as hazardous substances enforcement officers
Implementing the former world class chemical management HSNO legislation was a complex challenge for everyone involved with chemicals, encompassing industrial chemicals in bulk to consumer products to special applications such as teaching institutions, transport and agriculture.
Chemical industry codes explained key performance standards including safety data sheets, labelling, site signage and emergency preparedness encouraged and enabled compliance. They provided the basis for specialist training, site compliance assessments and enforcement.
Most importantly, industry codes established the regulators and the regulated had a common preferred performance solution to implement and enforce.
The chemical association participated in the training of workplace inspectors, hazardous substances enforcement officers, HSNO test certifiers and NZ Fire Service personnel, delivering the required chemical expertise required by employers, employees, enforcement agencies and emergency responders.
The result was a mutually rewarding, collaborative environment whereby business operators could confidently seek compliance advice. Regrettably, this efficient, cost-effective and mutually beneficial collaboration did not survive implementation of the Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act in 2015.
User-friendly, enforceable approved codes of practice were demoted to ‘best practice’ guides, while the well understood ‘all practicable steps’ mantra encompassing the global
Responsible Care ethic of product life cycle management through ‘continuous improvement’ was subsumed by a focus on compliance.
Wider erosion of pragmatic workplace chemical safety performance standards followed, with the demise of the much-maligned Approved Handler requirement. While often poorly delivered, a current Approved Handler Certificate enabled employers, enforcement agents and suppliers of restricted chemicals to quickly ascertain that the worker had the required expertise.
Competence in safely handling the chemicals we rely on to sustain our quality of life now becomes more difficult to determine. Chemical warehousing presents a unique combination of the importance of compliance and best practice challenges.
Chemical warehousing operators must ensure employees receive the necessary specialist chemical training. Equally well-intentioned but under-resourced businesses typically struggle to meet their workplace chemical safety obligations.
The loss of experienced chemical handlers contributes to a high-risk workplace health and safety environment. New workers may not always benefit from mentoring by experienced colleagues. Furthermore, resource-poor business operators are being confronted by compliance requirements of which they may not even have been aware.
Recognising the void left by the diminishing ability to easily access the required expertise, Responsible Care NZ developed the Competent Chemical Handler Certificate, a one-day, onsite course customised to reflect the client’s chemical inventory and industry best practice obligations. Knowledgeable workers able to safely carry out their chemical related tasks and take immediate action in the event of a spill, are an invaluable resource for every business where chemicals are present.
Regrettably, compliance is the focus for enforcement, whereas sound chemical management requires a commitment to continuous improvement extending beyond compliance. Safeguarding people and our precious environment by implementing safe chemical management throughout your business requires targeted training.
The care taken to ensure safe forklift operations throughout your site is commendable. Are you confident your chemical safety performance meets and exceeds your workplace health and safety expectations and regulatory obligations? Not sure?
Your RCNZ competent chemical handler will be a major resource in helping to achieve your safe chemical management goals.
There will never be a better time to upskill your team with specialist chemical training.