Work Health and Safety Laboratory Safety, Biosafety, Drugs, Radiation, Hazardous Chemicals Drugs and Poisons

Drug and Poison Management at JCU

JCU is committed to providing a safe workplace for staff, students and campus visitors. We recognise the need to protect people and the environment from potential hazards associated with the use of scheduled drugs and poisons.

The scheduling of drugs and poisons is in accordance with the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provided by the manufacturer of a substance will list the schedule of the particular drug or poison. If the SDS does not list the schedule, consult the SUSMP.

Table 1: Drugs and Poisons Schedule

Schedule

Explanation

Schedule  1 (S1)*

Schedule not currently in use.

Schedule  2 (S2)*

Pharmacy Medicine.

Schedule  3 (S3)*

Pharmacist Only Medicine.

Schedule  4 (S4)*

Prescription Only Medicine or Prescription Animal Remedy.

Schedule  5 (S5)*

Caution (available to the public).

Schedule  6 (S6)*

Poison (available to the public).

Schedule  7 (S7)*

Dangerous Poison.

Broad category including acids and chlorine.

Not restricted, treated as hazardous chemicals.

Schedule 7 (Restricted)

Dangerous Poison.

Substances listed in Schedule 1 of the Medicines and Poisons (Poisons and Prohibited Substances) Regulation 2021.  These substances are included in high-risk poisons category.  

The list includes:

  • acrylonitrile
  • alachlor
  • 4-aminopropiophenone (para-aminopropiophenone)
  • arprinocid
  • azocyclotin
  • captafol
  • carbadox
  • chlordecone
  • chlordimeform
  • chloromethiuron
  • cyhexatin
  • 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane
  • 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene
  • dinitrocresols
  • dinoseb
  • etaconazole
  • ethylene dibromide
  • fluoroacetamide
  • fluoroacetic acid (sodium fluoroacetate)
  • halofuginone
  • halogenated   dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans
  • hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
  • hydrocyanic acid and cyanides
  • iodomethane
  • methacrifos
  • methoxyethylmercuric acetate
  • 4,4'-methylenebis [2-chloroaniline]
  • mirex
  • nicotine
  • nitrofen
  • o-tolidine
  • phenylmercuric acetate
  • pyrinuron
  • strychnine
  • sulcofuron
  • vinyl chloride monomer

Schedule  8 (S8)*

Controlled Drug.

Drugs of high-risk for diversion or abuse such as morphine.  Included in high-risk poisons category.

Schedule  9 (S9)*

Prohibited Substance.

Substances which may be abused or misused, the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except when required for medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching or training purposes with approval of Commonwealth and/or State or Territory Health Authorities. Example gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

JCU has in place a general approval issued by Queensland Health that allows procurement, use, storage and disposal of regulated poisons for genuine teaching, research and analysis.

Where a drug or poison will be used in a manner that is not consistent with the intended therapeutic use (e.g. label), a risk assessment will need to be completed on this method of use.

Example:

  • Adding a hormone to fish tanks
  • Aerosolisation of a drug

If you are purchasing S2, S3, S4, S7, S8, S9 the order must be placed through my requisition and the "Approval to Purchase S2, S3, S4, S7, S8 and S9 Substances" form completed in full and attached with the order.

In the My Requisition system for purchasing please use the following Use Codes and attach the required documentation:

Table 2: Use Codes

User code

Schedule

8432

Schedule 11 (Dangerous goods)
Hazardous Chemicals

8436

Schedule  2
Schedule  3
Schedule  4

8437

Schedule 7 (restricted), 8 and 9

8438

Schedule  10

To support the request attach or write out in the comments section proof of the need to use this substance for genuine teaching and research. This could include:

Download the JCU Drugs and Poisons Purchasing Summary Flowchart.

As outlined on the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) website only authorised, registered custodians are permitted to manage medical chests. These custodians are obliged to meet certain conditions, which include the following:

  • A medical chest must be kept locked at all times when not in use, with the keys only accessible to the approved person.
  • The contents of a medical chest must be checked regularly for expired items and general completeness.
  • Highlighted prescription drugs are only to be used under RFDS doctor’s instruction.
  • Keeping a record of the RFDS doctor’s consultation numbers in a drug register is essential for re-ordering prescription medication.
  • The appropriate registration number should be clearly marked on the chest.
  • The responsible custodian should advise the RFDS when someone else takes over care and control of the chest.
  • There are items that require refrigeration if the chest is unable to be kept in a cool location.
  • Medical chests are registered to a location and must not be moved without the permission of the RFDS.
  • A list of the locations of the kits must be maintained by the relevant Division.

JCU Drugs and Poisons Procedure

Download JCU Drugs and Poisons Purchasing Process