Hazardous Substances Register for Farms — What It Is and Why You Should Get a Professional to Set It Up
Hazardous Substances Register for Farms — What You Need to Know
If you’ve got diesel, herbicides, drenches, oils, fertilisers, or cleaning agents on your farm — congratulations, you’re handling hazardous substances.
And under New Zealand’s HSNO Act 1996 and Health and Safety at Work (HSWA) Act 2015, that means you’re legally required to have a Hazardous Substances Register.
Sounds like paperwork, right? But this little document does a lot more than keep WorkSafe happy. It keeps your people, your animals, and your land safe.
Here’s what it is, how to build one, and why getting a professional to do it is smarter than trying to wing it.
🧾 What Is a Hazardous Substances Register?
Think of it as your farm’s chemical map — a list that shows what hazardous substances you have, where they’re stored, and how dangerous they are.
It helps anyone working on the property know:
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what’s onsite
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how to handle it safely
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what to do if something spills or catches fire
If WorkSafe shows up, this is the first document they’ll ask for.
🧱 What You Need to Include
Your register should cover:
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✅ Product name and supplier
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✅ Quantity on site
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✅ Storage location
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✅ Hazard classification (flammable, toxic, corrosive, etc.)
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✅ SDS (Safety Data Sheet) link or hard copy
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✅ PPE required for handling
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✅ First-aid and emergency actions
👉 Tip: SDS sheets must be less than five years old, and you must keep them where workers can easily find them.
⚙️ Why a Hazardous Substances Register Matters
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Prevents accidents: Everyone knows what’s onsite and how to handle it.
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Speeds up emergency response: Fire crews and first-aiders can act fast.
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Proves compliance: WorkSafe NZ loves seeing an up-to-date register.
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Protects your insurance: If an incident happens, you’ve got the paperwork to show you were managing risk.
🚜 Why You Should Engage a Professional
You can make your own register — but here’s why most farmers hand it off to someone who knows the rules:
✅ 1. It’s Easy to Miss Something
A pro knows the hidden stuff that counts — old fuel drums, gas bottles, battery storage, even fertiliser dust. Miss one, and you’re technically non-compliant.
✅ 2. Regulations Change
WorkSafe and EPA rules update constantly. A professional consultant (like Auditsure Ltd) keeps your register aligned with the latest HSNO and HSWA requirements.
✅ 3. You Save Time
Instead of chasing SDS sheets and hazard codes, a pro can set everything up in a few hours — with templates you can easily maintain.
✅ 4. Digital Solutions Make It Even Easier
Auditsure Ltd is developing ChemMatrix, a new digital platform for farms and small businesses that handles everything in one place:
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Auto-builds your Hazardous Substances Register
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Stores and updates SDS sheets automatically
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Flags when products expire or need new signage
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Generates WorkSafe-ready reports instantly
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Lets you scan QR codes on containers to see hazards, PPE, and spill info
That’s compliance made simple — and it’s built specifically for New Zealand farms.
💬 Real Talk
Most farmers don’t have time to read HSNO regulations or update spreadsheets. You’re out there running stock, fixing fences, and watching the weather.
But ignoring hazardous-substance compliance can bite you later — in fines, injuries, or environmental damage.
Bringing in a professional is not a cost; it’s insurance that your farm’s safe, legal, and future-proof.
✅ Final Word
A Hazardous Substances Register is the backbone of HSNO compliance on any New Zealand farm.
It’s simple in theory — but easy to get wrong if you don’t know the details.
Let Auditsure Ltd or their digital tool ChemMatrix handle it for you. They’ll set up your register, attach the right SDS files, and keep your farm compliant so you can focus on the real work — running it.
Because when it comes to hazardous substances, getting it right the first time isn’t just about compliance.
It’s about keeping your whānau, workers, and land safe.