Hazardous chemicals are defined under the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 [WHS General Regulations] and the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 [WHS Mines Regulations]. All substances must be handled safely at work.
What is a hazardous chemical?
Under the WHS Regulations, a substance is a hazardous chemical if it meets the criteria under the Globally harmonised system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS classification system).
Regulation 5 of the WHS General Regulations and WHS Mines Regulations defines a hazardous chemical as a substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria for any one or more hazard classes in the GHS (including a classification referred to in Schedule 6), unless the only hazard class or classes for which the substance, mixture or article satisfies the criteria are any one or more of the following:
- acute toxicity — oral — category 5
- acute toxicity — dermal — category 5
- acute toxicity — inhalation — category 5
- skin corrosion/irritation — category 3
- aspiration hazard — category 2
- flammable gas — category 2
- acute hazard to the aquatic environment — category 1, 2 or 3
- chronic hazard to the aquatic environment — category 1, 2, 3 or 4
- hazardous to the ozone layer.
The person manufacturing or importing the chemical is responsible for conducting the hazard classification. The label and safety data sheet (SDS) must indicate if the substance is a hazardous chemical.
Health effects of hazardous chemicals
Exposure to a hazardous chemical can cause pain, injury, serious illness or death. Hazardous chemicals can be solids, liquids, gases or vapours. They can enter the body through the lungs (breathing), the skin (absorption) or the mouth (swallowing). The harm caused depends on how toxic the chemical is and how long and how often you are exposed to it.
A well-known hazardous chemical is cyanide, which is a poison. Acids and alkalis are corrosive and can cause burns or irritate the skin and eyes. Solvents and explosive fumes can cause dizziness and nausea. Some chemicals can cause cancer. Others, like mercury and lead, build up in the body over time and cause serious harm.
Hazardous chemicals can also cause harm by starting a fire or triggering a dangerous reaction.
Dangerous goods
Many hazardous chemicals are also classified as dangerous goods. Dangerous goods are substances that can harm people, property or the environment. Find out more about dangerous goods compliance.
Resources and guidance
- Labelling workplace hazardous chemicals: Code of practice
- Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace: Code of practice
- Preparation of safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals: Code of practice
- Spray painting and powder coating: Code of practice
- Controlling isocyanate hazards at work: Guidance note
- Cyanide-information on handling, storage and first aid
- Mines Safety Matters: Cyanide management on mine sites
- Globally harmonised system of classifying and labelling of chemicals (GHS)
- Controlling hazards in electroplating industry: Guidance note
- Occupational safety and health management and contaminated sites work: Guidance note
- Safe use of chemicals in the woodworking industry: Guidance note
- Local exhaust ventilation
- Ototoxins - Chemicals that may cause hearing loss
- Prevent lead poisoning in your workplace
- Safe handling of PCBs
- Safe storage of solid ammonium nitrate: Code of practice
- Safe storage and handling of dangerous goods on farms
- Dangerous Goods Safety Bulletin No. 0120 Safety considerations for alcohol-based hand sanitisers
- Dangerous Goods Safety Bulletin No. 0220 Safety considerations when manufacturing alcohol-based hand sanitisers
- Soldering in the workplace-Rosin fluxes: Guidance note
- Working with hydrofluoric acid
- Working with pesticides