Hazardous Substances And Dangerous Goods
The Australian Safety & Compensation Council (ASCC) has declared National Standards and Codes of Practice, along with guidance material, for hazardous substances and dangerous goods. These documents form the basis of a nationally consistent regulatory approach for the control of workplace dangerous goods and hazardous substances.
What are hazardous substances?
Hazardous substances are those that, following worker exposure, can have an adverse effect on health. Examples of hazardous substances include poisons, substances that cause burns or skin and eye irritation, and substances that may cause cancer.
Many hazardous substances are also classed as dangerous goods.
A substance is deemed to be a hazardous substance if it meets the classification criteria specified in the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(2004)] 3rd Edition (Approved Criteria) (PDF 2.11MB)
To assist in classification, the ASCC provides the Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS), which is an online database containing classification information for hazardous substances that have been classified in accordance with the Approved Criteria. However, the HSIS database is not comprehensive source of classification information for workplace substances. If a substance is not included on the HSIS database, this does not necessarily mean that the substance is not hazardous.
View the Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS)
The national standards, codes of practice and guidance material on the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances in the workplace are often referred to as the Hazardous substances Regulatory Package.
View the Hazardous substances Regulatory Package
What are dangerous goods?
Dangerous goods are substances or articles that, because of their physical, chemical (physicochemical) or acute toxicity properties, present an immediate hazard to people, property or the environment. Types of substances classified as dangerous goods include explosives, flammable liquids and gases, corrosives, chemically reactive or acutely (highly) toxic substances.
The criteria used to determine whether substances are classified as dangerous goods are contained in the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code), which itself is aligned closely with the criteria of the United Nations’ Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - Model Regulations, and the Australian Standard AS1940 (The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids). The ADG Code contains a list of substances classified as dangerous goods.
View the ASCC’s national documents on the storage and handling of workplace dangerous goods.
Many dangerous goods are also classed as hazardous substances.
Proposed Revisions to the Control of Workplace Chemicals Regulatory Framework
The current regulatory framework for the control of workplace hazardous substances and dangerous goods is being reviewed. The new framework will utilise the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as the basis for hazard classification and hazard communication elements on labels and material safety data sheets (MSDS).
Find out more about the proposed revisions to the regulatory framework for workplace chemicals
Find out more about the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
Page last updated: 23/04/2008