Chemical Management

5. Control considerations when developing a safe work procedure

Labelling of decanted or mixed chemicals

All dangerous good and hazardous substance containers must be clearly labelled. The label must remain intact, legible and unaltered. Mixed or decanted chemical labels must include the product name, dangerous goods class and division. Compliant labels can be generated and printed using Chemwatch GoldFFX (staff login required). There is a How to generate a label video available demonstrating the process.

If a small amount of a chemical is required for use, it must be decanted into a suitable container as described in the SDS or one that is recommended by the manufacturer or supplier.

Containers that were once used for food or drink, such as tomato sauce or milk bottles are not suitable. They must never be used to decant, mix, or store chemicals.

Storage and signage (applicable to dangerous goods)

Where possible, the principal or their delegate must ensure that only minor storage quantities of dangerous goods are maintained in the school in accordance with Guidance sheet 1: Chemical storage (DOCX).

If the school is storing dangerous goods exceeding minor storage quantities, placards must be displayed to indicate their presence. Dangerous goods placards are available to purchase online or from retail safety stores.

Wherever there is a risk from a leak or spill of a dangerous good, schools must obtain a spill containment system. This can include bunding or spill trays. Bunding is designed to sit under containers of chemicals to capture spills and leaks of liquids.

Bunding assists with clean up and prevents pollution from leaking chemical containers accidentally entering drains. Refer to Guidance sheet 4: Minor chemical spill management (DOCX) and Chapter 11 – Emergency procedures in this procedure for additional advice on spills.

All cupboards, cabinets and refrigerators storing chemicals must labelled to indicate the type and class of chemicals being stored in them. Additional warning signs may also be required, such as ‘DO NOT USE TO STORE FOOD.’

For further advice on chemical storage contact the Statewide OHS Services Team or the OHS Advisory Service as there may be specific safety and legislative requirements that apply to some product and quantities.

Segregation (applicable to dangerous goods)

It is unsafe for some dangerous goods to be stored close together. They may react violently with each other and are therefore incompatible. For example, acid and alkaline agents that are corrosive need to be stored separately and cannot be placed in the same corrosive (dangerous goods) cabinet. They must be segregated by at least 3 meters or stored in separate cabinets.

Reports can be run in Chemwatch GoldFFX (staff login required) that will notify if incompatible dangerous goods are going to be stored together, when locations are set up correctly. Follow the instructions in the Generate a compatibility report video to assess storage compatibility based on dangerous goods classification. This report will highlight potential chemical interactions and give segregation guidance.

More information can also be found in Guidance sheet 1: Chemical storage (DOCX).

Personal protective equipment (applicable to hazardous substances)

The personal protective equipment (PPE) required to safely use a hazardous substance will be listed in the product’s safety data sheet (SDS). It is important to note that PPE is personal and not one size fits all. School staff who need to wear PPE to handle hazardous substances should be consulted regarding the PPE that is most appropriate. Things to consider before purchasing PPE are:

• the requirements stated in the SDS
• cost and if there are minimum purchasing requirements
• available sizes or the ability to customise fit
• shelf life
• whether it is single use or has a maximum number of hours it can be worn.

PPE is generally less expensive if purchased in bulk however consideration needs to be given to the availability of storage space and product expiry dates. It is important to note that gloves and coveralls also have expiry dates that need to be adhered to. If PPE is required to undertake the task safely, it must be provided to the staff member by the school.