The 2017 Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulations ensure that hazardous substances are managed with care. But these regulations did not consider the way universities and public research laboratories undertake teaching and research.
Universities NZ estimated that for the more than 2000 labs in New Zealand to have met these regulations fully would have cost up to $3 billion dollars.
“The change of these regulations is enormously positive and allows our expert lab staff and technical experts to manage handling and use of hazardous substances through a risk management plan,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sally McArthur.
“Our people take the utmost care with hazardous substances. All lab users are trained in best practices through a rigorous training programme led by our expert lab staff, prior to conducting experiments and teaching in the labs. The adjustments to the regulations simply put the onus on the individual to work with our researchers to develop the appropriate risk management.”
The changes to the Regulations introduce a dedicated compliance pathway for research, testing, and teaching laboratories, and recognise that those facilities operate differently from industrial operations like pesticide or cleaning product manufacturers.
The Government has signalled that an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) will be developed by WorkSafe in partnership with industry, to provide clear guidance for laboratories on how to meet the requirements.
While these changes have been supported by the current coalition Government, they are in response to over 8 years of petitioning from researchers across Aotearoa New Zealand.
“The situation we were in had the potential to make compliance less safe than breaking the rules. It is good to see these controls changed to ensure people are kept safe, not just protected by paperwork,” says Professor McArthur.