The handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances and dangerous goods are required to be identified, assessed and controlled to ensure workplace health and safety SWE can carry out workplace and construction site audits for both.
Hazardous Substances are materials that have the potential to harm employees during handling, storage or disposal of them at a place of work. Any type of chemical or other substance that can be classified as a Hazardous Substance has the potential to cause harm to persons exposed to these by either causing acute health effects or long term chronic illness. Worst case scenario acute exposure to a hazardous substance may cause a fatality or severe injury. Employees may become exposed to hazardous substances through inhalation of a gas, vapour, mist, aerosol, dust or fume caused by use of the substance. (insert link to gas, vapour, dust and fume), ingestion (eating, drinking) of substance, eyes, throat or skin exposure.
MANAGING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN THE WORKPLACE
If a substance is deemed to be a hazardous substance according to the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008(2004)] 3rd Edition, the below main steps should be followed as a minimum to ensure employee health and safety is protected:
Keep a register or manifest of all known hazardous materials used on site
Obtain a current MSDS for each of the substances and keep on site
Review MSDS and carry out risk assessment of handling, storage and disposal activities
Develop procedure for the correct handling and storage of substances
Ensure that sufficient consultation and training of employees are provided
Provide all required safety and environmental controls as per MSDS
Provide health surveillance if required
Provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment if still required
Provide emergency controls for accidental exposure and spills
Ensure correct storage and labelling of substances and storage points
Review and monitor the above steps
Value adding:
Carry out sampling (link to gas, vapour, dust, fume) and assessment to confirm that the above controls are working to purpose.
The NSW Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances(link) provides guideline for the management and control of hazardous substance in the workplace.
DANGEROUS GOODS
Dangerous Goods are chemicals or substances that have the potential to cause acute, immediate damage to life, health, property or natural environments. Some dangerous goods can react and burn violently, explode and/or emit toxic fumes and gasses if mixed together, spilt or involved in fire.
There are 9 Major Classes of Dangerous Goods:
Class 1 - Explosives
Class 2 - Flammable Gases
Class 3 - Flammable Liquids
Class 4 - Flammable Solids
Class 5 - Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
Class 6 - Toxic and Infectious Substances
Class 7 - Radioactive Substances
Class 8 - Corrosive Substance
Class 9 - Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
SWE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND DANGEROUS GOODS SERVICES
SWE can provide the following services:
Hazardous Substances Site Survey and Risk Assessments
Dangerous Goods Audits
Review of procedures, handling, storage and MSDSs
Development of Procedures, Management Plans and Systems
Review and assessment of local exhaust ventilation and HVAC system
Monitoring and sampling for Gases, Vapours, Mists, Fumes and Dust
