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Key: poisons

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES and MSDSs

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Part 6 of the OH&S Regulation 2001 outlines requirements for hazardous substances (Clauses 145 - 204).

Some online publications concerning hazardous substances:

» Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances (WorkCover NSW)

» Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods (including the National Hazardous Substances Regulatory Package - NOHSC)
The package includes the following documents (plus many others):
· Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances
· Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational
· National Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances
· National Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances
· National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets
· National Code of Practice for the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances
· National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Synthetic Mineral Fibres
· National Code of Practice for the Control and Safe Use of Inorganic Lead at Work
· Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos
· National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Ethylene Oxide in Sterilisation/Fumigation Processes
· National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Timber Preservatives and Treated Timber
· National Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Vinyl Chloride

» Hazardous Substances Factsheet (NOHSC)

» List of Designated Hazardous Substances (NOHSC)

» Guidance Note for the Assessment of Health Risks Arising from Hazardous Substances in the Workplace
(NOHSC)

» ToxFAQs - a series of summary factsheets about over 150 hazardous substances, developed by the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - USA)

» Code of practice for the safe use of pesticides including herbicides in non-agricultural workplaces - (Pest control - WorkCover NSW)

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS)

Clauses 150 - 153 of the NSW OH&S Regulation 2001 outline requirements for material safety data sheets.

Some online publications concerning MSDSs:

» Reading Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (WorkCover NSW)

» Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (WorkCover NSW)

» Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances (WorkCover NSW)

»National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (NOHSC)


FINDING MSDSs ON THE WEB

» Australian Online MSDSs (MSDS.com.au - commercial site, no recommendation or endorsement)

You can search for Australian online MSDSs for specific substances, eg. ethyl acetate, by entering "ethyl acetate" msds site:au into a good search engine.

!! Or you can skip the site:au search term if, unsuccessful in your search. However, you should note that unaltered overseas MSDSs will generally not comply with Australian legislative requirements and you should refer to above Codes of Practice or refer to the relevant Authority to find out what alterations are required in your region, eg. requirement for contact details for a local supplier or manaufacturer to be on all MSDSs.

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