HSNO Emergency Procedures for NZ Farms — What Every Farmer Needs to Have in Place (Before It’s Too Late)

HSNO Emergency Procedures for Farms in New Zealand — Getting It Right

Every Kiwi farmer stores or uses hazardous substances somewhere — fuel tanks, spray sheds, dip tubs, or fertiliser stores.
The thing is, it only takes one spill, one ignition, or one mix-up for an ordinary day to turn into an emergency.

Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 and the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017, you’re legally required to have emergency procedures in place — written, trained, and ready to go.
No “we’ll figure it out when it happens.”

Let’s break down what the law actually means — and how to make sure your farm would pass a WorkSafe visit tomorrow.

🚜 What Counts as an “Emergency” Under HSNO

According to WorkSafe, any uncontrolled event involving hazardous substances that causes or threatens harm is an emergency.
That includes:

• Spills, leaks, or overflows of chemicals, fuel, or fertiliser

• Fires or explosions

• Gas leaks

• Chemical splashes to the skin or eyes

• Inhalation of fumes

• Contaminated runoff entering drains, streams, or soil

If any of that sounds like it could happen on your property — then yes, you need an emergency plan.

🧾 HSNO Emergency Procedure Requirements for Farms

Here’s what every NZ farm must have to meet HSNO rules:

✅ 1. A Written Emergency Response Plan

You must have a written plan that covers what to do in an emergency involving hazardous substances.
It should describe:

• Who’s in charge if something goes wrong

• Step-by-step actions for spills, fires, leaks, or exposure

• What emergency gear and PPE is available

• Where your chemicals are stored

• Who to call — fire, ambulance, regional council, and your supplier

✅ 2. Clear and Accessible Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Keep up-to-date SDS sheets (no older than five years) for every hazardous product you use.
They explain how to handle, store, and respond to spills safely.

✅ 3. Proper Emergency Equipment

Depending on what you store, you’ll need:

• Spill kits and absorbents

• Fire extinguishers (correct type for fuel or chemicals)

• Eye-wash bottles and first-aid kits

• Bunds or trays for leaks

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

✅ 4. Farm Maps and Labels

Show chemical storage locations, tanks, and isolation points on your farm map.
All containers and sheds must be labelled with hazard symbols and emergency numbers.

✅ 5. Staff Training and Drills

Everyone handling chemicals must know what to do if something goes wrong — and you must record that training.
Run short emergency drills every few months and keep notes of who attended.

✅ 6. Spill Containment and Disposal

Have bunding or containment trays in storage areas and a plan for collecting and disposing of contaminated material.

🧠 Why You Should Bring in a Professional

Let’s be real — farmers are already juggling ten jobs a day.
Trying to decode HSNO paperwork while running a milking shed, spraying paddocks, or fixing a water line isn’t practical.

That’s where specialists like Auditsure Ltd step in.
They help farmers get their hazardous substances systems in order — and their new platform ChemMatrix is set to make compliance almost effortless.

💡 What a Professional Can Do for You

• Review your farm layout and chemical storage

• Write a customised HSNO emergency response plan

• Set up your Hazardous Substances Register

• Keep all your SDS, signage, and emergency details in one easy-to-access digital folder

• Train your team — fast and simple

🌐 About ChemMatrix

ChemMatrix, being developed by Auditsure Ltd, connects farmers, suppliers, and regulators in one smart digital space.
It automatically updates your SDS sheets, flags missing emergency procedures, and reminds you when training or audits are due — saving hours of paperwork.

💬 Real-World Example

Imagine a 200-litre fuel drum leaks overnight near your stock water line.
Without bunding or an emergency plan, you’ve got a contamination event — and that means cleanup costs, possible prosecution, and lost trust with your local council.

With a proper HSNO emergency plan, bunds, and trained staff — you can contain it, report it properly, and move on.

✅ Final Word

HSNO compliance isn’t about red tape — it’s about protecting people, stock, and land.
Emergencies don’t wait until you’re ready, so get your plan sorted now.

Let Auditsure Ltd and ChemMatrix handle the compliance details while you focus on what matters — running your farm safely.

Because the real emergency isn’t the spill — it’s not being ready when it happens.