Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to comply with NOHSC / ASCC National Standards and Codes of Practice?
National Standards, National Codes of Practice and guidance material declared by the ASCC (formerly NOHSC) are advisory in nature and therefore have no legal standing until they are adopted into, or given effect by, legislation or regulations in the States and Territories.
Specific questions on your legal obligations under OHS laws should be directed to the relevant OHS authority in your state or territory.
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What are hazardous substances?
Hazardous substances are those that, following worker exposure, can have an adverse effect on health. Those substances that can be classified as hazardous include poisons, those that cause burns and skin and eye irritation and substances that may cause cancer.
The criteria used to determine whether a substance is classified as a hazardous substance are contained in the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances.
Many hazardous substances are also classed as dangerous goods.
View ASCC National Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance material on the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances in the workplace
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What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are substances or articles that, because of their physical, chemical (physicochemical) or acute toxicity properties, present an immediate hazard to people, property or the environment. Types of substances classified as dangerous goods include explosives, flammable liquids and gases, corrosives, chemically reactive or acutely (highly) toxic substances.
The criteria used to determine whether substances are classified as dangerous goods are contained in the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code), which itself is aligned closely with the criteria of the United Nations’ Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - Model Regulations and the Australian Standard AS1940 (The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids). The ADG Code contains a list of substances classified as dangerous goods.
Many dangerous goods are also classed as hazardous substances.
View ASCC National Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance material on the storage, handling and use of dangerous goods in the workplace
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Who is required to classify a chemical?
The requirement to classify a chemical against both the hazardous substances and dangerous goods criteria falls with the Australian importer or manufacturer of the chemical. Where dangerous goods are imported, they may already be classified to meet transport requirements, however this is not always the case.
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Where can I get a complete list of designated hazardous substances?
The ASCC maintains a list of hazardous substances within the Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS). This database replaces the previous List of Designated Hazardous Substances (“the List”).
Although a hard copy of the List is no longer published by the ASCC, a complete listing of hazardous substances can be obtained by using the HSIS Consolidate Lists link from the HSIS.
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How do I find information on a specific hazardous substance?
Information on a specific hazardous substance can be obtained from the Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS).
In the boxes provided, type in either the CAS number or the name of the substance, then hit the Enter key.
Detailed instructions on the use of the HSIS database can be accessed by clicking on the User Instruction Manual link from the HSIS webpage.
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Can I assume a substance is not hazardous if it does not appear on the HSIS database?
No. Substances that are known to the ASCC to have been correctly classified are included in HSIS. However, if a substance is not in HSIS it does not necessarily mean it is not hazardous. To determine whether a substance is hazardous, the Approved Criteria must be applied.
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What is a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)?
An MSDS, also referred to as a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), is a document that describes the chemical and physical properties of a material and provides advice on its safe storage, handling and use.
It includes details of health and physicochemical hazards, exposure controls, personal protective equipment, safe handling and storage instructions, emergency procedures and disposal advice.
Within the workplace, an MSDS is a well recognised and important source of information. An MSDS is an information source that may be used to inform a program to control hazards associated with working with hazardous substances and dangerous goods. The label is also an important source of this information.
An MSDS can, and often is, prepared for non-hazardous materials, even though an MSDS is not strictly necessary to comply with workplace OHS regulations in this situation.
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What are the requirements for preparing an MSDS?
Duties and obligations for the production, review, revision and supply of MSDS are prescribed in the State and Territory regulations that give effect to the National Model Regulations (for hazardous substances) and the National Standard for the Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods (for dangerous goods).
The requirement to prepare an MSDS for a hazardous substance and/or dangerous goods lies with the supplier. A supplier is defined as a manufacturer or importer of hazardous substances or dangerous goods.
The National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS Code) provides guidance on the preparation of an MSDS under the hazardous substances and dangerous goods regulatory frameworks.
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Do overseas MSDS meet Australian requirements?
Not all countries use the same criteria for classification of hazardous substances and dangerous goods, or have equivalent requirements for MSDS. As a consequence, some overseas MSDS do not meet Australian requirements. The Australian classification system is closely aligned with the European Commission (EC) classification criteria, consequently MSDS from Europe generally most closely align with Australian requirements.
MSDS prepared overseas are deemed to comply with Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation if the MSDS is prepared in accordance with the MSDS Code of Practice and it includes the following information:
- Australian contact details – name of supplier, address and telephone number, including emergency contact details;
- classification in accordance with the Australian hazardous substance and dangerous goods regulatory framework;
- ingredients, disclosed in accordance with Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation;
- national exposure standard values if available; and
- relevant additional Australian regulatory information.
