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Chemical Safety

25 May 2011

Ambition in Action

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Chemical Safety Program

1. Chemical Safety Responsibilities 8. Monitoring

2. Performance Standards 9. Prohibited Substances

3. Chemical Registers and Manifests 10. Carcinogenic Substances

4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) 11. Banned Chemicals in DEC Schools

5. Labelling 12. Purchasing

6. Placarding 13. Chemical Waste Disposal

7. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment 14. Record Keeping

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1. Chemical Safety Responsibilities

/ General responsibilities as per OH&S Responsibilities - Policy document

/ Directors, Managers, Head Teachers & Supervisors responsible for compliance & meeting minimum performance standards

/ Head Teachers/Supervisors responsible for Chemical Safety induction & ongoing training

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2. Performance Standards

Element Minimum Performance Standard

MSDSs Review annually to ensure not older than 5 years; accessible to staff

Chemical stocktake; chemical register Register to be update annually from stocktake; list of registers on SydNet

Prohibited substances Hazardous substances not used for the purpose noted in the OHS Regulation 2001, Clause 164

Use of carcinogenic substances Used in accordance with WorkCover publication & notification form completed (cc: OH&S Services)

Health surveillance Annually for each staff member exposed

Training All staff (100%) who handle or store chemicals

Risk Assessments Reviewed annually; detailed risk assessments placed on TRIM files

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What is a.../ Hazardous Substance?/ A material (or a mixture of materials) which have

the potential to cause harm to the health or safety of individuals in the workplace.

/ Dangerous Good?/ A material (or a mixture of materials) that pose an

immediate threat to life, health, safety, property or the environment.

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3. Chemical Registers and Manifests

/ A register of all hazardous substances, dangerous goods and poisons used in the workplace

/ Recorded using the spreadsheet Chemical Register Form

/ Refer to the Chemical Stocktake procedure to conduct a stocktake of chemicals

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4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

/ Source of information on chemicals

/ Manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances are required to provide MSDSs

/ MSDSs must not be more than 5 years old & in the internationally standardised 16 Header format.

/ Chemwatch - online database of MSDSs

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4. MSDSs (cont.) - Header contents/ Section 1: Chemical Product and Company Identification/ Section 2: Hazards Identification/ Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients/ Section 4: First Aid Measures/ Section 5: Fire Fighting Measures/ Section 6: Accidental Release Measures/ Section 7: Handling and Storage/ Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection/ Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties/ Section 10: Chemical Stability and Reactivity Information/ Section 11: Toxicological Information/ Section 12: Ecological Information/ Section 13: Disposal Considerations/ Section 14: Transportation Information/ Section 15: Regulatory Information/ Section 16: Other Information

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5. Labelling

/ Labels give basic information that;/ Alerts you to the dangers and precautions, and/ Gives details about the supplier so you can get further advice.

/ Always check the label on all the chemicals & hazardous substances you use.

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5. Labelling (cont.)

/ What should you do if you find a container which does not have a label?/ Do not open it, and/ Immediately advise your supervisor.

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6. Placarding

/ Information on the storage of hazardous substances/ dangerous goods can be found on the MSDS or label

/ All staff should know appropriate storage procedures and where appropriate storage areas are located

/ Stores and containers holding hazardous substances/ dangerous goods should be clearly marked with appropriate signs/placards and labels

/ Generally different DG classes should be stored in separate areas

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6. Placarding (cont.)

/ There must be no smoking, eating or drinking in storage areas

/ To avoid spills and evaporation, lids should be kept on containers whenever possible

/ Never store hazardous substances in drink bottles or food containers - someone may think it is safe to drink!

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7. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

/ What is a hazard?/ Something which may cause harm

/ How do we measure the risk?/ Likelihood/ Consequence

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7. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

/ Hierarchy of Hazard Controls/ Elimination/ Substitution/ Isolation/ Engineering/ Administrative/ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)/ The hazard control measures are used in combination

with each other.

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8. Monitoring

/ Atmospheric Monitoring/ Can be used as part of the risk assessment process/ Results compared to national Exposure Standards/ Schedule of monitoring (by risk) developed by the

Occupational Hygienist in consultation with Colleges

/ Health Surveillance/ Annually for each staff member exposed (if there is a risk

to the health to staff as a result of that exposure)

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9. Prohibited Substances

/ There are a number of hazardous substances whose use is prohibited as per the OHS Regulation 2001, Clause 164

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10. Carcinogenic Substances

/ Prohibited carcinogenic substance/ Use for the purpose of research or analysis/ WorkCover notified of the intention to use

/ Notifiable carcinogenic substance/ WorkCover notified of the intention to use

/ In both cases, substances to be used in accordance with WorkCover publication & cc: OH&S Services of notification

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11. Banned Chemicals in DEC Schools

/ Similar curriculum courses conducted in SI (e.g. TVET) must adhere to the banned chemicals list

/ Other courses may use these chemicals if an appropriate substitute is NOT practical, however a detailed risk assessment must be completed

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12. Purchasing

/ Consider the following:/ Purchase only what is required (waste disposal can be considerable - it is not ‘free’)

/ Share bulk purchases with other departments/ Liaise with other departments for ‘one off use’ chemicals

/ Employ a stock rotation system

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13. Chemical Waste Disposal

/ Refer to the Chemical Waste Disposal procedure for the requirements on the safe disposal of chemical waste, cleaning procedures and emergency procedures

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14. Record Keeping

/ The OHS legislation requires that various records to be kept, including:/ Risk Assessments/ Training Records & Induction Training/ Chemical Register and MSDSs/ Air Monitoring and Health Surveillance

/ Records to be kept on TRIM files

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Training

/ Schedule of training - as per faculty

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Further information

/ Refer to References and Related Information within the Chemical Safety Program

/ Associated Forms and Documents:/ Chemical Stocktake procedure/ Chemical Register Form/ MSDS Assessment Checklist/ OHS Risk Assessment and Control - Chemical Exposure/ <Health Surveillance> procedure/ Chemical Waste Disposal procedure/ Chemical Waste Disposal Register