Hazardous Risk Management & Registers
Now in Australia we have adopted the UK hazardous chemical classification system.
Duties of a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking needs to complete risk assessments annually.
A hazardous risk assessment will identify, manage and eliminate these possible types of hazards.
- Identify which workers are at risk of exposure;
- Determine what sources and processes are causing that risk;
- Identify if and what kind of control measures should be implemented, and ;
- Check the effectiveness of existing control measures.
A Hazardous chemical means any substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria for a hazard class in the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) has been introduced by the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations as a means of classifying workplace hazardous chemicals and communicating their hazards through labelling and safety data sheets.
The GHS hazardous chemical is a:
- acute toxicity – oral – Category 5
- acute toxicity – dermal – Category 5
- acute toxicity – inhalation – Category 5
- skin corrosion/irritation – Category 3
- serious eye damage/eye irritation – Category 2B
- aspiration hazard – Category 2
- flammable gas – Category 2
- acute hazard to the aquatic environment – Category 1, 2 or 3
- chronic hazard to the aquatic environment – Category 1, 2, 3 or 4, or
- hazardous to the ozone layer.
If any hazardous chemicals are onsite, they now require proper labelling as per the GHS system, a current copy of the MSDS onsite along with a hazardous register or manifest depending on the quantity stored within the premises. A register or manifest and MSDS are to be accessible to all staff and emergency services.
Hazardous risk management is now legislated within WHS Regulation and Act. If your site requires advice how to update your risk management system, an Occupational Matters experienced consultant can assist without disruption to the workplace.