Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said changes to hazardous substances regulations coming into effect will provide regulatory relief and ensure laboratory safety requirements better reflect the realities of working in labs.
In 2017, laboratories became subject to the same regulatory requirements as industrial operations that use hazardous substances. These requirements are nonsensical for laboratory environments, which are smaller-scale and typically use a wider range of substances in lesser quantities.
“Scientists told me that complying with these requirements would, in some cases, make their laboratories less safe. For example, laboratories with self-reactive substances are required to be on the ground floor of buildings," said van Velden.
"But locating laboratories on upper levels makes more sense from a safety perspective because otherwise, ground-floor exits would be blocked by the fire, preventing evacuation. These rules don’t apply well to the laboratory environment."
She added that she was informed that meeting the 2017 regulatory requirements would have been costly. Universities New Zealand and the Independent Research Association of New Zealand estimated it would likely cost between NZD 1.5 billion and NZD three billion, as laboratories across the country would need to be renovated.
Van Velden was pleased that scientists and those who work with hazardous substances every day worked with the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment to achieve changes that will save laboratories from having to make their workers less safe or spend billions to comply.
“Laboratories can now choose to meet their obligations through a risk management plan tailored to the risks of flammable and oxidising substances in their lab, giving them greater flexibility while maintaining strong safety standards.”
The changes introduce a dedicated compliance pathway for research, testing and teaching laboratories under the Hazardous Substances Regulations, recognising that these facilities operate differently from industrial operations, such as pesticide or cleaning product manufacturers.
An Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) will be developed with the industry to provide clear guidance to laboratories on meeting the requirements. These changes will support science, research and innovation while maintaining strong health and safety protections.
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