NZ Chemical Facilities among World Leaders in Safety

No one wants to talk about chemicals, let alone conceive of where to store them or how to safely transport them. But the simple fact is that without chemicals, water can’t be sterilized, cleaning products can’t be created, and hospitals would continuously spread contagious diseases. On a less crucial topic, houses could not be painted, cars could not be polished, and, since toothpaste is made up of 50% abrasives, teeth could not be effectively brushed.

Chemicals are both natural and man-made. It may come as a surprise to learn that five of the seven most deadly known compounds occur in nature and are utilized by humanity for one reason or another. One teaspoon of Botulinum, for example, could kill a quarter of the world’s population, yet is frequently injected into willing participants in the form of Botox. Another deadly compound is the natural insecticide Rotenone. It can be extracted from the stems and roots of tropical plants such as the jewel vine or flame tree and is often used to control the pests that attack celery.

Where are these types of chemicals stored? How are they transported? It is important to accept the existence of chemicals in our world because if we can’t control their existence, we can at least control how they are stored, transported and disposed. It should be no surprise that New Zealand stands among the world’s leaders when it comes to effective safe storage, transport and disposal of harmful chemicals. Auckland Council resource consent processes are extensive, regulations are high, and continued compliance is key when it comes to all companies that transport and store chemicals.

With new government laws through the Hazno Act, insurance company requirements and the addition of other regulatory agencies, chemical storage is no small task. Acids must be separated from organics and incompatible materials such as bases and active metals (sodium, magnesium, potassium). Altered storage cabinets must be utilized for flammable liquid storage, along with explosion-proof refrigerators and freezers for other flammables. Peroxide-forming and water reactive chemicals must be stored in cool, dry, dark areas in altered containers, a particular class of fire extinguisher is needed for water reactive chemicals, and that is just the beginning.

RA Johnstone & Co purchased Pacer Car Clean Products in 2005. The two companies sell various chemical products with Pacer being a nationwide distributor and manufacturer of car cleaning products. It is an Auckland based company that has been in business since 1947 and employs 19 people. RA Pacer encompasses one of the broadest ranges of products specifically for the panelbeating and spray painting profession. RA Pacer also offers storage of many hazardous goods for other New Zealand companies. The company has grown into one of New Zealand's largest suppliers to the industry and recently expanded operations and raised their standards.

“The RA Johnstone/Pacer expansion was a tough consent,” explains Hamish Firth, principal at Mt Hobson Group, resource consent specialist. “Modern regulations are almost impossible to comply with; and demand for their services are only increasing.”

With five purpose buildings constructed on a new site, RA/ Pacer now encompasses an office, a warehouse specifically designed for flammable storage, a distribution centre created to hold flammable and non-flammable items, a manufacturing centre, and a solvent blending building. Among the many the regulations include specialized lighting, no electrical devices, separation distances between the buildings, specific ventilation requirements, and fire rating of the buildings right down to the sealants between the tilt slabs,” explained RA/ Pacer general manager Cameron Head.

“To grow, we absolutely had to comply with regulations. There are a lot of regulations around the storage of chemicals and solvents. But absolutely everyone in the company has pitched in, and the expansion was a good team effort. In the end, this expansion was about raising our standards. Everyone has done that,” explains Head.

Council’s requirements for companies housing abrasives solvents and other compounds are many; and protecting the environment comes at a great cost. “Chemical drains, chemical containment systems, creating a barrier to entry, RA Johnstone/Pacer has not only complied with over 57 pages of council regulations, but have also put themselves ahead of the competition in terms of technology,” explained Firth.

Firth is referring to RA’s eco-friendly wash bay used to clean containers for recycling whenever possible, and the fact that RA recycles and re-uses all of its rain water. A constant watchfulness is maintained throughout the grounds, and awareness is maintained with frequent safety drills, and according to Head, an excellent team.

In spite of all of the compliance and the pressure that comes with raising the bar on already high expectations, RA Johnstone/Pacer stands tall among competitors and remains “very happy” with the outcome of his team’s work and results. Located in a new Auckland industrial park, surrounded by an inbound container port, a woman’s prison and Auckland’s a fuel storage facility, and created out of a rock quarry, Aucklanders should be proud of this new addition.

ENDS

© Scoop Media