Ensuring you and your team have the correct certifications for using hazardous substances is key in ensuring everyone knows the risks, and how to protect others from harm. It is also a legal requirement and proof of certification must be provided when purchasing certain agrochemical products.

Hazardous substance regulations were changed about 4 years ago with the old Approved Handler system replaced by a two-tier regime.

• Tracked Substances
  These are products that trigger the most toxic classifications; acute toxicity Cat 1 & 2 (6.1A & 6.1B) - the most common example is paraquat (Gramoxone, Flash).
  
  The old Approved Handler Certificate has been replaced by Certified Handler Certificate, and it is a legal requirement for retailers to have proof that purchasers have a Certified Handler Certificate, or equivalent.
  
  
• Substances Restricted to a workplace (e.g. a farm)
  These are products that trigger acute toxicity Cat 3 (6.1C) – examples include; chlorpyrifos (Toppel 500, Lorsban), lambda cyhalthrin (Halex CS, Karate), pirimicarb (Pirimor/Piritek), diquat (Reglone), chlormequat (Cycocel/Stabilan).
  
  There are some other agrochemicals captured in this group e.g. clopyralid (Multiple). Products that trigger skin corrosion Cat 1A (8.2A) are also captured in this group but Ravensdown does not supply any agrochemical products that trigger this corrosive classification.
  
  It is a legal requirement for retailers to have proof that purchasers have a “competent person” on site, this is someone who has received information, instruction and training in accordance with Part 4.5 of the HSAW Hazardous Substance Regulations. A Certified Handler (for agrochemicals) is also considered a competent person.

If you need to purchase agrochemicals that are tracked or restricted to a workplace, you will need to be able to provide proof to the retailer that you have a suitably qualified person on site.

Retailers are not required to have proof of the purchaser’s qualifications for agrochemicals that are not tracked or restricted to a workplace, however the user is still required to have suitable qualifications and experience for the hazardous substances they are using. A good example is products that trigger the ecotoxic Cat 1 classification (9.1A). There is no requirement for retailers to have proof that the purchaser has a “competent person” on site, but there is still a legal requirement for the purchaser to have a “competent person” on site. A large proportion of agrochemicals used on farm trigger the ecotoxicity Cat 1, so it is important for most farmers to have a “competent person” on site if they are using and storing these agrochemicals on farm.

Where can I go to get these qualifications?

There are links to Compliance Certifiers on the WorkSafe website.

Other useful websites:

• Growsafe
  You can register for a course via Growsafe with their standard course qualifying you as a “competent person”. This enables you to purchase those substances restricted to a workplace and covers both the Tox Cat 3 and ecotoxic Cat 1.
  
  Growsafe also offer a Certified Handler Certificate course.
  
  
• Adroit Solutions
  Adroit have specialised in offering online courses and have an option for a Certified Handler course. The Envirospray course offers a qualification suitable for a competent person, and this covers knapsack, handgun, and boom application of agrochemicals.
  
  These qualifications are valid for 5 years. So, getting this sorted before spring will make sure you can purchase agrochemicals that you might need to use.

Hazardous Substance Location Certificate thresholds:

If want to find out more information about whether you may need a Hazardous Substance Location Certificate, please refer to the guidance on the WorkSafe website.