Environmental Health

Environmental Health
Resources

Ministry of Health publications
A Guide to Health Impact Assessment - 2nd edition

A Health Impact Assessment Relating to Venomous Spiders Entering New Zealand in Association with Imported Table Grapes

Code of Practice for Child-Resistant Packaging of Toxic Substances For Importers, Manufacturers, Packers and Retailers of Toxic and Corrosive Substances

Environmental Health Officers Qualifications Regulations 1993: Recognition of Overseas Qualifications

Exclusion and Control of Exotic Mosquitoes of Public Health Significance Report to the Minister for Biosecurity (Revised September 1997)

Exotic and Endemic Mosquitoes in New Zealand as Potential Arbovirus Vectors

Investigating Clusters of Non-Communicable Disease - Guidelines for Public Health Services

Ministry of Health Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme Report on detailed criteria and processes

Organochlorines Research in New Zealand - A Bibliography

Survey of Benzene and Other Toxic Organic Compounds in Air July 1996 - May 1999

Health Education Resources

The following resources are available from the Health Ed website www.healthed.govt.nz
Spiders in New Zealand
This pamphlet has been developed to provide information on New Zealand's main poisonous or biting spiders - the katipo, the redback and the white-tailed spider. Photographs of the different species are included, with information about where they can be found, how to identify them, and how to avoid them. The pamphlet also includes first aid information if people are bitten.

Mosquito Response Programme - Health Information No. 1
This information leaflet has been produced for distribution in saltmarsh areas where Bti spray is used to eradicate the southern saltmarsh mosquito which can carry the Ross River Virus.

Mosquito Response Programme - Health Information No 2
This leaflet carries information on S-methoprene used for eradicating the southern saltmarsh mosquito in affected areas in New Zealand.

Keep Your Head Above Water
Advising people to keep their heads above water in geothermal pools to prevent amoebic meningitis

Keep Your Head Above Water - pamphlet
This pamphlet gives the message about people keeping their head above water in geothermal pools to protect themselves from amoebic meningitis. It describes what amoebic meningitis is, how it is passed on, what geothermal pools are and how to enjoy them safely.

Keep Your Head Above Water - poster
This brightly coloured all-weather poster is sticky backed for placement around outdoor pools to advise people to keep their heads above water to prevent amoebic meningitis

Keeping Healthy Outdoors
For people who enjoy picnicking, camping or walking, this small handy sized pamphlet contains information on poisonous plants, safe water, disposing of waste, sun protection, food safety and keeping pests away

Radio Frequency Fields
This four-fold pamphlet, with photographs, gives reassuring information about radiofrequency fields and issues relating to radio waves and cell sites, answering such questions as "What are radiofrequency fields?" and "How safe are cellphones and their transmitter sites?". Other items mentioned are TV and radio transmitters, cordless phones, baby monitors and radio-controlled toys.

Agrichemical Spraydrift
Reducing risks and taking action - this three-fold well-illustrated pamphlet defines agrichemical spraydrift and advises action to take if you experience it in your area.

Mosquitoes - Why We Need to Clean Up Our Own Backyard
Presented as a bright illustrated poster, folded to a pamphlet, mosquito prevention information is given in large print, with easy-to-follow advice. "Mosquitoes - what you can do to stop them" heads an illustration of a back yard, with the life cycle of a mosquito also shown.

Finding a Toilet in New Zealand
Guidance for visitors, hikers and campers is given in English, German and Japanese to assist with toilet location in towns and procedures for out-of-town, to assist the environment and keep our water safe. Drinking water safety measures are included.

Built Environment

Noise Around the Home
With information on how noise affects hearing, this bright three-fold pamphlet lists items which can potentially damage hearing and gives tips on preventing hearing damage while using or being around noisy equipment.

Lead and Lead Poisoning
In pads of 25 for ease of distribution, this leaflet informs about causes and prevention of lead poisoning, which is mainly a risk through old paint, contaminated dust and soil, petrol and some industries, and of particular risk to young and unborn children.

Repainting, Lead-Based Paint
This three-fold pamphlet alerts homeowners and painting contractors to the hazards associated with removing lead-based paint. It covers safety points for paint removal, and prevention of lead poisoning.

Guidelines for the Management of Lead-Based Paint
For painting contractors, property owners/managers, safety and health practitioners, this 50-page book was produced in conjunction with OSH specifically for the NZ situation, having regard to financial considerations, operational practicality and legal requirements. It outlines an effective management system.

Safer & Healthier Gardening
Information on reducing health risks when gardening is presented in this four-fold pamphlet, which discusses garden chemicals, poisonous plants, insect bites, soil organisms and injury avoidance.

All About Asbestos
This 8-page booklet provides information to the householder or renovator about identification, adverse health effects, and action to take about asbestos in the home.

Removing Asbestos from the Home
This 8-page booklet provides information to the renovator about the steps to take when removing asbestos from a property, and about essential protective gear to wear.

Blue Print for Safe Drinking Water
This new video provides a brief introduction to the risk management planning process for drinking water supplies.

Drinking Water

Water Grading
This pamphlet provides information on how and why water supplies are graded for both quality of water source and the working order of the supply, to ascertain the safety of our tap water.

Secure Groundwater Bores and Wells for Safe Household Water
The leaflet provides information for people whose household water supply comes from a bore or well. Sources of possible contamination are listed, along with other details relating to chemicals, germs, and aquifers, with specific steps to take to secure your well-head and protect your household’s health - including where to go for more help or information.

Water Collection Tanks and Safe Household Water
This pamphlet has introductory information on safe drinking water generally, with detailed information on how to keep tank water safe, whether it is collected from rain off the roof, an underground bore, a stream or a lake. Contamination, filtering, tank installation and cleaning, and sources of further information are covered.

Household Water Supplies
Detailed information for people who are not on town water supply is provided in this 18-page book, which addresses the selection, operation, and maintenance of individual household water

Save Water and Stay Healthy
This poster is relevant only for use in times of water shortage in an area, and encourages people to save water in various ways while following basic hygiene and health behaviours.

Save Water and Stay Healthy
This leaflet/poster is relevant only for use in times of water shortage in an area, and encourages people to save water in various ways while following basic hygiene and health behaviours.

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Page last updated: 27 January 2010