Workplace Substances

Workplace Substances are defined as substances under the control of the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 or Chapter 6 (Hazardous Substances) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 or prescribed under national guidelines. These regulations specify the legal requirements of a supplier, employer and employee with respect to the transport, storage, control and use of dangerous goods and hazardous substances.

Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods Definition
Substances that have the potential to cause immediate harm

The control of dangerous goods in the workplace, with respect to the transport, packaging, labelling, marking, storage and handling, is administered by WorkCover NSW and a number of other state authorities. The principal legislation that applies is the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 and the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulation 1999.

Dangerous goods, broadly defined, are substances and articles having toxic, explosive, corrosive, oxidising or flammable properties. Examples of dangerous goods include petrol, liquified petroleum gas, fertilisers, paints, pesticides, explosives and fireworks.

The properties of dangerous goods and their ability to react dangerously with each other and with other goods present very significant risks to workers, the general community, property and the environment. Proper management of dangerous goods during their production, storage, use and disposal is therefore vital in ensuring the health and safety of all persons who may come into contact with dangerous goods and the protection of property and the environment.

Dangerous Goods are classified into 9 classes:

1. Class 1 - Explosives
2. Class 2 - Gases
3. Class 3 - Flammable liquids
4. Class 4 - Flammable solids
5. Class 5 - Oxidising substances
6. Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious substances
7. Class 7 - Radioactive substances
8. Class 8 - Corrosives
9. Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances

The University has a Dangerous Goods Information Document which provides details on the classes and additional information on storage and licensing of dangerous goods.

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Harzardous Substances

Hazardous Substances Definition
Any substance listed on the List of Designated Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:10005(1999)]; or has been classified as a hazardous substance by the manufacturer or importer in accordance with the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(1999)].

The general definition is taken to be any substance which has the potential to harm the health of persons in the workplace and includes chemicals scheduled under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act, chemicals classified under the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 or hazardous wastes.

In 1993, the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission declared a package of regulations, standards and codes of practice known as the National Hazardous Substances Regulatory Package. The package is a blueprint for the legislative control of hazardous substances used in the workplace.

• Hazardous Substances Regulatory Package Index

The Package contains:

• The National Model Regulations for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1005(1994)].
• The National Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:2007(1994)].
• Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(2004)] - 3rd Edition.
• List of Designated Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:10005(1994)] or you can use online Hazardous Substances Information System
• The National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances [NOHSC:2012(1994)].
• The National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets [NOHSC:2011(1994)].
• National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment [NOHSC:1003(1994)].
• The National Model Regulations for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances [NOHSC:1011(1995)].
• The National Code of Practice for the Control of Scheduled Carciogenic Substances [NOHSC:2014(1995)].
• Guidance Note for the Assessment of Health Risks Arising from Hazardous Substances in the Workplace [NOHSC:3017(1994)].
• Guidance Note for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances in the Retail Sector [NOHSC:3018(1994)].
• Core Training Elements for the National Standard for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances.

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