Chemical Safety Program: Meeting Performance Standards

1. Ambition in Action

2. Hot Topics Conversation Chemical Safety 25 May 2011

3. Chemical Safety Program

4. 1. Chemical Safety Responsibilities • General responsibilities as per OH&S Responsibilities - Policy document • Directors, Managers, Head Teachers & Supervisors responsible for compliance & meeting minimum performance standards • Head Teachers/Supervisors responsible for Chemical Safety induction & ongoing training

5. 2. Performance Standards

6. What is a... • Hazardous Substance? • A material (or a mixture of materials) which have the potential to cause harm to the health or safety of individuals in the workplace. • Dangerous Good? • A material (or a mixture of materials) that pose an immediate threat to life, health, safety, property or the environment.

7. 3. Chemical Registers and Manifests • A register of all hazardous substances, dangerous goods and poisons used in the workplace • Recorded using the spreadsheet Chemical Register Form • Refer to the Chemical Stocktake procedure to conduct a stocktake of chemicals

8. 4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) • Source of information on chemicals • Manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances are required to provide MSDSs • MSDSs must not be more than 5 years old & in the internationally standardised 16 Header format. • Chemwatch - online database of MSDSs

9. 4. MSDSs (cont.) - Header contents • Section 1: Chemical Product and Company Identification • Section 2: Hazards Identification • Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients • Section 4: First Aid Measures • Section 5: Fire Fighting Measures • Section 6: Accidental Release Measures • Section 7: Handling and Storage • Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection • Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties • Section 10: Chemical Stability and Reactivity Information • Section 11: Toxicological Information • Section 12: Ecological Information • Section 13: Disposal Considerations • Section 14: Transportation Information • Section 15: Regulatory Information • Section 16: Other Information

10. 5. Labelling • Labels give basic information that; • Alerts you to the dangers and precautions, and • Gives details about the supplier so you can get further advice. • Always check the label on all the chemicals & hazardous substances you use.

11. 5. Labelling (cont.) • What should you do if you find a container which does not have a label? • Do not open it, and • Immediately advise your supervisor.

12. 6. Placarding • Information on the storage of hazardous substances/ dangerous goods can be found on the MSDS or label • All staff should know appropriate storage procedures and where appropriate storage areas are located • Stores and containers holding hazardous substances/ dangerous goods should be clearly marked with appropriate signs/placards and labels • Generally different DG classes should be stored in separate areas

13. 6. Placarding (cont.) • There must be no smoking, eating or drinking in storage areas • To avoid spills and evaporation, lids should be kept on containers whenever possible • Never store hazardous substances in drink bottles or food containers - someone may think it is safe to drink!

14. 7. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment • What is a hazard? • Something which may cause harm • How do we measure the risk? • Likelihood • Consequence

15. 7. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment • Hierarchy of Hazard Controls • Elimination • Substitution • Isolation • Engineering • Administrative • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • The hazard control measures are used in combination with each other.

16. 8. Monitoring • Atmospheric Monitoring • Can be used as part of the risk assessment process • Results compared to national Exposure Standards • Schedule of monitoring (by risk) developed by the Occupational Hygienist in consultation with Colleges • Health Surveillance • Annually for each staff member exposed (if there is a risk to the health to staff as a result of that exposure)

17. 9. Prohibited Substances • There are a number of hazardous substances whose use is prohibited as per the OHS Regulation 2001, Clause 164

18. 10. Carcinogenic Substances • Prohibited carcinogenic substance • Use for the purpose of research or analysis • WorkCover notified of the intention to use • Notifiable carcinogenic substance • WorkCover notified of the intention to use • In both cases, substances to be used in accordance with WorkCover publication & cc: OH&S Services of notification

19. 11. Banned Chemicals in DEC Schools • Similar curriculum courses conducted in SI (e.g. TVET) must adhere to the banned chemicals list • Other courses may use these chemicals if an appropriate substitute is NOT practical, however a detailed risk assessment must be completed

20. 12. Purchasing • Consider the following: • Purchase only what is required (waste disposal can be considerable - it is not ‘free’) • Share bulk purchases with other departments • Liaise with other departments for ‘one off use’ chemicals • Employ a stock rotation system

21. 13. Chemical Waste Disposal • Refer to the Chemical Waste Disposal procedure for the requirements on the safe disposal of chemical waste, cleaning procedures and emergency procedures

22. 14. Record Keeping • The OHS legislation requires that various records to be kept, including: • Risk Assessments • Training Records & Induction Training • Chemical Register and MSDSs • Air Monitoring and Health Surveillance • Records to be kept on TRIM files

23. Training • Schedule of training - as per faculty

24. Further information • Refer to References and Related Information within the Chemical Safety Program • Associated Forms and Documents: • Chemical Stocktake procedure • Chemical Register Form • MSDS Assessment Checklist • OHS Risk Assessment and Control - Chemical Exposure • <Health Surveillance> procedure • Chemical Waste Disposal procedure • Chemical Waste Disposal Register