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What is a (Material) Safety Data Sheet?
Safety Data Sheets, also known as SDS, are standard reference documents for chemical information and they provide working people and emergency service personnel essential information about:
- Basic physical and chemical properties of the chemical
- Correct safety procedures when storing, handling, transporting and disposing of the product
- Health hazards and impacts on the environment
- What to do in accidents and emergencies
The information provided in SDS form the basis for managing many compliance requirements regarding the storage, handling, transport and disposal of the product, as well as managing risks that chemical products impose.
What are the Globally Harmonised System and the Nationally Harmonised Workplace Health and Safety Legislations?
The GHS (Globally Harmonised System) is a global system for the classification of chemicals that is recently adopted by Australia and it concerns the classification of chemicals, labels and safety data sheets. Manufacturers and importers of chemicals can begin using the GHS for classification, labelling and preparing safety data sheets, however the GHS is not mandatory until 1 January 2017.
The Nationally Harmonised Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Legislations is a national effort to unify Australia's legislative framework. All Australian jurisdictions have committed to adopting the model work health and safety legislation, with many states already in implementation as of 1 January 2012. WHS legislation adopt the 3rd revised Edition of the GHS.
More information regarding the GHS and Model WHS legislation can be found on Safe Work Australia's website at http://safeworkaustralia.gov.au
How do safety data sheets prepared in accordance to the GHS differ from those prepared before the GHS was implemented?
In the GHS, chemicals are classified under a different set of hazard classifications and replaces classifications Australia has previously used for classifying hazardous substances. However, the GHS format of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) is similar to what Australia has previously adopted. Both types of SDS are accepted in Australia until 1 January 2017 and relevant legislation still require you to refer to safety data sheets for your chemical management procedures.
Who is required to classify a chemical as according to the GHS?
Under the model WHS Regulations, manufacturers and importer of hazardous chemicals have a duty to correctly classify a chemical before the chemical is supplied to a workplace.
Can Material Safety Data Sheets not conforming to the GHS be used for my chemical management procedures?
The GHS is not mandatory until 1 January 2017, therefore safety data sheets that comply with the GHS or the existing classifications can be used during this 5-year transition period.
Do the GHS and Nationally Harmonised WHS Legislations affect my manifests and placards?
A key change of the WHS Regulations is the use of hazard classes and categories under the GHS, instead of classes and categories according to the ADG (Australian Dangerous Goods) Code. As it is not mandatory for Safety Data Sheets to be prepared according to the GHS until 1 January 2017, it is likely that you would have a mix of safety data sheets, some of which are prepared as according to the GHS. Safe Work Australia has set out translations that show the link between GHS classes and categories and equivalent classes of dangerous goods under the ADG Code.
Employers, employees, end users and emergency services personnel who are exposed to or could be potentially exposed to these products.
How can an SDS for a particular substance be obtained?
SDS are available from manufacturers and suppliers as hard-copy or soft-copy documents. Suppliers must provide a Safety Data Sheet when first supplying a hazardous substance and subsequently on request. SDS are regularly updated to reflect, for example, legislative and classification changes and it is important to ensure these documents are up-to-date.
What are an employer's* duties in relation to SDS?
By law, an employer has to obtain an SDS for a hazardous substance when it is first supplied to the workplace and make sure it is accessible to employees who are potentially exposed to the hazardous substance. Because SDS expire every five years and they are frequently revised, it is common for employers and chemical users to outsource third-party systems to maintain up-to-date SDS for their range of chemicals.
*Note that most of the requirements imposed on employers under occupational health and safety (OH&S) regulations also apply to persons who are self-employed. In such a case the term 'employer' includes self-employed persons.
Is an online SDS considered to be sufficiently accessible?
Online SDS are considered ‘accessible’ if employees have ready-access to these stored documents, however it is strongly recommended that printed hard copies are made available and kept where they can be found quickly in the event of an accident or emergency. It is recommended that a folder is kept clearly marked and with Safety Data Sheets stored alphabetically by trade name. High visibility SDS folders are available from Store Manifest.
Do SDS show information for non-active constituents in the formulation?
Agricultural and veterinary chemicals are sold in a variety of formulations, typically to suit their physical state and use patterns. Safety Data Sheets need to show information about other constituents of the chemical if they are present in hazardous amounts, not just the active constituent.
Can I get generic SDS for the products I store?
No. An SDS provides essential information that applies to its product and these information can be very different between similar products from different manufacturers. Employers should provide original and unaltered SDS from the manufacturer or supplier of the products that they use and store in the workplace.
SDS in Australia must be reviewed and if necessary revised at least every five years. SDS are normally revised more frequently to reflect, for example, legislative and classification changes.
What is the format of an SDS?
The number of pages in an SDS may vary and depends on the amount of information that exists for each particular substance. In Australia SDS should follow either the format outlined by the GHS (Globally Harmonised System) or the National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets, 2nd Edition (NOHSC2011-2003), which stipulate a 16-section format:
Section 1 - Identification of the material and supplier
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 - Stability and reactivity
Section 11 - Toxicological information
Section 12 - Ecological information
Section 13 - Disposal considerations
Section 14 - Transport information
Section 15 - Regulatory information
Section 16 - Other information
How do I know if my chemicals are hazardous substances or dangerous goods?
Refer to Section 2, 14 and 15 of the SDS, which shows the chemical’s hazardous and dangerous goods classifications.
What do I have to do if I keep and use agricultural or veterinary chemicals which are hazardous substances?
