Labelling and safety data sheets
It's important that hazardous substances are labelled correctly and consistently.
It's important that hazardous substances are labelled correctly and consistently.
Labelling provides information on the hazards of substances so they can be managed safely in order to protect both people and the environment. This is often the most readily available information in an emergency.
Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of hazardous substances must ensure they provide labelling in accordance with the hazards of the substances and comply with labelling requirements, including ensuring that all relevant information is on the label, and that it is readily understandable, legible and durable.
The label must include information on:
Our technical guide provides more information on labelling:
Labelling of hazardous substances (PDF, 486KB)
Please note: this guidance was written in 2006 and does not reflect more recent changes to hazardous substance regulations. However it does contain information that's still relevant, especially as the transition period to these changes is still in effect.
Safety Data Sheets are designed to protect the health and safety of people in the workplace by providing information on the hazards of substances and how they should be safely used, stored, transported, and disposed of.
SDSs also describe emergency procedures, such as what to do in the event of a spill or fire. SDSs must not be more than five years old and this could be presented on the SDS by updating the SDS version and its date.
Regardless of the quantities you have, it is best practice to have SDS for each hazardous substance at your site. Along with the product label, the SDS is the most important means of conveying safety information.
It's the responsibility of the supplier to provide an SDS for all the hazardous substances they supply, and to ensure that it is compliant.
SDSs must include information under each of the following headings:
The seller or supplier of a hazardous substance must supply an SDS if:
Allowing for the transitional provisions, it is a legal requirement for an SDS to be revised every five years. An SDS must be updated if there is new information available on the substance, including its hazardous properties and any relevant health and safety information.
A good quality SDS from Australia, Canada, European Union or the United States with the 16 headings identified above should meet most New Zealand requirements. However, some additional information is required, including:
A workplace has requirements for SDSs and labels. These can be viewed on the hazardous substances section of the WorkSafe website.
For concerns about non-compliant SDSs or labels contact the hazardous substances compliance team at hscompliance@epa.govt.nz.
The requirements of EPA Notices on Labelling and SDSs must also be taken into account. The link below takes you to the EPA Notices and our fact sheets about what has changed. Please consult these before finalising your labelling and Safety Data Sheets.