Refer to the MSDS code for further information.
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When do I have to review the MSDS?
An MSDS must be reviewed periodically to keep it up to date, for example when any new or significant information becomes available on the hazards of the material. Otherwise, an MSDS must be reviewed and re-issued every 5 years.
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Who approves MSDS?
MSDS do not need to be formally approved. However, the OHS authority in each state and territory is responsible for determining whether an MSDS complies with their relevant legislation or regulations through normal compliance activities. The OHS authority in your jurisdiction should therefore be contacted for advice on whether your MSDS meets their requirements.
Find the OHS Authority in your State or Territory
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Who is responsible for providing an MSDS?
The National Model Regulations for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances and the National Standard for the Storage and Handling of Workplace Dangerous Goods require the supplier to provide an MSDS, at first supply of the material or on request.
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Who is responsible for ensuring that hazardous substances and dangerous goods are labelled?
Importers, manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances and dangerous goods are required to label these chemicals. Employers also have a duty to correctly label chemicals used at work.
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Who approves labels for workplace chemicals?
Labels of workplace chemicals do not need to be formally approved. However, the OHS authority in each state and territory is responsible for determining whether the label on a chemical complies with the relevant legislation or regulations through normal compliance activities. The OHS authority in your jurisdiction should therefore be contacted for advice on whether a chemical label meets their requirements.
Find the OHS Authority in your State or Territory
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What is the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)?
The GHS is a single, globally harmonised system of classification of chemicals, labels and safety data sheets, that was developed under the auspices of the United Nations.
View more information on the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
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When will the GHS be implemented into Australian OHS requirements?
The ASCC is currently reviewing the workplace hazardous substances and dangerous goods regulatory frameworks. The proposed new framework combines the existing separate hazardous substances and dangerous goods frameworks into a single system, and utilises the GHS as the primary hazard classification tool and guidance on hazard communication (ie labels and SDS).
Potential benefits of adopting the GHS into the workplace chemicals framework include a reduction in the risks associated with chemical use, alignment of chemical classification and hazard communication with a major chemical trading partner, with potential reductions in the need to re-classify and re-label for businesses importing chemicals, and alignment with requirements for transport (eg ADG7).
Although the ASCC is aiming for declaration of the new GHS-based workplace chemicals framework in 2008, a mandatory GHS-based system is still several years away. Following declaration by the ASCC, the new framework requires the State and Territory governments to incorporate the workplace chemicals framework into their regulations, and this can take a number of years to occur. To reduce costs to businesses, and to ensure a smooth transition to the new framework, both the existing and new classification and hazard communication systems are likely to operate in parallel for several years. Transition arrangements and implementation timeframes are still under consideration by the ASCC and will be decided when decisions relating to declaration of the documents takes place.
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Are ASCC standards and codes mandatory outside of workplaces?
ASCC National Standards, Codes of Practice and guidance material are intended to be applied only in workplaces. However, many ASCC documents contain useful information that could be used in non-work situations to promote and ensure safety.
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What other labelling requirements do I need to comply with?
The regulation of chemicals in Australia is a complex arrangement between Australian Government agencies and state and territory regulators. The regulations that apply to a chemical depend to a large extent on the end use of the chemical. For example, a chemical supplied to and used in a workplace is covered by the workplace labelling requirements, whereas the same chemical supplied to the domestic market may be covered by drugs and poisons regulations.
Various types of chemical or chemical use situations are shown below, with other relevant labelling requirements that may apply.
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Why are there substances listed in HSIS without a hazard classification?
The HSIS database includes substances that have been classified in accordance with the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances and/or have National Exposure Standards declared under the NOHSC Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment.
While the substances listed in the Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment pose a hazard in workplace atmospheres, not all of these substances have been classified in accordance with the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances. As such, their entries in HSIS do not include hazard classification data. Where a substance is included in HSIS without hazard classification data, that is where there are no risk and safety phrases indicated in the database, this does not mean the chemical is not hazardous.
The Australian manufacturer or importer of the substance is responsible for the determination of the hazard classification of the chemical in accordance with the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances.
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Where can I find the current national exposure standards for atmospheric contaminants?
Australian National Exposure Standards are declared under the NOHSC Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment.
An up-to-date list of national exposure standards can be found in the Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS).
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How should I reference NOHSC documents?
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) replaced the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) in 2005. Any documents declared by NOHSC have effect as if they were declared by the ASCC.
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Page last updated: 08/09/2009