DoL providing farmers hazardous substances advice

MEDIA RELEASE
06 June 2007

Department of Labour providing farmers advice on hazardous substances

Experts on hazardous substances will be available to farmers, businesses and consumers at the Fieldays at Mystery Creek, June 13-16.

The Department of Labour and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) will be using New Zealand’s largest annual agricultural show to provide information and advice on the safe use and handling of hazardous substances.

“It is a great opportunity for farmers to come to us with any questions they may have,” said Department of Labour Hamilton Team Leader Clive Mac Gregor. “We’ll have a range of material and also a number of experts on site to talk to.”

Mystery Creek is billed as the biggest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere and the Department and ERMA, who are jointly exhibiting, will have information available on issues ranging from the safe storage of fuels, to signage and test certificate requirements.

Under recent HSNO legislation all workplaces, including farms, must have a person in charge who is responsible for ensuring that hazardous substances are correctly managed and that the environment and health and safety of people are not adversely affected.

“This is a chance for farmers and others to talk face to face about any concerns or issues they may have,” said Mr Mac Gregor. “Although some of the legislation around hazardous substances is relatively new and can appear quite complex, it really isn’t too onerous on farmers. By having experts available at the Fieldays farm businesses will be better placed to respond – making their farms safer places to work, and potentially saving farmers time and money in the long run.”

For more information on hazardous substances go to:
www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/index.html

For more information on the Department of Labour and on the Health and Safety in Employment Act go to: www.osh.govt.nz

ENDS

To the journalist: Please note that health and safety services, formerly referred to as Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) should now be referred to as the Department of Labour.

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