Relevant legislation require a hazardous substances register and dangerous goods register to be maintained as well as a documented hazard identification and risk management processes. The primary objective of maintaining these records is to ensure the health & safety and wellbeing of employees, the workplace and the environment. You will need systems to control and manage risks, based on a principle known as the control hierarchy, together with ongoing training, monitoring, review and documentation.Store Manifest facilitates compliance with these requirements.
Safe Work Australia is the government agency that sets the requirements for safety data sheets. More information can be found on the Safe Work Australia website:
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Legal requirements relating to chemicals aim to protect people, property and the environment both on and off the premises and can be summarised as follows:
- Duty of care under common law which means that activities must be carried out in a safe manner so as not to cause harm or injury to the user, other people, animals or the environment. A breach of a duty of care may amount to negligence.
- Transport of Dangerous Goods: The Model Subordinate Law for the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous by Road and Rail (ADG Code) covers the classification, marking and transport of dangerous goods and is picked up by State and Territory Transport of Dangerous Goods legislation.
- Safe Work Australia standards and codes of practiceNational standards and codes of practice for the safe storage and handling of hazardous substances and dangerous goods are used as model legislation by the States and Territories and are useful guidance material. The National Code of Practice for the preparation of SDS provides guidance for suppliers of hazardous substances.
- Australian Standards may be picked up or referenced in legislation to mandate or recommend prescribed requirements to meet legislated outcomes. Examples include:
- AS2507: The Storage and Handling of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals
- AS1940: The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids
- AS4452: The Storage and Handling of Toxic Substances.
- Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) legislation: all Australian jurisdictions have committed to adopting the new model work health and safety legislation. The work health and safety laws in each State and Territory contain the same basic requirements although they may vary in detail. These requirements include:
- obtaining SDS for hazardous substances,
- maintaining a product register of stored chemicals
- identifying hazards and assessing risks,
- having controls in place to eliminate, or if not possible, to minimise or manage risks,
- periodically reviewing hazards and risks.
WHS legislation also has requirements for matters such as employer/employee consultation, first aid and amenities.
- Environmental legislation which aims to prevent pollution of the soil, water and air. In all States and Territories laws cover environmental harm or pollution whereby materially or significantly harmful pollution may result in prosecution. There are variations in the extent to which waste is regulated. In Victoria there is clear prohibition of the disposal of waste on premises. The classification of agricultural and veterinary chemicals as waste in New South Wales (hazardous waste), Queensland (regulated waste) and South Australia (listed waste) mandates the removal of obsolete chemicals in an approved manner.
- Health legislation which regulates the supply and storage of schedule poisons. Signal headings on the label are determined by the Poisons Schedule and have specific requirements. For example Schedule 7 poisons, (signal heading DANGEROUS POISON) must be kept away from public access and records need to be kept by the reseller on the person to whom the S7 has been sold. Schedule 6 poisons (signal heading POISON, on the label), have prescribed storage requirements to be kept out of reach of children, typically 1.2m above floor level.
- Transport of dangerous goods legislation applies to the transport of dangerous goods and picks up the requirements of the ADG Code. There are exemptions which may apply to the transport of dangerous goods from the reseller to the premises.
A key feature of a cost-effective operation is to have comprehensive and actively working OH&S systems in place. Costly incidents are avoided by having such things as employer/employee consultation, incident reporting processes and OH&S risk management processes.
Users who do not comply with OH&S and WHS (Work Health and Safety) legislation may be served warning notices and in the case of subsequent offences may be penalised. The penalties for breaching these legislation can include monetary fines and imprisonment for individuals in cases where a serious breach has been determined.
Use your Store Manifest subscription to:
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Identify your chemical hazard classification criteria
Identify, list and quantify your Hazardous Substances, Dangerous Goods, Minor Storage and Schedule Poisons so that you can manage their respective risks and control processes.
Support your workplace information and training obligations
Supply of information, induction and ongoing training is mandatory under Work Health and Safety legislation if you are an employer. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) should be used as an integral component of any workplace training system. Store Manifest contains a large number of SDS for a wide range of products.
Work out your hazardous substances obligations
Many chemicals are classified as hazardous substances, in which case people who are exposed to them through use, storage or handling have specific legislated duties, both as employers and employees. Employers must ensure that an SDS for each hazardous substance in the workplace is available to their employees, that the SDS is up to date* and that it is readily accessible to emergency personnel.
*Note – manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals have an obligation to ensure that SDS are reviewed, revised and kept up to date. This should be done at intervals that do not exceed five years.
Identify and quantify hazardous products – storage and handling
Regulations for storing and handling of hazardous chemicals as according to the new WHS (Work Health and Safety) Regulations depend both on the quantities involved and whether or not a single class or mixed classes of hazardous chemicals are kept.
Determine if your hazardous products exceed 'Minor Storage' quantities?
If your storage exceeds 'Minor Storage' quantities it will have significant implications to the construction requirements for your storage area.
Identify and quantify Dangerous Goods – transport
There are exemptions for transporting small quantities of dangerous goods. Use Store Manifest to ensure your purchases stay within these limits to avoid the need for licensing and placarding and possible increased vehicle insurance. Alternatively use Store Manifest to create placards for the transport of dangerous goods.
Use Schedule Poisons headings and quantities to enhance your hazard identification and risk assessment process
Signal headings on the label have specific requirements. For example Schedule 6 poisons (signal heading POISON, on the label), have prescribed storage requirements to be kept out of reach of children, typically 1.2m above floor level.