Insert Company Name WHSPRO - 007

Hazardous Substances & Dangerous Goods Procedure

Introduction
This procedure outlines the requirements for the management of hazardous substances and
dangerous goods in the workplace to minimise affects to health and safety from exposure and
reduce the impact on the environment. The procedure summarises labelling, material safety data
sheets (MSDSs), risk assessment requirements, storage and disposal.

Scope
This procedure relates to all Insert Company Name workplaces and work processes using
hazardous substances that any worker, contractor or visitor may undertake.

Definitions
Carcinogenic - capable of causing cancer.
Class label - the label illustrating the class allocated to a substance under the ADG Code1.
Dangerous Goods – a hazardous substance also defined by the Dangerous Goods Act, (as amended),
to be dangerous. They are classified on the basis of immediate physical or chemical effects that may
impact on people, property or the environment – explosive, flammable, corrosive, chemically
reactive, highly combustible, acutely toxic, radioactive or infectious.
Dangerous goods class - the class allocated to a substance under the ADG Code1.
Designated Hazardous Substance is a hazardous substance that is:
1. listed on National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) list of Designated
Hazardous Substances above its lowest cut-off concentration or
2. that is determined to be a hazardous substance by the manufacturer or importer of the
substance on the basis of NOHSC's Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances.
Hazard is a source of, or situation that has the potential to, harm a person, the environment or
damage property.
Hazardous Substance – is a substance that contains ingredients that may be harmful to health in the
medium or long term.
Label means a set of information on a container which identifies the substance in the container,
identifies whether the substance is hazardous and provides basic information about the safe use and
handling of the substance.
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) – information sheets that provide technical information in
relation to substances. These sheets are obtained directly from the manufacturer. Be aware of the
possible differences between the manufacturer’s and generic MSDS’s.
Risk is the probability (likelihood) of harm or damage occurring from exposure to a hazard, and the
likely consequences of that harm or damage.

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Roles and Responsibilities

Managers/Supervisors are responsible for:
 keeping the register and MSDSs up to date
 identifying hazardous substances and dangerous goods and completing risk assessments
 providing appropriate information to workers in relation to hazardous substances and
dangerous goods
 implementing appropriate risk control measures in consultation with workers in keeping
with the Hierarchy of Control.
 conducting investigations of incidents involving hazardous substances or dangerous goods
 reporting any notifiable incidents involving hazardous substances to WorkSafe Victoria

Workers are responsible for:

 using control measures and any other actions designed to protect health and safety
 participating in the development of appropriate risk control measures for hazardous
substances and dangerous goods in keeping with the Hierarchy of Control.
 reporting any incident involving a hazardous substances or a dangerous good.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s)

MSDS’s are required for all chemicals that are deemed hazardous by the NOHSC. MSDS’s must be
obtained for all chemicals in use or stored.
The MSDS’s must:
 be readily available to personnel using the substances with information on chemicals in a
form that is easily understood by the user
 identify if the substance is a designated hazardous substance
 meet the needs of those employees with language or literacy difficulties.

The manufacturer’s MSDS must be updated every five years and is obtained from the supplier.
Contracts for the supply of hazardous substances to the Company must include provision for the
supplier to supply the appropriate MSDS and must notify any changes in formulation.

Hazardous Substance Register

Hazardous substances used at all workplaces must be identified listed on a register (use WHSFOR-
7A). Non-hazardous chemicals should also be included on manifests. A collection of MSDS shall be
readily available to workers and constitutes part of the Register. This register should also state
dangerous goods status/class of any of these substances as well as maximum quantities and
location. The register should be current at all times and should be updated when new substances are
introduced to the company.
The register should also include notation of simple and obvious risk assessments which have been
conducted on hazardous substances. No further report or record is required.

