Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO)
Approved Handler Experience form
HSNO Requirements
The following information has been provided to clarify the requirements for the treated timber industry regarding compliance with the Hazardous Substances & New Organisms (HSNO) Act. See "Documents" at the bottom of this page for useful documents from ERMA.
CCA Treatment Plants
Location Test Certificate
Location Test Certificates are not required for treatment plants where flammable substances are not held or used, i.e. CCA/ACQ/CuAz treatment plants do not require a location certificate.
Approved Handler and Tracking Requirements
Due to their high acute toxicity, all CCA treatment chemicals trigger both approved handler and tracking requirements. However, every user of these types of chemicals does not need to be an approved handler as long as an approved handler is available to provide guidance to the person handling the substance.
Existing Stationary Container Systems
Existing stationary container systems with greater than 5000 L capacity require certification. If you have an existing stationary tank you must engage a test certifier (approved for stationary tanks) to make an assessment of the system by 31 March 2006. If not compliant, they must submit to ERMA a compliance plan by 31 March 2007.
General compliance requirements relate to:
- Tank design
- construction and installation pressure
- emergency pressure management
- level indicator requirements
- fire fighting systems
- signage and
- records.
This information is found in Schedule 8 of the NZ Gazette Hazardous Substances (Dangerous Goods and Scheduled Toxic Substances) Transfer Notice 2004.
Secondary Containment
Secondary containment requirements are found in the Hazardous Substances (Emergency Management) Regulations 2001, and must be complied with as relevant. Secondary containment refers to bunded areas or similar containment designed to contain substances which may inadvertently leak, spill or spray from their primary containers.
LOSP Treatment Plants
Location Test Certificate
Most LOSPs have a hazard classification of 3.1C. These will require a location test certificate.
For sites storing greater than 50,000 L of 3.1C substances, you must have a location test certificate by 31 March 2005. A later date may be agreed to by the Authority upon receipt and approval of an implementation plan.
For sites storing less than 50,000 L of 3.1C substances, an application to a test certifier must be made between December 2004 and June 2006, depending on the name of the licence holder, as detailed in Schedule 4, clause 6 of the NZ Gazette Hazardous Substances (Timber Preservatives, Antisapstains and Antifouling Paints) Transfer Notice 2004. Applications will be dealt with in alphabetical order starting with A in December 2004. An alternative date may be agreed to by the Authority upon receipt and approval of an implementation plan.
Approved Handler and Tracking Requirements
Class 3.1C substances are not required to be under the control of an approved handler, nor are they required to be tracked. However, some LOSP chemicals will trigger both the approved handler and tracking requirements on the basis of their high acute toxicity, i.e. those that are classified as 6.1A, 6.1B or 6.1C.
Existing Stationary Container Systems
Existing stationary container systems with greater than 5000 L capacity require certification. If you have an existing stationary tank you must engage a test certifier (approved for stationary tanks) to make an assessment of the system by 31 March 2006. If not compliant, they must submit to ERMA a compliance plan by 31 March 2007.
General compliance requirements relate to:
- Tank design
- construction and installation pressure
- emergency pressure management
- level indicator requirements
- fire fighting systems
- signage and
- records.
This information is found in Schedule 8 of the NZ Gazette Hazardous Substances (Dangerous Goods and Scheduled Toxic Substances) Transfer Notice 2004.
Secondary Containment
Secondary containment refers to bunded areas or similar containment designed to contain substances which may inadvertently leak, spill or spray from their primary containers. Secondary containment requirements are found in the Hazardous Substances (Emergency Management) Regulations 2001, and must be complied with as relevant.
Further details or advice may be obtained from ERMA on 0800 376 234 or by contacting the NZTPC office. See also "Documents" at the bottom of this page.
Tank Certification
We are aware that licensees are having some difficulty in having their tanks certified due to problems in finding a suitable test certifier.
TPC is looking to retain a suitably qualified certifier who will be able to assist licensees. We hope to have someone appointed in the next few weeks. We will keep you posted.
Documents
Code of Practice for the
Management of Existing Stationary
Container Systems at Timber
Treatment Facilities
Click here to download (PDF, 78kb)
ERMA Quick Guide: Tracking
This Guide describes responsibilities for tracking and the documentation required.
Click here to download (PDF, 820kb)
ERMA Quick Guide: Packaging
This guide gives a general explanation of how to meet the requirements for packaging. It does not specify the exact packaging requirements that apply to any particular hazardous substance. For more detail, refer to the Hazardous Substances (Packaging) Regulations 2001 (and amendments).
Click here to download (PDF, 810kb)
ERMA Quick Guide: Location Test Certificates
The HSNO Act requires that where certain hazardous substances are held hazardous substance locations be identified. If these locations hold more than a specified quantity then a Test Certificate is needed for the location.
Click here to download (PDF, 833kb)
ERMA Quick Guide: Completing a Location Certificate
Click here to download (PDF, 32kb)
ERMA Quick Guide: Emergency Management
This Emergency Management Guide tells you what measures to put in place so that should an incident or emergency occur involving hazardous substances, the effects are minimised and mitigated both in severity and extent.
Click here to download (PDF, 824kb)
ERMA Quick Guide: Approved Handlers
This guide specifically relates to Dangerous Goods and Scheduled Toxic Substances that were transferred to the HSNO Act on 1 April 2004. The HSNO Act requires that very hazardous substances are under the control of an Approved Handler. To take delivery of a tracked substance you will need to ensure that an Approved Handler is in place. This guide explains the role of an Approved Handler and how to become one.
Click here to download (PDF, 419kb)