Hazardous chemicals are substances, mixtures and articles used in the workplace that can be a health or physicochemical hazard if not handled or stored correctly.

Health hazards such as skin irritants, carcinogens or respiratory sensitisers can have an adverse effect on a worker's health as a result of direct contact with or exposure to the chemical, usually through inhalation, skin contact or ingestion.

Physicochemical hazards generally result from the physical or chemical properties, like flammability, corrosiveness, oxidising agents or their explosive potential.

The storage of LPG, Class 3 (flammable liquids), Class 6 (toxic substances and Class 8 (Corrosive substances may require a dangerous substances licence.

Identifying hazardous chemicals

The identity of chemicals in the workplace can usually be determined by looking at the label and the SDS and reading what ingredients are in each chemical or product. Manufacturers and importers are required to provide labels and SDSs, and must review the SDS at least once in every five years.

Specific guidance on what a manufacturer or importer must include in an SDS and label can be found in the following Codes:

See Chemical labelling for further information.

Managing the risks

PCBUs must manage risks associated with using, handling, generating or storing hazardous chemicals at a workplace. A register of hazardous chemicals at the workplace must be prepared and kept up-to-date. The register must be readily accessible to workers who work with hazardous chemicals and to anyone else likely to be exposed to a hazardous chemical at the workplace.

When assessing the risks associated with hazardous chemicals in your workplace you need to:

  • decide who should do the assessment
  • decide what sort of risk assessment is appropriate i.e. basic, generic or detailed
  • consider both the health and physicochemical risks and how the workers may be exposed when they use it in the workplace.

PCBUs must always aim to eliminate a hazard and associated risk first. If this is not reasonably practicable, the risk must be minimised by using one or more of the following approaches:

  • substitution
  • isolation
  • implementing engineering controls.

PCBUs responsible for hazardous chemicals should refer to the Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace - Code of Practice(PDF) for further details.