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Manifest and site plan of the premises

The main purpose of the manifest is to provide the emergency services authority with information
about the quantity, type and location of dangerous goods stored and handled on premises to enable
them to respond appropriately if called to an emergency. Workers should be aware of the location
and purpose of the manifest.
The manifest should be located within ready access of emergency personnel; however it should not
be in an area which may become inaccessible due to the associated risk. The hazardous substance
register WHSFOR-007A may also be used as the emergency manifest.
More information is available from Guidance Note for Emergency Services Manifests [NOHSC:3010
(1990)] June 1990

Labelling
All containers containing any substance must be labelled appropriately. MSDS’s will provide the
information required for labelling.
All containers should be clearly labelled including any risks or significant hazards posed by the
substance. Other details should include; directions for use, first aid and emergency requirements,
expiry date, manufacturer’s details. Identification information must be noted including, product
name, chemical name, UN number and ingredients and formulation details (where relevant).

Placarding
Legislative requirements for placarding of premises are dependent on volumes and packaging groups
of hazardous substances. The following can be recommended as a minimum requirement for the
organisation to minimise risk to emergency services, contractors and employees;
 Placarding on any entrance roads to the premises
 Placarding at the entrance to the buildings
 Placarding on entrance doors to storage facilities
 Placards for class 3,6 and 8
 where there is storage greater than 25Lt of hazardous substance (with the exception of class
6.1 packaging group 1. where it is 10Lt)
Placarding involves the use of hazardous substance diamonds indicating class and Hazchem placards
for entrances.
More information is available from the Guidance Note for Placarding Stores for Dangerous Goods
and Specified Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:3009(1990)] This should be referred to determine if
placarding is required under legislation. Placarding should also be dependent on risk assessment for
the areas.
Storage
All hazardous substances are kept in secured storage facilities. The doors are kept locked except
when there is an employee present who has been assigned the responsibility of accessing this area.

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General Requirements for the storage of all Dangerous Goods

The area where dangerous goods are stored should be:
 Well ventilated and well lit.
 Separated from ignition sources.
 Secured from the public.
 Protected from temperature fluctuations and direct sunlight.
Secondary containment (e.g. spill trays) should be considered for dangerous liquid goods stored
outside of a chemical storage cabinet.
Dedicated areas should be provided for measuring out chemicals.

Segregation of Chemicals
In general, each class of dangerous goods should be segregated by a physical barrier. More detailed
information is available from the MSDS.
The risks involved in the interaction of incompatible substances can include;
 uncontrolled release of heat
 emission of noxious fumes
 explosion.
It is important that Hazardous Substance Risk Assessment form is completed prior to the mixing of
chemicals

Shelf Storage
Where chemicals are kept on shelves or racks the following is recommended;
 Shelving must be compatible with the goods stored
 the shelves should be constructed of chemically resistant materials
 shelving systems must be designed to hold the maximum holding capacity of the chemical
containers;
 incompatible chemicals should not be stored together on shelves.
 solid chemicals should preferably be stored on upper shelves above liquid chemicals;
 secondary containment (bunding) is essential for large containers. As a priority all
dangerous goods of this size should be bunded.
 shelves should have raised edges to reduce the likelihood of dislodging.
 the most dangerous chemicals should be stored at easily accessible heights (e.g. 1.5 m from
the floor)
 chemicals should not be stored in direct sunlight.

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Storage in Refrigerators
Where refrigeration is required for hazardous substances, there must be a dedicated refrigerator
which is or has been made intrinsically safe. Substances for human consumption must not be stored
in the same refrigerator.
Storage in Cabinets
Where chemicals are stored in cabinets it must be ensured that;
 The cabinet is marked with the appropriate hazardous class diamonds
 They are constructed of chemically resistant material
 Flammable liquid storage cupboards must be self closing with two points of contact
 Incompatible substances are not stored together.

Disposal
MSDS’s should be viewed to determine the most appropriate means of disposal. All substances no
longer required are to be removed from the site by a licensed operator for disposal, as per
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines.

Purchase of hazardous substances

Prior to purchasing any hazardous substance, consideration should be given to the possibility of
using a safer substance. The following procedure should be followed prior to any purchase:

1. Request an MSDS on identified substance. Review health hazard information.

2. Conduct a risk assessment taking into account the potential hazards and exposures.
3. Make a determination about whether there are adequate controls in place, whether more
are required, or whether there is a more suitable substance with less risk?
Ensure on receipt of substance all measures are in place to control identified risks.

