Hazardous chemicals at the workplace

WorkSafe ACT was recently notified of a worker who had chemical burns to both hands after using a hazardous chemical. The worker was not provided with appropriate control measures to do his job safely.

Exposure to hazardous chemicals can cause injury and illnesses. Chemicals can cause respiratory problems and cancer from inhalation, poisoning from ingestion and burns from skin contact. Significant exposure to some hazardous chemicals can result in permanent disability or death.

It is the responsibility of persons conducting business and undertakings (PCBUs) under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to manage all risks to work health and safety posed by hazardous chemicals at the workplace.

Managing the risks of hazardous chemicals 

Hazardous chemicals can be found at nearly all workplaces. They can be in the form of cleaning products, as ingredients or components in manufacturing or as a consequence of a process. They can be found at the workplace as gases, fumes, mists, dusts, solids and liquids.

Because of the vast range of hazardous chemicals and the forms they are found and, and their uses at the workplace, obtaining and using the chemical’s safety data sheet (SDS) is a critical part of risk management. The SDS contains important information about the chemical, including:

  • the type of hazard the chemical poses
  • control measures for safe use, storage and disposal, including personal protective equipment
  • what the health effects are if a worker is exposed, and
  • what to do in the event of emergency and spills.

As the PCBU, you must have a chemical register for your workplace that contains an inventory of all the chemicals at your workplace and their most recent SDS. You must do all that you can to obtain SDSs for all of your chemicals.

More information

For more information on managing hazardous chemicals at your workplace, see our hazardous chemicals webpage and the Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace.

If there is an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical at your workplace, or if a worker is admitted to hospital after an exposure to a chemical, you must notify WorkSafe ACT. PCBUs can call WorkSafe ACT on 13 22 81, after hours on 0419 120 028 or email at worksafe@worksafe.act.gov.au to notify an incident. Notification can also be made using the online form available on the WorkSafe ACT website.

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