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

Hazardous Chemicals

JCU is committed to providing a safe workplace for staff, students and visitors to the University.  The University recognises the need to protect students, staff and the environment from potential hazards associated with hazardous chemicals, drugs and poisons.

The JCU Hazardous Chemicals Procedure and the Drugs and Poisons Procedure can be found at https://www.jcu.edu.au/policy/health-safety-and-environment.

A copy of the SDS is to be obtained by the person intending to order/store the hazardous chemical before the hazardous chemical is first obtained.

The current SDS is to be accessible to:

  • A worker using, handling or storing the hazardous chemical.
  • An emergency services worker who may be exposed to the hazardous chemical.

The requirement to possess the SDS does not apply if the hazardous chemical is only used and stored in quantities and by methods of use consistent with household application.

All SDS’s are to be compliant with the requirements of Schedule 7 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld).

An SDS can be authored and added to the JCU Chemwatch database by a person who is producing/manufacturing the substance.

All hazardous chemicals must be correctly labelled as per the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and Schedule 9 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld).

  • GHS compliant labels can be printed from the JCU Chemwatch system.
  • Labels for mixtures can be created in the Chemwatch “Creedo” module.  Access to the module can be provided by the WHS Biological, Radiation and Chemicals Safety Advisor.

This requirement applies to decanted chemicals. However if the Hazardous Chemical is used immediately, and the container is thoroughly cleaned immediately, labelling is not required.

The Queensland code of practice Labelling of Workplace hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2011 can be found https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/codes-of-practice.

A risk assessment is to be carried out for:

  • Use of Hazardous Chemicals
  • Use and storage of Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals
  • Use and storage of Schedule 10 Prohibited or Restricted Carcinogens (taking into account Section 5.5 of this Procedure)
  • Security of the “11 Hazardous Chemicals of Security Concern”.

Personnel that may have their health affected by a chemical should be consulted during a chemical risk assessment.

Risk assessments should be stored on the Riskware system.

A register of Hazardous Chemicals used, handled, or stored at the workplace is to be kept at the workplace by the person responsible for the use and storage of the Hazardous Chemical.

The requirement to list items on the register does not apply if the chemical is a consumer product and a SDS is not required to be obtained under section 344 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld).

The register must:

  • Be up to date
  • Have a current SDS for each Hazardous Chemical
  • Be accessible to personnel that may use, handle or store the Hazardous Chemicals
  • Be maintained on the Chemwatch system.

Each Chemwatch access is to be set up to ensure that only the chemical inventory or manifest relevant to that person is available for viewing and editing.

The WHS Biological, Radiation and Chemicals Safety Advisor will assign login details to the Chemwatch system and can be contacted at safety@jcu.edu. Permission for the access is to be provided in writing by the relevant supervisor.

The Chemwatch system can run reports for Hazardous Chemical Registers, Schedule 11 Manifest Report, and Schedule 11 Placarding reports controlled to the users log in.

An inventory of the maximum quantity of Hazardous Chemicals expected to be stored in each location must be maintained on the JCU Chemwatch system by the person responsible for storing the Hazardous Chemical.

The Hazardous Chemicals are to be entered in the Hazardous Chemicals “manifest” structure within the Chemwatch system.  This will include:

  • Creating a manifest folder within the relevant JCU location, for example: Townsville, Cairns etc.
  • Subfolder with Building number
  • Next subfolder with room number
    • Assign building number and room as applicable into Store Title
    • Create storage location with contents for each individual storage cupboard/ fridge etc.

Where the quantity of Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals stored, exceed the manifest quantities listed in Table 10.1, Schedule 11, of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, a notification is to be sent to WorkCover Queensland.

  • “Form 73 – Notification of a manifest quantity” is to be completed and a copy of the current Schedule 11 Manifest sent with the form.  The form can be accessed at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.

Form 73 is to be submitted by the person responsible for the storage location (example,Laboratory Manager) in consultation with the JCU WHS Biological, Radiation and Chemicals Safety Advisor.  Typically the notification will be for the holdings of an entire building, independent of management structure or organizational lines.

