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  1. #1

    What to include in Chemicals Register?

    This question came up on the HR Buzz forum but to my mind was not answered definitively. A link to the Worksafe Victoria guide for managing chemicals in the workplace was provided, but this document seems to relate only to hazardous chemicals.

    I'll ask it here in the hope that an OHS professional may be able to provide a definitive answer.

    Do everday domestic products that do not contain chemicals classed as hazardous need to be included chemicals register - for example dishwashing liquid, sun screen or Spray and Wipe ?

  2. #2
    In practice you really have to get the MSDS for every substance in order to find out if it is classified as hazardous or not and the only way to prove and record the fact that you have done that is to include it on the register.Most chemical registers include columns to record if a substance is " Hazardous" , "Dangerous Goods" , or both, or neither. That way you know you have chekced every substance. You would be surprised how many household substances turn out to be Hazardous including cleaning agents.

  3. #3
    Hi All.
    I am in the middle of a 4801 & 14001 surveillance audit this week, and the Auditor has been impressed with a Hazardous Materials SWMS we are using.

    In addition to procuring the MSDS, and maintaining the MSDS register ( as coverered by Linda above), we expect our sites to complete this SWMS for every Haz Sub in use by our people.
    In essence it is a risk assesment, and the format & questions make the guys actually read the MSDS, to get the info for the SWMS.

    Then the workers are toolboxed into it, the first time they use the product, and can be re-toolboxed when the need arises.

    Hope that helps,

    Cheers
    Simon

  4. #4
    Linda and Simon,

    Thanks for your feedback on this.

    Do you include warnings on your chemical register for substances that are not officially hazardous?

    For example, according to the MSDS for Spray and Wipe it is not hazardous, but you wouldn't want to get it into your eyes and if you do, the manufacturers recommend flushing the open eye with water for several minutes. BTW I'm not purposely picking on Spray and Wipe, but we have it in our kicthen at work which is why it comes to mind. I was wondering whether it needed to be on the chemical register but I will include it just in case!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1
    Hi,

    We have a chemical register within Q Health, we have any chemical that is used by staff on this register. The reason is to balance the risk due to people with breathing issues and skin allergies.
    This enables us to access our data base and print off MSDS sheets if their is an issue.

    Hope this helps.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    4
    By law a chemical register must contain every single product that you use within your work area. This enables you to identify not only what is hazardous and non hazardous but also provides you with First Aid guidelines on what treatment to give should anyone be exposed to a chemical / product that could potentially cause harm. This ensures that you are abiding by your duty of care to provide a safe work environment. As a lead auditor this is something that i would definately look at if I were to audit your workplace.

    Hope this helps, Cheers Glenys.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    7
    Thanks Moz for reposting the question. It was my original question from HR Buzz.

    Quote Originally Posted by Glenys Brady View Post
    By law a chemical register must contain every single product that you use within your work area.
    .
    Is there anywhere that actually states this, as I know one of my State Mgrs will want to know where I got the information from.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Posts
    4
    The only thing it states in the OSH Regulations is below. This means you still need to assess every chemical / product that you use and it is a requirement to have MSDS for all the hazardous ones that you use. But it you look at it from a holistic perspective all chemical products are harmful so you still need to provide First Aid treatment for any kind of chemical used and this is found on the MSDS sheets. At the end of the day you are better off going above best practice so you cannot be held liable for not providing correct information. This is what I would do but its up to you.

    OSH Regulations
    Part 3 — Workplace safety requirements
    Division 1 — General duties applying to workplaces
    3.1. Identification of hazards, and assessing and addressing risks, at workplaces
    A person who, at a workplace, is an employer, the main contractor, a self employed person, a person having control of the workplace or a person having control of access to the workplace must, as far as practicable —
    (a) identify each hazard to which a person at the workplace is likely to be exposed; and
    (b) assess the risk of injury or harm to a person resulting from each hazard, if any, identified under paragraph (a); and
    (c) consider the means by which the risk may be reduced.
    Once again I hope this clarifes things.
    Cheers Glenys.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by belindac View Post
    Thanks Moz for reposting the question. It was my original question from HR Buzz.
    No worries

    Thanks Glenys for your input on this. When I first heard that we were perhaps supposed to list every chemical used in the workplace on the chemical register I thought it was ridiculous. However, the more we discuss it the more it makes sense to do that. If you have to get the MSDS anyway to check whether a product is dangerous or hazardous you may as well just add it to the register just in case anyone does do something stupid with it.

    As a consequence of this thread I looked up another chemical that's in the kicthen cupboard at work, Drano - check out the MSDS!

  10. #10
    The requirement for an SDS (this is the new term for MSDS) depends on the State you operate. As some States are yet to adopt the Model Work Safety and Health Act you may be required to have a data sheet for all hazardous substances. Under the Model Act and Regulations, "consumer products", a defined term, do not have to have a SDS. The definition specifically states that a SDS is not required for an office if the packaging,us and quantities are the same as for a household consumer. This is the compliance stance. As Moz indicated, look at the SDS and if your assessment is that it is good practice to have a SDS then you exceed your legal obligation and go some way to satisfy your obligation to manage risks to health and safety.

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