Our Hazardous Substances Policy

 

The Auction Barn values the health and safety of its employees, clients and the wider community.

Therefore, from the 1^st of October 2022, The Auction Barn will introduce a new policy with respect to the nature, condition and provenance of hazardous substances and related equipment offered for sale. Examples include consumer products such as industrial chemicals, fuels, solvents, paints, toiletries, cosmetics, food products, mattresses, substances stored under pressure, legal, personal and private communications, and safety and medical equipment.

The policy will protect the health and safety of our team working with the items, reduce the risk of fire, chemical spills, and other dangers to the business premises, and provide greater protection of our clients, including buyers and sellers. Therefore, the policy identifies consumer goods that will not be accepted for sale.

The Auction Barn has in-house expertise in the goods we offer for sale. However, regulations governing health, safety, hygiene, chemicals, and other consumer goods are complex, changing and can require extensive specialist training which lie beyond the day-to-day business of The Auction Barn. Therefore, the policy identifies appropriate limits to offering such items for sale.

In general, The Auction Barn will not accept the following items for sale:

1. Faulty electrical equipment, including cords and cables in poor repair,
2. Explosives, including bullets, ordinance and similar items,
3. Pesticides, herbicides and other poisons,
4. Personal items, including birth and death certificates, contemporary family photographs, home recorded video and audio recordings, academic and other certificates,
5. Food, ingredients, and supplements,
6. Pharmaceuticals, first aid kits and medical equipment, including over the counter and prescription medications, bandages, heart monitors and similar items,
7. Alcohol, unless unopened and seals are in good condition, with no evidence of leakage,
8. Soft furnishings, toys and clothing, unless clean, in good repair, without evidence of infestation, and bearing appropriate fire and other safety tags, including old mattresses, carpets, blankets, cushion inserts, children’s sleepwear and toys, and similar items,
9. Pressurized containers, unless in ‘as new, sealed in packaging’ condition,* including gas canisters for camping stoves, spray paint, soda siphon capsules and similar items, where the total volume is no more than 2 litres,
10. Safety equipment unless not expired and in ‘as new, sealed in packaging’* condition, including fire extinguishers, safety harnesses, safety glasses, and similar items
11. Cleaning products, toiletries, perfumes and cosmetics, unless in ‘as new, sealed in packaging’* condition
12. Solvents, oil paints, fuels, engine oils and other flammable items, unless in ‘as new, sealed in packaging’* condition, each container is of no more than 200 ml, and the total volume is of no more than 2 litres.

NOTES:

*The description ‘as new, sealed in packaging’ refers to the following conditions:

• The product is unused and in a sealed undamaged container,
• The product has an expiry date printed on the label and is not offered for sale beyond the expiry date,
• The product is currently available for sale through a reputable Australian company, and/or the vendor supplies relevant SDS (Safety Data Sheets) for the product: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/chemicals/safety-data-sheets

Some consumer products, including examples of equipment and product packaging listed above, are collectable. Such items can be offered for sale with the following conditions:

• Packaging is empty, clean and dry, including oil cans, biscuit tins, collectable bottles and similar items
• Equipment is clean, empty of hazardous substances and is clearly identified as a collectable item, not for use, including vintage medical, photographic and scientific equipment

Most charitable organisations will not accept for donation the chemicals, toiletries and similar items covered by this policy.

Pharmacies will accept for proper disposal pharmaceuticals, medical sharps, and some medical equipment.

In Canberra, the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres will accept for disposal most items from this list, at a starting cost of approximately $15 for a car boot full, or part thereof.  On arrival, the resource centre team will direct visitors to the appropriate areas to unload chemicals, paints, electrical, computing and other equipment for safe disposal. For the latest information please check the ACT Government City Services Waste Drop Off information page: https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/recycling-and-waste/drop-off
For further information on this policy, kindly contact The Auction Barn. 

(02) 6239 2095