Managing hazardous

substances

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

This session
We will look at:
 managing workplace substances
 how the new laws apply
 consultation processes
 the role of risk management
 record keeping

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Key duties of employers
 Establish a register
 Assess all hazardous substances used at work
 Consult and train employees
 Control identified risks
 Consider monitoring and health surveillance
 Keep records

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Key duties of employees
 Participation in:
– risk assessment processes
– consultation
– training
– monitoring and health
surveillance

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Risk management
 Three-tiered process involving:
– hazard identification
– risk assessment
– risk control
 Required for all hazardous substances
used at work
 Should be very systematic

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Hazard identification
 Need to identify all hazardous substances
 Key tools - labels and MSDS
 MSDS must be placed in a register
 Register must also contain a list of all
hazardous substances
 Register must be readily accessible

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Obtaining other information
 Some sources are:
– ODE HSE Management System
– guidance materials (such as
Australian standards and codes)
– reference journals and books
– trade journals and magazines
– leaflets from OH&S agencies

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Risk - a definition
 Risk is the likelihood
or probability of an
event occurring.

 Risk management is a
system to control
risks.

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Risk - a perception
 People view risks
differently
 Need for systematic
method to measure
risks
 Be aware of habits and
complacency

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Identifying hazards
 Review work methods
 Consult with employees
 Review accident and incident reports
 Quantify “near hits”
 Review information sources
 Consider workplace monitoring (optional)
 Compare actual use to safe use on MSDS

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Risk assessment
 Audit safety in the workplace
 Four possible conclusions:
– no risk to health
– risk to health that is controlled
– uncontrolled risk to health
– uncertain of risks

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Always note
 Emergency procedures
 Shut down and maintenance
 Use of contractors on site
 Staff shortages
 Shift changes
 Waste disposal
 Housekeeping
Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited
Consultation:
 is part of risk management
 may include:
– OH&S committee
– work teams
– employee representatives
– unions
– individuals

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Risk control
 Risks to health must  Isolation
be controlled  Engineering controls
 Use “hierarchy of  Administrative
controls”: controls
 Elimination  Personal protective
 Substitution equipment (PPE)

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Other measures
Healthsurveillance  Workplace monitoring
Regular medical Regular environmental
checks to review tests to review safety
employee health of the workplace

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Record keeping
 Employer keeps records for:
– training (5 years)
– risk assessment (5 - 30 years)
– health surveillance (30 years)
– monitoring (30 years)
 Health surveillance results
must be kept confidential

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Always note
 Communication is essential
for a safe workplace
 Management and employees
must work together
 If there is a health or safety
issue, notify relevant people
immediately

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited

Summary
 Risk management is the key tool for
controlling workplace risks
 Good baseline information is needed to get
an accurate estimate of risks to health
 Employers and employees are important to
this process

Oil Drilling & Exploration Limited