checklist chemical safety assessment tool - worksafe · pdf filedepend on the size and...

WSV1002/05/06.17
Checklist
June 2017
Background
Unsafe use, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals can affect peoples health and safety and damage property and the environment.
The chemicals that can harm health are known as hazardous substances while those that can have immediate effects (eg poisoning and fire) are dangerous goods (DG). Hazardous substances are regulated by the Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) while DG are regulated by Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2012 (DG S&H Regulations). Many chemicals are both hazardous substances and DG and the term hazardous chemicals in this document refers to both.
Victorian laws relating to the use, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals require the duty holder to take measures to prevent injuries or exposure. This involves a systematic approach to managing chemical safety.
About this tool
This assessment tool is aimed at sites using or storing significant quantities of chemicals. It will help duty holders who operate these sites to develop an action plan to improve chemical safety.
Workplace environments change so it is recommended that employers use this tool regularly. How regularly will depend on the size and complexity of your organisation.
How to use this tool
This tool has three main sections:
Section 1 Hazard identification and risk assessmentThis section provides general guidance to duty holders on:
a register listing chemicals on site and the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the manufacturer, importer or supplier of the product/s
consulting with and providing training and instruction to workers, contractors and health and safety representatives (HSRs) undertaking hazard identification and risk assessments.
Section 2 Risk controlsThis section is about actions to control risks related to the use, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals to protect workers and members of the public.
Section 3 Emergency planningThe final section relates to the sites preparedness for incidents and emergencies. The quantity of products stored and handled at the site will determine the placarding, manifest, emergency planning and fire protection requirements.
Before developing and implementing an action plan, employers need to consult with workers and their HSR (see overleaf).
Chemical safety assessment toolThis assessment tool provides general guidance to duty holders on developing an action plan to manage chemical safety.

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Chemical safety assessment tool
CONSULTATION
Question Y/N More information Action
1. Have workers been consulted about chemical risk management?
Consultation with workers, any HSR, and other affected parties such as contractors, needs to cover the entire chemical safety system. This involves induction, training, providing information, hazard identification, risk assessment, selection and implementation of risk controls, ensuring controls are working and assessing if any proposed changes to plant, processes or systems of work are likely to increase risk.
Duty holders need to assign responsibility and establish an agreed consultation process which could be informal or formal depending on the type and size of the workplace.
For more information, refer to Consultation on health and safety. A handbook for workplaces
2. Is there evidence that consultation has occurred?
Evidence could include minutes of meetings.
Other evidence could be records of OHS committees, toolbox talks, safety meetings and information displayed on notice boards and provided during training.
SECTION 1 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT
1.1 INFORMATION SOURCES
1. Is a register kept and maintained for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace and is it accessible to workers?
A register is a list of product names of all hazardous chemicals in the workplace and a copy of the current SDS. It is not the same as the DG manifest (see section 3.2).
Arrangements are needed to ensure a current copy of the manufacturers/importers SDS is obtained on or before the first time a chemical is supplied to the site.
The SDS must be checked at least every five years to ensure it is current. Suppliers, on request, must provide a copy of the manufacturers/importers SDS that is up-to-date and no more than five years old.
Responsibility should be allocated to a person/s for preparing and maintaining the register.
See Appendix 1 for an example of a tool to help manage a register.
Checklist Chemical safety assessment tool

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1.1 INFORMATION SOURCES
2. Are chemicals labelled with the manufacturers/ importing suppliers label?
Employers must ensure hazardous substance containers are labelled. Labels contain important directions on use and storage as well as safety information.1
3. Is there a procedure to make sure new chemicals are added to the register and old ones no longer used removed?
All people who organise the purchase of chemicals need to know and follow this procedure.
SECTION 1.2 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
1. Has hazard identification been performed for products listed in the site register?
For more detail on hazard identification and prioritisation, refer to the Compliance Code for Hazardous Substances, A step by step guide for managing chemicals in the workplace and the Code of Practice for Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods.
2. Did hazard identification cover physical properties as well as the processes, systems of work, physical areas and type of incidents associated with the use, storage and handling of the hazardous chemicals at the site?
Information is available from the SDS and industry/product knowledge.
Examples of industry/product knowledge include chemical reactivity and exposure standards, worker experience and incidents for similar materials or processes at other sites.
Hazardous chemicals may also be produced or generated from non- hazardous materials and may include welding fumes, wood dust, silica from grinding or cutting some materials as well as lead from the sanding of lead-based paints.
Revise hazard identification to include the above information.

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SECTION 1.3 RISK ASSESSMENT
1. Have risk assessments been conducted for the hazardous chemicals used and stored?
For guidance on risk assessments, refer to the Compliance Code for Hazardous Substances and Code of Practice for Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods.
2. Does the risk assessment cover chemical and physical properties, processes, systems of work, and any incidents associated with the hazardous chemicals at the site.
When doing a risk assessment also consider:
first aid requirements
requirements for exposure monitoring (both air and biological/health surveillance)
identification of ignition sources in any hazardous zones
bunding, other spill containment requirements,
hazardous zones and clean up materials.
Revise the risk assessment to include the above information.
Information is available from SDS and industry product knowledge. See Appendix 2 for a risk assessment example.
3. Are risk assessments recorded/reviewed/ revised?
Set up a system to meet these needs.
SECTION 2 RISK CONTROL
1. Have risk control measures been implemented according to the hierarchy of controls?
The hierarchy of controls set out in the OHS Regulations is a list of best to worst solution types that need to be applied as required. They are: elimination; substitution; isolation; engineering controls; administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE).
In addition to the hierarchy of controls there are also specific control measures set out in DG laws eg spill containment, fire fighting facilities, placarding.
For guidance on hazardous substances risk control, refer to the Compliance Code for Hazardous Substances.
For guidance on DG risk control measures, refer to the Code of Practice for Storage and Handling of Dangerous Goods.

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SECTION 2 RISK CONTROL
2. If any product or process changes have been made, have the specified control measures also been reviewed/revised to ensure that risks continue to be eliminated or reduced, so far as is reasonably practicable?
Review and maintain controls to ensure they remain effective.
4. Is there a heavy reliance on PPE or administrative controls?
PPE and administrative controls require greater supervision, maintenance and training etc than other control measures. If there is a heavy reliance on these types of controls, check to ensure the measures are working and effective. Also consider if the hierarchy of controls has been implemented properly.
For guidance on administrative controls, refer to A step by step guide for managing chemicals in the workplace (Appendix 4, PPE and administrative controls).
Supplementary questions for larger sites1
1. Is there an up-to-date, comprehensive list of safety-critical controls eg high level alarms and shut-off valves?
Controls should be listed in order of importance.
2. Is this list reviewed regularly?
Consider how often the list should be reviewed.
3. Is there a safe operating procedure to cover all reasonably foreseeabl

checklist chemical safety assessment tool - worksafe · pdf filedepend on the size and...

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