Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) Publish Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Protocol for New Zealand
North Vancouver, B.C., Canada (PRWEB) April 25, 2016 -- Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) announce the availability of the newly updated International Audit Protocol Consortium (IAPC) EHS audit protocol for New Zealand. Leading companies around the world use IAPC EHS audit protocols to understand the scope of their EHS regulatory obligations and rapidly collect, share, archive, and export audit findings in a cost effective manner. IAPC EHS Audit Protocols are now prepared by STC in partnership with STP and continue to focus on those national (plus, in some cases, regional or provincial) EHS requirements that have site-specific application for manufacturing operations. As a leading EHS management consulting firm with a global network of experienced EHS teaming partners, STC has in depth knowledge and technical expertise of local/regional EHS requirements.
STP and STC maintain leading-edge EHS audit protocols for more than 30 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English and are available on CD-ROM in MS Word, Adobe Acrobat and Excel formats, as well as through STP’s web-based portal or can be integrated into an existing company platform. Using the protocols’ custom templates and advanced functionality features, auditors can easily track audit findings and manage data over time to improve compliance, risk management and safety performance. In addition, STP’s formatting is compatible with leading risk management and sustainability platform providers.
Highlights of selected legislation covered in the newly updated protocol include:
• The "WorkSafe New Zealand Act 2013" established a new agency to regulate workplace health and safety, called WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe), which began operations on 16 December 2013. WorkSafe took over workplace health and safety roles previously assigned to the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
• The new "Health and Safety at Work Act 2015" came into effect on 4 April 2016, and repeals and replaces the "Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992." The new law is part of a reform package aimed at reducing the number of serious work-related injuries and deaths in New Zealand by at least 25 percent by 2020.
• The new "Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016" became effective 4 April 2016. These rules were adopted to implement the new "Health and Safety at Work Act 2015" and outline additional duties on persons conducting a business or undertaking related to managing risks, monitoring in the workplace, and specific duties related to young persons in the workplace.
• Parts of the "Health & Safety in Employment Regulations 1995" have been repealed and replaced with obligations under the new "Health and Safety at Work Act" and the "Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations."
• The "Health and Safety in Employment (Asbestos) Regulations 1998" were revoked and have been replaced by the "Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016" effective 4 April 2016. These regulations are based on corresponding provisions in "Australia’s Model Work Health and Safety Regulations" and impose additional duties on persons conducting a business or undertaking in relation to work involving asbestos (including work on sites containing asbestos-contaminated soil). The regulation includes requirements for asbestos removal, air monitoring, asbestos-related work, and licensing of asbestos removalists and asbestos assessors.
• The "Radiation Safety Act 2016," enacted 7 March 2016 and effective 7 March 2017, will repeal and replace the "Radiation Protection Act 1965" and will also repeal the "Radiation Protection Regulations 1982" on the effective date. The Act introduces a new licensing requirement for people or organizations that have control or management of radiation sources and outlines high level fundamental requirements that every person or organization dealing with a radiation source must meet.
• The "Noxious Substances Regulations 1954" were repealed by the "Health and Safety at Work Act 2015."
• The "Machinery Act 1950" was repealed by the "Health and Safety at Work Act 2015."
• Portions of the "Health and Safety in Employment (Pressure Equipment, Cranes, and Passenger Ropeways) Regulations 1999" were amended by the "Health and Safety at Work Act 2015." These regulations establish requirements for controllers of the equipment, and for employees, designers, manufacturers, and suppliers.
• Portions of the "Gas Act 1992," which provides for the regulation, supply, and use of gas in New Zealand, were amended by the "Health and Safety at Work Act 2015."
• Amendments have been made to the "Hazardous Substances (Exempt Laboratories) Regulations" regarding the handling of sodium fluoroacetate. New rules require any laboratory that holds sodium fluoroacetate to provide information to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), ensure that any sodium fluoroacetate held in the laboratory is secured, and meet notification and certification requirements for any import of sodium fluoroacetate.
• The new "Health and Safety at Work (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2016" come into force on 4 April 2016 and deal with matters relating to the health and safety of people involved in the operation of, and local communities located near, major hazard facilities. These regulations apply to a facility or proposed facility where specified hazardous substances are present or likely to be present in a quantity that is equal to or exceeds the lower threshold quantity. The categories and names of specified hazardous substances, and the threshold quantities, are set out in Schedule 2 of these regulations. There are 2 categories of major hazard facilities under these regulations: lower tier major hazard facilities and upper tier major hazard facilities. WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe) designates major hazard facilities into either of the 2 categories.
For more information on all International EHS audit protocols offered by STP and STC, click here.
About Specialty Technical Publishers
Specialty Technical Publishers produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glacier’s Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories,technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites.
About Specialty Technical Consultants
Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through it's consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training.
STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
Lorraine O'Donovan, Specialty Technical Publishers, http://www.stpub.com, +1 1-800-251-0381, [email protected]
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