Chemical Management

2. Identifying dangerous goods and hazardous substances

The principal or their delegate must:

• identify dangerous goods and hazardous substances present in the school and record these on the school’s chemical register
• include dangerous goods and hazardous substances as a high-risk item in their OHS risk register.

The department has identified dangerous goods and hazardous substances as high risk in schools. Schools must identify all dangerous goods and hazardous substances present in the school, and record these on the school’s chemical register. Refer to Chapter 1 for additional guidance. Schools must also include this hazard in the OHS risk register.

Consultation with relevant school staff and health and safety representative (HSRs) (where elected) is key to ensuring identification of all chemicals. An effective approach to identifying these items may include allocating a coordinator or a team to find and audit the products and chemicals present in the school. Refer to the OHS Consultation and Communication policy for additional information.

Dangerous goods and hazardous substances can be identified by the diamond shaped warning symbol or pictogram on the label. Detailed information about these warnings can be found in the product's safety data sheet (SDS). Examples of pictograms are available in Guidance sheet 2: Dangerous goods classification system (DOCX).

Note that there are several prohibited substances that must not be purchased, stored or handled by any school. Refer to Guidance sheet 3: Prohibited and restricted chemicals (DOCX).

When identifying chemicals that may be dangerous goods or hazardous substances in the school, consider the following locations and common products:

• classrooms, including art rooms
  • paint
  • adhesives
  • aerosols and spray cans
  • hand sanitiser
• kitchens and canteens
  • dishwashing tablets
  • disinfectants/multi-purpose sprays
  • fly spray
• cleaner’s cupboards and storage areas
  • degreasers
  • disinfectant
  • cleaning fluids
• facilities, maintenance, and garden sheds
  • lubricants
  • sealants
  • pesticides and herbicides
  • fertilisers
  • paint
• materials and technology areas
  • polymers
  • acrylics
  • solders
• photographic dark rooms
  • developing fluids and fixers
• science laboratories
  • acids
  • alkaline
  • reagents
• swimming pool plant rooms and chemical storage areas
  • chlorine
  • algaecides
  • stabilisers.

It is important to consider any personal protective equipment (PPE) that might be required while identifying and recording chemicals, particularly in a laboratory or facilities storage area. If possible, this activity should be undertaken in pairs so one person can look at the products and the other can record what has been found to minimise donning and doffing (putting on and taking off PPE).

Contractors, such as external facilities companies and cleaners, are responsible for preparing and maintaining their own chemical register and obtaining safety data sheets. These documents must be readily accessible to the principal or their delegate. It is important that schools and contractors work together to ensure chemicals are used, stored and disposed of safely.

Schools can contact the Statewide OHS Services Team for hands-on support with identifying and stocktaking chemicals in the school.