How SMEs in Auckland Can Comply with HSNO Labelling, Packaging & SDS Rules
How to Comply with HSNO Labelling, Packaging & SDS Rules in Auckland for SMEs
If you’re running a business in Auckland — maybe a tradie outfit, cleaning company, workshop, or small factory — chances are you’ve got hazardous substances onsite. Paints, solvents, fuel, acids, cleaning chemicals… they all count.
Under the HSNO Act (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996), you’re legally on the hook for how these are labelled, packaged, and stored. Add to that the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and you’ve got two regulators (EPA and WorkSafe) who expect you to have your act together.
Sounds like a headache? It doesn’t have to be. Here’s the simple version for SMEs.
1. Labelling – The Basics
Every hazardous substance in your workplace must have a proper label. That means:
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Product name – no nicknames, the full name.
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Hazard pictograms – the diamond-shaped ones (flammable, toxic, corrosive, etc.).
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Hazard statements – what’s dangerous about it.
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Precautionary statements – how to use it safely.
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Supplier details – who made or supplied it.
👉 Pro tip: If the label is worn off, faded, or missing, replace it immediately. WorkSafe inspectors love to pick on dodgy labels.
2. Packaging – Don’t Cut Corners
It’s not just about having a container. HSNO rules say packaging must:
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Be robust – won’t break, crack, or leak.
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Be compatible – no storing acid in metal tins that corrode.
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Keep the label visible at all times.
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Be secure enough that if the container tips, nothing leaks.
👉 Reusing old Coke bottles or milk jugs for chemicals? Forget it. That’s an instant fail under HSNO.
3. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) – Your Rulebook
Think of an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) as the manual for each chemical. It tells you:
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What the substance is.
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The risks.
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How to handle, store, and dispose of it.
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What to do in an emergency.
Rules for SMEs in Auckland:
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You must have an SDS for every hazardous substance onsite.
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SDS must be NZ-compliant and less than 5 years old.
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Staff must be able to readily access them (hard copy folder or digital system).
👉 Having them buried in a manager’s laptop that no one else can see? Doesn’t cut it.
Why This Matters
Getting HSNO wrong isn’t just about fines. If someone gets sick, hurt, or worse because chemicals weren’t labelled, packaged, or explained properly, you’re on the hook as a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking).
And trust me — lawyers, insurers, and WorkSafe will all be pointing the finger at you if it goes pear-shaped.
Quick Checklist for SMEs in Auckland
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✅ Every hazardous substance clearly labelled.
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✅ Packaging strong, secure, and appropriate.
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✅ Up-to-date SDS for every product.
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✅ Staff know where SDSs are and how to use them.
If you can tick those four boxes, you’re well on the way to HSNO compliance.
Final Word
HSNO labelling, packaging, and SDS rules aren’t just red tape — they’re there to stop accidents, injuries, and lawsuits. For Auckland SMEs, it’s about being smart: get your labels sorted, your packaging safe, and your SDSs up to date.
If you’re not sure where to start, get help from a compliance consultant. Sorting it now is way cheaper than paying fines or dealing with a chemical spill.
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