Dangerous Substances Act 2004

A safety management system for handling a dangerous substance is a system that does each of the following:

identifies the hazards associated with the substance, having regard to the current state of knowledge about the hazards;

identifies and assesses the risks resulting from the identified hazards, having regard to the current state of knowledge about the risks;

controls the risks by eliminating the hazards or, if this is not reasonably practicable, minimising the risks as far as reasonably practicable;

provides for how compliance with the system is to be documented;

complies with any requirement prescribed by regulation (either in addition to or instead of a requirement mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d)).

For subsection (1) (a), the matters that must be considered in identifying the hazards include, for example—

the chemical and physical properties of the dangerous substance; and

any chemical and physical reactions that may happen if the substance comes into contact with other substances; and

the premises, plant and systems for handling the substance; and

anything else prescribed by regulation for this subsection.

Plant includes a building or other structure (see dict).

For subsection (1) (b), the matters that must be considered in identifying and assessing the risks include, for example—

the matters mentioned in subsection (2); and

the consequences, at premises where the dangerous substance is to be handled and elsewhere, of incidents that may happen because of the handling of the substance at the premises; and

anything else prescribed by regulation for this subsection.

For subsection (1) (c), the matters that must be considered in controlling the risks include, for example—

implementing, operating, maintaining and repairing systems to ensure the dangerous substance is handled safely; and

allocating responsibilities to people involved in the handling of the substance to ensure the substance is handled safely; and

appropriately inducting or supervising people handling the substance; and

giving appropriate information, education and training to people handling the substance about the hazards associated with the substance, and the risks resulting from them; and

anything else prescribed by regulation.