Emergency response
Risk assessments will have taken spills and their consequences into account and have documented
procedures. The location of the spill should be taken into consideration when assessing potential
environmental or safety concerns.
Where required, spill kits should be available for use in the event of a spill and documented on the
risk assessment. All personal protective equipment should be available and used in the event of
spills.
In the event of a spill/leakage the following procedures should occur:
1. Ensure there is no danger to anyone in the area.
2. Attempt to contain the spill using appropriate PPE.
3. Absorb any liquids with sand/kitty litter etc.
4. Inform the senior manager of the spill
5. Dispose of waste as per disposal instructions on MSDS
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6. Inform any regulatory bodies as required i.e. EPA / WorkSafe Vic

Spill Kits
Spill kits should be available for use where assessed as required. The contents of the spill kit should
be relevant to the area and the potential spill; this may include such things as;
 heavy duty plastic bags or plastic drums (with a lid) to contain hazardous material prior to
disposal (this can be used to store all items)
 a couple of bags of kitty litter, saw dust or sand to absorb spilt liquids
 brooms, dustpans and a square mouth shovel to sweep up the absorbent material
 absorbent pillows or booms to contain larger liquid spills and prevent spills entering
drains
 appropriate personal protective clothing (such as chemical resistant gloves, safety
glasses)
Ensure that the spill kit is clearly labelled and located in an easily accessible position for all Workers.
Spill kits should be restocked following use and the contents should be checked on a monthly basis.

Risk Assessment
For any process using hazardous substances a risk assessment should be performed and recorded.
For a substance to be used, the hazardous substance risk assessment form must be completed in
consultation with relevant workers or contractors.

The process shall compromise the following;

1. Perform a simple and obvious risk assessment on all substances to be used.
2. All processes to be undertaken must have a risk assessment undertaken, taking into
consideration all hazardous substances, unless a prior risk assessment has been completed.
Utilise Hazard Management/ Risk assessment form WHSFOR 007A
3. Implement all controls prior to the process commencing.
4. All risk assessments are to be included in the hazardous substance registry.
5. Generic risk assessments can be undertaken for processes which are performed on a regular
basis and are utilizing the same processes. These are to be stored in a section of the hazardous
substance registry in a designated area.
Risk assessments need to be reviewed in the event of: change of process, plant or substance, new
information on hazards, inadequate exposure control being identified and new or improved controls
becoming reasonably practicable. All risk assessments must be reviewed every 5 years at a
minimum.

Simple and obvious assessments

Simple and obvious risk assessments are performed by consulting the MSDS. This is used to provide
information on the handling and use of the particular substance and also to identify whether it is
classed as a hazardous substance. If the inspection of the work shows that any risk can be, or is
already, controlled in accordance with the MSDS (or the equivalent information about precautions
for use and safe handling), then the assessment is complete and no further assessment is needed.
This can be then noted in the register.
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Detailed assessments
For some work a more detailed assessment may be required. These situations include those where:
(a) There is uncertainty about the degree of risk;
(b) There is a significant risk to health, for example, exposure to a hazardous substance may be high
and/or the nature of the health hazard is serious; or
(c) More complex chemical processes and/or exposures are involved.
A more detailed assessment might involve obtaining additional information about health hazards, a
thorough evaluation of the work to determine exposures (including monitoring where appropriate),
and examination or testing of existing control measures.
Note: If atmospheric monitoring is required, it needs to be carried out by an appropriately qualified
person (or competent person depending on the complexity of the task) and the data must be
recorded/kept (30 years)

References
 Work Health and Safety Act
 National Model Regulations for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances
 Approved Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances National
Code of Practice for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances NOHSC: 2014(1995)
 National Model Regulations for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances NOHSC:
1011(1995)
 National Guidance Note for the Labelling of Workplace Substances (NOHSC: 3013(1991))
 Guidance Note for Placarding Stores for Dangerous Goods and Specified Hazardous
Substances (NOHSC:3009(1990))
 Guidance Note for Emergency Services Manifests (NOHSC:3010(1990))
 Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail

Forms
Hazardous Substance and Dangerous Goods Register WHSFOR 007A
Hazard Management/Risk Assessment WHSFOR-030A

Authorised by:
Signature:
Date: 22 January 2021

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