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Hazardous Substances on the Farm: The PPE Farmers Actually Need (and What WorkSafe Expects in NZ)

Hazardous Substances on the Farm: What PPE Farmers Should Wear (and Why Guessing Gets People Hurt)

If you’re farming in New Zealand, you’re dealing with hazardous substances every single day — even if you don’t call them that.

Drenches, dips, sprays, sanitisers, fuels, silage additives, acids, alkalis, refrigerants, old sheds, old roofing — it’s all part of the job. The problem isn’t using them. The problem is using them without the right PPE and information.

This guide cuts through the nonsense and explains:

  • what PPE farmers should actually be wearing

  • how to find the right safety information (without hunting the internet all night)

  • what NZ law expects of you

  • and when it’s time to bring in professionals

What the Law Says (Yes, It Applies on Farms)

Farms are workplaces under NZ law. That means WorkSafe doesn’t care if it’s “just how we’ve always done it.”

Key NZ Legislation Farmers Must Know

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)

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

  • HSNO Act

  • Asbestos Regulations 2016 (older farm buildings matter here)

Under HSWA, farmers have a duty to:

  • keep themselves, workers, contractors, and visitors safe

  • manage hazardous substances properly

  • provide appropriate PPE, not whatever’s lying around

Ignorance isn’t a defence once someone’s hurt.

Common Hazardous Substances on NZ Farms

If you farm dairy, sheep & beef, horticulture, or cropping, you’ll recognise these immediately:

  • Drenches and animal remedies

  • Dairy sanitisers, acids, alkalis (CIP chemicals)

  • Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides

  • Fertilisers and seed treatments

  • Fuels, oils, diesel, petrol

  • Welding gases and refrigerants

  • Cleaning chemicals

  • Old sheds, roofing, cladding, insulation (possible asbestos)

Every one of these has specific PPE requirements. There is no “one glove fits all.”

The PPE Farmers Should Actually Be Using

1. Respiratory Protection (This Is Where Most Farmers Get It Wrong)

Minimum standard:

  • P2 respirator (disposable or reusable)

Required when:

  • Mixing or spraying agrichemicals

  • Working with powders, dusts, or fertiliser

  • Cleaning sheds or yards

  • Working in enclosed spaces

⚠️ A paper dust mask is not respiratory protection. It stops flies, not fumes.

2. Eye and Face Protection

  • Safety glasses with side shields

  • Chemical splash goggles when mixing liquids

  • Face shield for high-splash tasks

Eyes don’t heal like skin. One splash is enough.

3. Gloves (This Is Non-Negotiable)

Different chemicals destroy different glove materials:

  • Nitrile gloves – fuels, oils, solvents, pesticides

  • PVC or neoprene gloves – acids and alkalis

  • Gauntlet-length gloves – dipping, spraying, mixing

Wool gloves, leather gloves, or bare hands don’t count.

4. Protective Clothing

  • Long sleeves and long pants

  • Waterproof or chemical-resistant overalls for spraying

  • Disposable coveralls for dusty or contaminated jobs

Once soaked with chemicals, clothing becomes a hazard — not protection.

5. Footwear

  • Gumboots or safety boots resistant to chemicals

  • Wash down boots after use

Foot exposure is one of the most common farm chemical injuries.

6. Hearing Protection

Sprayers, compressors, generators, and tractors slowly wreck hearing. Ear muffs are cheaper than hearing aids.

How Farmers Know What PPE Is Required (This Is the Important Bit)

Every hazardous substance legally supplied in NZ must have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

An SDS Tells You:

  • Health risks

  • Required PPE

  • Safe handling and storage

  • Spill response

  • First aid steps

Where to Get SDS Information

  • Manufacturer or supplier websites

  • Product name + “SDS NZ”

  • Platforms like ChemMatrix, built to centralise NZ-specific hazardous substances information for farms

If you don’t know what PPE the SDS requires — you shouldn’t be using the product.

Asbestos on Farms: The Quiet Killer

Many NZ farms still have:

  • Old sheds

  • Roofing

  • Cladding

  • Pump houses

  • Insulated buildings

If it was built before 2000, asbestos is a real possibility.

Under the Asbestos Regulations 2016, most asbestos work must not be done by farmers themselves, regardless of PPE.

👉 PropertyHelp Ltd, a Class B Asbestos Removalist, helps farmers with:

  • Identifying asbestos

  • Safe, legal removal

  • Compliance paperwork

  • Disposal without future liability

No mask from the farm store makes asbestos safe.

Why ChemMatrix Matters for Farmers

Let’s be honest — most farmers don’t have time to manage:

  • SDS folders

  • compliance registers

  • PPE matrices

ChemMatrix is being built as a NZ-specific hazardous substances platform, designed to:

  • centralise chemical information

  • show PPE requirements clearly

  • help farmers stay compliant without drowning in paperwork

It’s about less admin, fewer injuries, and fewer WorkSafe headaches.

When Farmers Should Stop and Get Help

Stop the job and get advice if:

  • You can’t identify the substance

  • There’s no SDS

  • PPE requirements are unclear

  • The task creates uncontrolled dust or fumes

  • You suspect asbestos

  • Workers or family members could be exposed

That’s where PropertyHelp Ltd and qualified advisors step in — not to slow you down, but to keep you farming tomorrow.

Straight Talk to Finish

Hazardous substances don’t care how experienced you are. They don’t care if you’ve “done it this way for 30 years.”

Good farmers:

  • read the SDS

  • wear the right PPE

  • control exposure

  • know when to call specialists

That’s not overkill. That’s professional farming in 2026.

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