A Guide to the Code of Practice for Exempt Laboratories

⟴Laboratory Manager(See CofP pg 9)

Each school must in writing, appoint a suitably qualified member(s) of staff to be a Laboratory Manager who is in charge of hazardous substances used for education in all departments  including science, art, technology and horticulture. (Pg 9 of CofP)

⟴Security of hazardous substances(See CofP pg 12)

Laboratory and Prep Rooms shall be locked when not supervised. (Pg12 of CofP)

⟴Hazardous Substances. (See CofP pg 17)

Hazardous substances are divided into Classes(1-9), Sub Classes and Categories (A to E). The Class and SubClass determines the type of hazard and the Category determines how severe it is. Category A is the most severe.

ie. 3.1A: Class 3 and SubClass 1      3.1 = Flammable Liquid.  

Category A = Highly Flammable.

⟴Storage and Handling (See pg 27)

Store Chemicals in their Class and then alphabetically within each Class. There are maximum total quantities limits for some classes of Hazardous Substances that may be stored in schools (CofP pg 56)

Each Class may have special storage requirements.

Class 3 Flammable Liquids: pg 35

Class 4 Flammable Solids: pg 39

Class 4.3 Dangerous when wet: pg. 41

Class 5.1 Oxidisers pg 43

Class 6.1 Acute Toxicity pg 45

Sub classes 6.3 to 6.5 Irritants and Sensitisers pg 48

Sub classes 6.7 to 6.8 Chronic Toxicity pg 51

Class 8 Corrosives pg 54

⟴Creating an Inventory.

An inventory of all Hazardous Substances must be completed once a year.

Use this  Inventory of Allowable Substances as a template.

See the Inventory of Allowable Substances CofP pg 59

⟴Use of Hazardous Substances in Teaching: (See CofP pg 17)

Chemicals not on the above  Inventory of Allowable Substances link (pg 59) may be banned in schools. Check their status using the lists and table below:

MOE-allowable substances listed in Appendix 2, pg 59

MOE-forbidden substances listed in Appendix 3, pg 70,

MOE-forbidden classes listed in Table 4.1 pg 22

⟴Substances not on any list and not in a forbidden class.

If a substance is not on the allowed list and you would like use it at school then you must complete a Hazard Substance Assessment Form.

Hazard Substance Assessment Process (See CofP pg 23)

If a substance is not on any list it can be assessed as either allowed or not allowed.

Use the  Hazard Assessment Process 

Find the SDS sheet for the Hazardous Substance. The SDS sheet must include the Risk Codes and Safety Phases for the substance and the HSNO classifications.

ECP SDS Sheets

⟴Labelling

Hazardous Substances Classification and GHS Pictograms

Label reagent bottle/containers as well as secondary containers for liquids. Label with the name, concentration and icon warning symbols ( CofP pg 73 +74)

⟴Suitable signs: (See CofP pg 15)

Click here for more details: Signage 

Signs can be purchased from NZ Safety

⟴General Safety. (See CofP pg 26)

Appropriate protective clothing and equipment shall be worn when handling hazardous substances.

Food intended for consumption shall not be consumed or stored in a laboratory.

⟴Create a Laboratory Folder (See CofP pg 26)

A copy should be held in the laboratory area and another copy held outside of the laboratory area. Your laboratory folder should include:

➽Inventory: Printed copy updated annually.

➽SDS: Printed copies for all Category A & B hazardous substances.Attach Hazard Assess Process Sheets to SDS for chemicals not on MOE Allowable list.

➽Safe Methods of Use(SMU) (See CofP pg 35-55): Add printed copies of the general Safe Method of Use summaries for each class and their subclasses.

➽Emergency Planning CofP pg 30: Include Map of school showing location of chemical dangerous good store and flammable cupboard clearly marked.

Include 24hr emergency numbers (security, property manager,emergency services, phone numbers.)

This information should be available to emergency services if requested during an evacuation.

➽Safety Equipment: List of safety equipment with regular maintenance checks and instructions of use. ie Spill Kits, respirators, full face shields, safety blast shields etc.with their location and instructions of use.

⟴Safe Methods of Use(SMU) (See CofP pg 34 -55)

SMU is divided into 2 categories, the substance and the procedure. The SMU for handling Sodium (the substance) is not the same as demonstrating Sodium in Water (the procedure). Here are some SMU Technician Procedures

General Safe Methods of Use. CofP(pg 34 -55)

General SMU when accompanied with a good SDS, cover SMU requirements for the substance. However they will not provide sufficient information for the safe use of many procedures involving 6.1A and 6.7A hazard substances for preparations by technicians or Category A and class 6.1A - 6.1C hazardous substances used in classroom procedures. These will require specific SMU written and authorised for use.

» Section 2.5 Duties of Persons Handling Hazardous Substances Pg 12

A Technician should have a written specific SMU for the preparation and procedures involving 6.1A and 6.7A hazardous substances used in their laboratory. These should be approved by the Lab Manager.

Examples are: Making Bromine Water, Handling Conc Sulfuric Acid.

»Technicians Doing Demonstrations

For your own safety and protection, a Technicians Demonstrating an experiment to a class should have a written specific SMU for procedures involving Category A or Class 6.1A to 6.1C hazardous substances. These should be approved by the Lab Manager.

Example: demonstrating the reaction of Sodium in Water.

»Technicians Supervising Students

An experienced technician can supervise students doing projects and investigations outside teaching time (See CofP pg 10, Skill and Knowledge requirements for persons in charge)

»Technician’s writing methods

Most technicians have written or modified a method for use in the classroom. These should conform to a basic level of safety appropriate for use in a school. Some technicians are Lab Managers and will be required to oversee this area. To increase the standard and safety information of any written experiment for use in a school, use the following format:

Include the following:

Authorised for use by: _____________ Position ___________ Date  ___________

Format for a Written Procedure

-      Authorisation to use procedure in the school (As above)

-      Table of safety information: Click here to see an Example: Sodium Demonstration

(This information is listed before the method to increase the likelihood of it being read and to allow the reader to judge if they are capable of managing the process safely.)

-      Method.

-      Procedure

» Safe Methods of Use Section 6 Pg 34

The teacher in charge shall provide a written specific Safe Method of Use (where this does not already exist) for any procedure utilising any Category A hazardous substance or Class 6.1A to 6.1C hazardous substance.