Environment law and you
The nature of your business means you are bound by government regulations concerning potential risks to people and the environment. We have provided some guidelines below:
Resource Management Act (1991)
This legislation was enacted to ensure that anyone making use of natural and physical resources does so with regard to the well-being of the environment and the needs of society now and in the future.
That Act specifies how we must avoid any adverse effect on the environment.
“No person may discharge any –
(a) Contaminant or water into water; or
(b) Contaminant onto or into land in circumstances which may result in that contaminant… entering water; or
(c) Contaminant for any industrial or trade premises into air; or
(d) Contaminant for any industrial or trade premises onto land…
(e) unless the discharge is expressly allowed by a rule in a regional plan, a resource consent, or regulations".
It is in everyone’s interests to comply with this legislation. Every person has a duty to avoid, remedy, or mitigate any adverse effect on the environment.
Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992)
As an employer, it is your duty to oversee and maintain a safe and healthy environment for your employees. By following the Health and Safety in Employment Act you ensure that your workplace operates smoothly and your staff can carry out their jobs with confidence.
The HSE Act requires employers to take all possible steps to make certain of the safety and health of workers and others while at work. It calls for employers to identify hazards in order to prevent harm. Once the hazards have been identified, the employer must put in place programmes to:
- Eliminate hazards
- Isolate hazards, or
- Minimise the effect of hazards.
Your responsibilities as an employer should include procedures to deal with emergencies that may arise while people are at work, such as fire and injuries.
Staff should be made aware of the hazards they may be exposed to, and of what to do should an emergency situation arise while they are at work.
Penalties – it costs to get it wrong
Individuals or organisations acting in breach of environmental legislation may face harsh penalties, even if the offence was unintentional.
Under the Resource Management Act 1991 the maximum penalty may be a fine of up to $200,000 or imprisonment for a term of two years.
A breaching party may also be subject to an additional fine of up to $10,000 per day if the offence is a continuing one.
Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992) the maximum fine is $100,000 with a possible imprisonment term of one year.
Please feel free to contact your BP Sales Manager if you’re unsure how the regulations in these Acts affect you. It is vital that you comply with these legal requirements, especially as the final responsibility rests with you and your company.
