Safe Work Australia

The following links are provided for documents developed to support implementation of the new model WHS Regulations and management of chemicals risks in the workplace. 

Exposure Standards

•  Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants

Model Codes of Practice

• Managing the Risks of Hazardous Chemicals (draft awaiting Ministerial approval)
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals
• Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals
• Spray painting and Powder Coating (draft awaiting Ministerial approval)
• Abrasive Blasting (draft awaiting Ministerial approval)
• Welding and Allied Processes (draft awaiting Ministerial approval)
• How to Safely Remove Asbestos
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace

Guidance Materials

• Guidance on requirements for classification of hazardous chemicals under the WHS regulations
• Guidance on the Interpretation of Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants
• Electroplating
• Foundry Work (under development)
• Cyanide Poisoning (under development)
• Isocyanates (under development)
• Guidance for Occupational Hygienists in Interpretation of the National model Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants (under development)
• Health Monitoring Guidelines (under development)
• Acrylonitrile
• Asbestos
• Inorganic Arsenic
• Benzene
• Cadmium
• Inorganic Chromium
• Creosote
• Crystalline Silica
• Isocyanates
• Inorganic lead
• Inorganic Mercury
• 4,4’ methylene bis (2-chloroaniline) [MOCA]
• Organophosphate pesticides
• Pentachlorophenol [PCP]
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH]
• Thallium
• Vinyl chloride

Factsheets

• Classification and labelling for workplace hazardous chemicals poster
• Placarding and Manifests
• Understanding Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals
• Hazardous chemicals register fact sheet

The following links are provided for documents that may be used during the transitional period for classification, labelling and preparation of material safety data sheets for hazardous substances and dangerous goods.

• [In Transition] Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(2004)]. For use until 31 December 2016
• [In Transition] National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances [NOHSC:2012(1994)]. For use until 31 December 2016
• [In Transition] National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets 2nd Edition [NOHSC:2011(2003)]. For use until 31 December 2016

The following links are provided for documents developed by Safe Work Australia’s predecessor, the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. Many of these documents are now superseded by the new WHS Regulations, by model Codes of Practice or by guidance material developed in support of the new WHS Regulations. These documents are provided for reference only. 

Model Regulations

• National Model Regulations for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1005(1994)] [superseded]
• * National Model Regulations for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances [NOHSC:1011(1995)] [superseded]

National Standards 

• National Standard for Synthetic Mineral Fibres [NOHSC:1004(1990)]  
• National Standard for the Control of Inorganic Lead at Work [NOHSC:1012(1994)] 
• Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment [NOHSC:1003(1995)]
• National Standard for the Storage and Handling of Workplace Dangerous Goods [NOHSC:1015 (2001)]

Codes of Practice 

• National Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:2007(1994)]
• National Code of Practice for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances [NOHSC:2014(1995)]
• National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Synthetic Mineral Fibres [NOHSC:2006(1990)] 
• National Code of Practice for the Control and Safe Use of Inorganic Lead at Work [NOHSC:2015(1994)]
Code of Practice for Safe Removal of Asbestos 2nd Edition [NOHSC:2002(2005)] [NOHSC:2002(1988)]  
• Code of Practice for the Management and Control of Asbestos in the Workplace [NOHSC:2018(2005)] [NOHSC:3002(1988)]
National Code of Practice for the Safe Handling of Timber Preservatives and Treated Timber [NOHSC:2003(1989)]
• National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Ethylene Oxide in Sterilisation/Fumigation Processes [NOHSC:2008(1992)]
• National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Vinyl Chloride
• National Code of Practice for the Storage and Handing of Dangerous Goods [NOHSC: 2017 (2001)]  

Guidance Materials

• Guidance Note for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances in the Retail Sector [NOHSC:3018(1994)]
• Guidance Note for the Assessment of Health Risks Arising from the Use of Hazardous Substances in the Workplace [NOHSC:3017(1994)]
• Guidance Note on the Interpretation of Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment [NOHSC:3008(1995)] 
• Guidelines for Health Surveillance [NOHSC:7039(1995)]
• Core Training Elements for the National Standard for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances 
• Guidance Note on the Membrane Filter Method for Estimating Airborne Asbestos Fibres 2nd Edition [NOHSC:3003(2005)] [NOHSC:3003(1989)] 
• Guidance Note for the Safe Use of Ethylene Oxide in Sterilisation/Fumigation Processes [NOHSC:3016(1992)] 
• Guidance Note for the Safe Handling of Timber Preservatives and Treated Timber [NOHSC:3007(1989)] 
• National Guidance Material for Spray Painting
• Guide to Arsenic and it’s Compounds
• Guide to Cyanide Poisoning
• Guide to Hydrogen Fluoride
• Guide to Industrial Organic Solvents 
• Guide for Solvent Vapour Degreasing
• Guidance Note for the Elimination of Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Workplace