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NOHSC declares amendments to the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances

[NOHSC:1008(1999)]

The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) has declared amendments to the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(1999)]. Notification of the amendments appeared in the Commonwealth Chemical Gazette of 7 December 2004 and the Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette of 8 December 2004.

The Approved Criteria are used to classify chemicals used in the workplace, based on the hazards they pose to health. The classification is used to develop labels and material safety data sheets for chemicals to provide employers and workers with information to enable them to handle the chemicals safely.

The Approved Criteria align with the criteria used by the European Community (EC) and are updated periodically to incorporate changes made to the EC classification criteria.

The List of Designated Hazardous Substances (the List), which provides information about chemicals that have been classified, is being updated to bring it in line with the changes to the Approved Criteria. The revised List is available online in a new database, the Hazardous Substances Information System. A test version of the database, which includes exposure standards, is available at – Hazardous Substance Information System (HSIS) D636.

Background

In April 2003 NOHSC agreed to declare the 3^rd edition of the Approved Criteria – the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(2003)]. NOHSC agreed that the declaration would have a date of effect of 31 December 2004 to allow a transitional period for implementation. Following representations from the public, some editorial revisions were made to the 2003 version of the 3^rd edition of the Approved Criteria. In October 2004, NOHSC agreed to declare a revised 3^rd edition of the Approved Criteria - the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(2004)], with a date of effect of 31 December 2004.

The revised 3^rd edition of the Approved criteria is available on the ASCC website at:
Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances.

31 December 2004