Hazardous Substances at Home: What PPE Homeowners Actually Need (and How to Stay Legal in NZ)

Hazardous Substances at Home: What PPE Homeowners Should Wear (and Why It Matters in NZ)

Most New Zealand homes contain hazardous substances — often without homeowners realising it. Paints, solvents, weed killers, cleaners, fuels, old building materials, and even some DIY products can harm your lungs, skin, eyes, and nervous system if handled carelessly.

The scary part?
You don’t need to be a tradie or a factory worker to get hurt. A garage, shed, laundry, or renovation project is enough.

This guide explains what PPE homeowners should actually wear, how to find the right safety information, and when it’s time to step away and call professionals.

The Legal Reality for Homeowners in New Zealand

While homeowners aren’t held to the same standard as commercial PCBUs, NZ law still matters when hazardous substances are involved:

Relevant NZ Legislation

• Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) – sets the duty to prevent harm

• Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017

• Asbestos Regulations 2016 – critical for pre-2000 homes

• HSNO Act (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act)

If you expose family members, neighbours, or contractors to hazardous substances — especially asbestos — liability can still land at your feet.

Common Hazardous Substances Found in NZ Homes

If you’ve got any of the following, you’ve got hazardous substances:

• Paints, thinners, solvents, turps

• Weed killers, pesticides, fertilisers

• Pool chemicals

• Fuels (petrol, diesel, kerosene)

• Cleaning chemicals (bleach, acids, oven cleaners)

• Old insulation, cladding, soffits, vinyl flooring (possible asbestos)

• Adhesives, sealants, expanding foams

Each one comes with specific PPE requirements — guessing is not good enough.

The PPE Homeowners Should Actually Be Wearing

1. Respiratory Protection (Your Lungs Matter)

Minimum:

• P2 disposable respirator (not a paper dust mask)

Required when:

• Mixing chemicals

• Spraying paint or pesticides

• Sanding surfaces

• Working in dusty or enclosed areas

⚠️ Important:
A paper dust mask does nothing for fumes, vapours, or asbestos fibres.

2. Eye Protection

Minimum:

• Safety glasses with side protection

• Or chemical splash goggles for liquids

Required when:

• Mixing chemicals

• Decanting liquids

• Using sprays or pressure cleaners

Eyes are often the first casualty — and the fastest way to hospital.

3. Gloves (Not All Gloves Are Equal)

Different hazards = different gloves.

• Nitrile gloves – solvents, paints, fuels

• PVC or neoprene gloves – acids and cleaners

• Cut-resistant gloves – demolition or sharp materials

Kitchen gloves are not PPE. Period.

4. Protective Clothing

• Long sleeves and long pants

• Disposable coveralls for dusty or dirty work

• Closed footwear (preferably safety boots)

Once contaminated, clothing should be washed separately or disposed of.

5. Hearing Protection

If powered equipment is involved (grinders, saws, compressors), hearing damage creeps in quietly — ear muffs or plugs are cheap insurance.

How Do You Know What PPE Is Required? (This Is the Key Part)

Every hazardous substance sold legally in NZ must come with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

You Can Find SDS Information:

• On the product manufacturer’s website

• By searching the product name + “SDS NZ”

• Through platforms like ChemMatrix, which centralise hazardous substance information specifically for New Zealand conditions

An SDS tells you:

• What the substance is

• Health risks

• Required PPE

• Storage and disposal rules

• What to do in an emergency

If you don’t have the SDS — don’t touch the product.

Asbestos: The One Substance Homeowners Must Not Guess With

If your home was built before 2000, asbestos is a real possibility in:

• Cladding

• Soffits

• Roofing

• Garages

• Vinyl flooring

• Insulation boards

No PPE available at Bunnings makes asbestos “safe” to remove.

Under the Asbestos Regulations 2016, friable asbestos and most removal work must be done by licensed professionals.

👉 PropertyHelp Ltd, a Class B Asbestos Removalist, supports Auckland and Waikato homeowners with:

• Asbestos identification

• Safe removal

• Compliance documentation

• Lawful disposal

Trying to “DIY” asbestos doesn’t save money — it creates lifelong health risk.

Why ChemMatrix Matters for Homeowners

ChemMatrix is being developed as a New Zealand-specific hazardous substances compliance platform, designed to take the guesswork out of:

• What chemicals you have

• What PPE you need

• How substances should be stored

• What regulations apply

Instead of hunting PDFs and hoping you’re right, platforms like ChemMatrix aim to give plain-English answers for NZ conditions.

When Homeowners Should Stop and Call for Help

Stop immediately and get professional advice if:

• You can’t identify the substance

• There’s no SDS available

• The work creates dust you can’t control

• You suspect asbestos

• Children or vulnerable people are nearby

This is where PropertyHelp Ltd and qualified H&S professionals step in — not as salespeople, but as risk reducers.

Final Word: PPE Isn’t Overkill — It’s Common Sense

Hazardous substances don’t care if you’re a homeowner or a contractor. Your lungs, eyes, and skin don’t regenerate.

The smartest homeowners:

• Read the SDS

• Wear the right PPE

• Know when to stop

• Use professionals when the risk crosses the line

That’s not fear — that’s informed control.