Our ref:
18-E-0095/18-E-0117
File ref:
5437475
26 March 2018
S C McKee
[FYI request #6832 email]
Dear S C McKee
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
Thank you for your request via email, made under the Official Information Act 1982,
dated 24 February 2018. This also responds to your request of 17 March 2018 that asks
the same questions.
In responding to your request, it is important to clarify that bait was stored in a
warehouse used by the Department for storage at 2/20 Joan Gaskell Drive, not in the
Liquor King building in Whitianga at 20 Joan Gaskell Drive.
You have asked:
1) Whom did you inform about the storage of the ecotoxic baits in the Liquor King
building? (from June 8th to October 17th)
Information was provided by signage to anyone approaching the building and signage
was erected when the material arrived and remains in place as long as the material is
stored at the location.
2) When you read the MSDS, why did you not prepare an emergency response plan
knowing that in the worst case scenario of a warehouse fire, extremely toxic gas
(hydrogen fluoride) would be produced, requiring evacuation of anyone in its
path?
An emergency response plan was prepared and sections of this plan relevant to your OIA
request 17-E-512 were sent to you on 8 December 2017. I now attach a copy of the full
Emergency Response Plan. Names have been removed under section 9(2)(a) and 9g(ii)
of the Official Information Act 1982 to protect the privacy of natural persons and to
protect staff from harassment. All MSDS forms are provided to emergency services at the
time of any incident such as fire by the Incident Controller and the forms are carried by
drivers of vehicles transporting the material.
3) When you read the MSDS, you would have read that firemen attending a fire of
the baits would have to be trained in the use of breathing apparatus. Why did you
not check with the fire chief that they had that equipment and that his staff were
trained in the use of breathing apparatus?
We are satisfied that the local fire brigade is trained in the use of breathing apparatus and
the handling of hazardous substances as this is part of basic training for urban brigades.
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
Kirikiriroa / Hamilton Office
Private Bag 3072, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
www.doc.govt.nz
If you have any further enquires in relation to this, please contact Fire and Emergency
New Zealand.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) Official Information Act 1982.
Yours sincerely
David Speirs
Director, Operations
Hauraki Waikato Taranaki Region