Before quantities of a Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemical are established or increased,resulting in a change to the Schedule 11 Manifest for the location, the:

  • College Manager or Dean must approve the increase and confirm that the increase in storage capacity is required. They must ensure that the Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemical will be stored as per the relevant standards for the class of chemicals.  The approval and confirmation is to be in writing.
  • The Form 73 is to be lodged in consultation with the JCU HSE Biological, Radiation and Chemicals Safety Advisor.

When quantities of Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals decrease, resulting in a change to the Schedule 11 Manifest for the location, the HSE Biological, Radiation and Chemicals Safety Advisor is to be notified that a new notification Form 73 will need to be lodged.

  • The Form 73 is to be lodged in consultation with the JCU HSE Biological, Radiation, and Chemicals Safety Advisor.

Outer warning placards:

  • Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals outer warning placards, are required where the total quantity of Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals or group of Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals, exceed the placard quantity listed in Table 10.1, Schedule 11, of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld:.
    • This applies to all chemicals stored within a location, and is independent of JCU management structure or organizational lines
    • As such the placard plan will need to consider all storages within the location.
  • The outer warning placard must be red letters on white or silver background and consistent with Figure 1.

Outer Warning Placard

Figure1: Outer Warning Placard

Information Placards:

  • Information placards are placed at the location of storage and are dependent on the class of chemicals stored and the type of storage. Storage placards must be compliant with the guidance as set out in Schedule 13 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld).
  • The person with responsibility regarding the storing of the Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals shall determine placarding requirements.
  • The information placard is to be:
    • Located as reasonably practicable to the main entrance of the building
    • Located on the entrance to each room or walled section of the building where the chemical is used, handled or stored
    • If the container is external, then next to the container
    • Clearly legible
    • Separate from other distracting signage.
  • The Chemwatch inventory can provide reports specific to the Schedule 11 Manifest being viewed to determine the chemicals that have exceeded information placard quantities.

Schedule 10 of the WorkHealth & Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) lists chemicals that are Schedule 10 Prohibited or Restricted Carcinogens. These chemicals will only be approved for use at JCU campuses and sites where there is a genuine requirement for analysis or research.

  • The responsible supervisor and Dean of College must be consulted and have given approval prior to starting the process of obtaining a Schedule 10 Prohibited or Restricted Carcinogen.  The WHS Biological, Radiation and Chemicals Safety Advisor is to be notified of the carcinogen to maintain a register of approvals
    • A separate application is required for each Schedule 10 Prohibited or Restricted Carcinogen
    • The form and supporting documents can be:
      • Emailed to hicb@justice.qld.gov.au
      • Or posted to Health and Hygiene Unit, HICB, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, PO Box 820, Lutwyche Qld 4030.
  • A risk management procedure is to be supplied with the completed Form 74.  A template risk management application can be found at the following link "Carcinogen Application Risk Management Procedure".  The risk management procedure will need to contain:
    • Hazard identification
    • Risk control
    • Why the chemical must be used
    • Storage details
    • Process description
    • Control measures to prevent exposure
    • Maintenance and testing procedures for control measures
    • Atmospheric monitoring
    • Biological monitoring
    • Health surveillance program
    • Spill and emergency procedures
    • Employee training and information
    • Decontamination and waste disposal

Use of Schedule 10 Prohibited and Restricted Carcinogens

  • A copy of the approval will need to be provided to the supplier to obtain the chemical
  • The Schedule 10 Prohibited or Restricted Carcinogen is to be stored, used and disposed of as per the risk management procedures
  • A statement of exposure (template can be found at "Carcinogen Exposure Letter") is to be provided to a worker at the end of the worker’s engagement. This statement is to include:
    • Name of the Schedule 10 Prohibited or Restricted Carcinogen to which the worker may have been exposed
    • The time period the worker may have been exposed.  How and where the worker may obtain records of the possible exposure
    • Medical advice, whether the worker should undertake regular health assessments, and the relevant tests to undertake.

