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How to Safely Handle Hazardous Substances on Farms in New Zealand

How to Comply with Handling Hazardous Substances on Farms

If you run a farm in New Zealand, you already deal with hazardous substances every day — sprays, drenches, fuels, fertilisers, oils, cleaning products. They make life easier, but they can also cause serious harm if handled wrong.

That’s why the HSNO Act (Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996) and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 lay out clear rules for safe handling, storage, and training. The good news? You don’t need a law degree to understand them — just a bit of structure and some good habits.

Here’s a simple guide to help you get it right on your farm.

1️⃣ Know What You’re Working With

  • Every chemical or fuel you use should have a clear label showing what it is and what hazards it carries.

  • If a label’s rubbed off or unreadable, replace it.

  • Keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every hazardous product — these explain how to use, store, and handle each one safely.

👉 SDS must be less than five years old — if it’s older, it’s out of date and non-compliant.

2️⃣ Train Your People

  • Everyone who handles hazardous substances must be trained and supervised.

  • Training should cover how to read labels, handle spills, wear PPE, and follow safe work procedures.

  • Keep a record of who’s been trained and when — WorkSafe NZ can ask for proof anytime.

3️⃣ Use the Right PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

  • Gloves, goggles, respirators, and coveralls — whatever the SDS recommends.

  • PPE must be clean, in good condition, and replaced when damaged.

  • Don’t cut corners. A cheap mask isn’t worth a lifetime of lung problems.

4️⃣ Store Hazardous Substances Safely

  • Keep chemicals in a locked, ventilated shed away from feed, stock, and water sources.

  • Use spill trays or bunding to catch leaks.

  • Separate incompatible products — don’t store flammables beside oxidisers or acids.

  • Display HSNO hazard signage and emergency contact numbers outside storage areas.

5️⃣ Have an Emergency Plan

  • Know what to do if there’s a spill, leak, or fire.

  • Keep spill kits, fire extinguishers, and eyewash stations nearby.

  • Make sure every worker knows who to call and how to respond.

  • Keep emergency contacts visible and updated.

Common Mistakes Farmers Make

❌ Re-using chemical containers for other products.
❌ Outdated or missing SDS sheets.
❌ No training records.
❌ “Temporary” storage areas that become permanent.
❌ Thinking “she’ll be right” — until something goes wrong.

How Auditsure Ltd and ChemMatrix Can Help

Auditsure Ltd are specialists in helping SMEs and farms stay compliant with HSNO and WorkSafe NZ. They’re building ChemMatrix, a professional platform made to simplify everything about hazardous-substance compliance.

With ChemMatrix, you can:

  • Manage a live, up-to-date chemical register for your farm.

  • Attach SDS sheets automatically to each product.

  • Store worker training and PPE records in one secure place.

  • Get alerts when SDS expire or chemicals go out of compliance.

  • Instantly show WorkSafe your full compliance record with one click.

Instead of paper chaos, ChemMatrix gives you one clear dashboard to stay compliant and stress-free.

Final Word

Handling hazardous substances on farms isn’t optional — it’s a legal and moral duty. Safe handling protects your workers, your family, your stock, and your land.

Train your people, label your products, wear your PPE, and follow your emergency plan. And if you’d rather not juggle it all, let Auditsure Ltd and their ChemMatrix platform do it for you. It’s compliance made simple — so you can focus on farming, not forms.

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