Records of Schedule 10 Prohibited and Restricted Carcinogens

  • A record must be maintained of the full name, date of birth and address of each worker likely to be exposed to the prohibited carcinogen or restricted carcinogen at the workplace.  A template register to gather this information can be found at "Personnel Usage of a Carcinogen"
  • Consent must be provided by each person that their personal information can be retained
  • Keep a copy of each authorisation given to the person including any conditions imposed on the authorisation
  • A record of the usage of the carcinogen must be recorded to account for the substance.  A usage log can be found at "Carcinogen Usage Log".

The requirements for storage of Hazardous Chemicals and Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals are different dependent on the class of substance, type of storage and quantities stored.  A chemical storage segregation tool can be found at the Worksafe website.

The various classes of Hazardous Chemicals are to be stored as per the requirements for that class of chemical.  Typically this is obtained from the relevant Australian Standard for each class:

  • Class 1 - Dangerous Goods - Explosives
  • Class 2 - Dangerous Goods - Gases
  • Class 3 - Dangerous Goods - Flammable Liquids
  • Class 4 - Dangerous Goods - Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion; Substances which in Contact with Water, Emitting Flammable Gases
  • Class 5 - Dangerous Goods - Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides
  • Class 6 - Dangerous Goods - Toxic and Infectious Substances
  • Class 7 - Dangerous Goods - Radioactive Material
  • Class 8 - Dangerous Goods - Corrosive Substances
  • Class 9 - Dangerous Goods - Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods and Articles
  • Management of chemicals in laboratories shall be maintained in line with the requirements of AS/NZS 2243 Safety in Laboratories series.

Storages specifically in laboratories are covered within:

  • AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 Safety in laboratories – Storage of chemicals
    • This standard lists the quantities of hazardous chemicals permitted to be stored in a laboratory other than in a chemical storage cabinet.
  • AS/NZS 2243.2:2006 Safety in laboratories – Chemical Aspects

All storage locations and the maximum quantity stored are to be entered on the Chemwatch manifest.

The Australian Standards database can be accessed from the JCU home page, through the JCU Library webpage, by selecting databases, selecting “S” in the alphabetical listing and then “Standards Australia” (http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/az.php?a=s).

The National Code of Practice for Chemicals of Security Concern details the 15 high risk chemicals of security concern.  These chemicals are to be stored securely and not made accessible to the public.  A risk assessment must cover the security aspects of these chemicals.

Table 1: Fifteen High Risk Chemicals:

ChemicalConcentration
Ammonium perchloratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of ammonium perchlorate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Hydrogen peroxidea) In a water-based solution at any concentration, or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 15% or higher
Nitric acidAt a concentration of 30% or higher
NitromethaneAt a concentration of 10% or higher
Potassium chloratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of potassium chlorate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Potassium nitratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of potassium nitrate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Potassium perchloratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of potassium perchlorate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium azideAt a concentration of 95% or higher
Sodium chloratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of sodium chlorate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium perchloratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of sodium perchlorate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Sodium nitratea) In a water-based solution containing 10% or higher of sodium nitrate; or
b) In a form other than a water-based solution, at a concentration of 65% or higher
Aluminium phosphideat any concentration
Chlorine (gas only)at any concentration
Potassium cyanideat any concentration
Sodium cyanideat any concentration

Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals are to be transported in line with the:

  • International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations for air transport
  • Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

The person packaging the Schedule 11 Hazardous Chemicals and signing the consignment note will require shipping and packaging training.

In the “My Requisition” system for purchasing please use the following User Codes and attached the required documentation:

Table 2: UserCodes

User code

Schedule

8432

Schedule  11 (Dangerous goods)

Hazardous  Chemicals

8436

Schedule  2

Schedule  3

Schedule  4

8437

Schedule  7, 8 and 9

8438

Schedule  10

  • User code: 8432 is used for Schedule 11 (Dangerous Goods)
  • Schedules 5 and 6 have no specific requirement for purchasing.  These substance may still be     hazardous or dangerous goods (User Code: 8432), local risk assessments and procedures will need to be in place.
  • If a purchase order is required quickly or special arrangements need to be made such as exceeding a credit card limit, contact the JCU Purchasing Unit.

Table 3: Summary

Summary of Hazardous Chemicals and other purchasing requirements can be found here.

JCU Hazardous Chemicals Procedure

Download JCU Hazardous Chemicals Acquisition Flowchart