References:  R Record keeping requirement | E An engineering/certification requirement | P A permit to work requirement | S A safe work method statement (SWMS) / written plan

Informative

Safety Data Sheet’s (SDS) or (MSDS) - material safety data sheets must be in accordance with the relevant Code of Practice.

Hazards and Risks

Potential hazards and risks include, but are not limited to:

• Burns
• Fire / explosion
• Environmental impact
• Inhalation, absorption, ingestion
• Acute injury or chronic illness
• Spillage.

Examples

Examples of hazardous substances include:

• Asbestos, benzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cadmium, creosote, isocyanates, organosphates, crystalline silica, vinyl chloride

Examples of dangerous goods include:

• Acetylene, nitrogen, petrol, diesel, sulphuric acid, ammonia.

Planning

S Prior to the commencement of any activities involving the use of hazardous substances on the project, a SDS’s must be submitted and where required a SWMS must be developed by the sub-contractor undertaking the works. The SWMS must include the identification and assessment of the risks associated with substances and the control measures to be implemented to address these risks.

R All potentially hazardous substances or dangerous goods must be assessed and risks identified. This must be documented on a hazardous substance risk assessment or a SWMS.

R People handling hazardous substances or dangerous goods must have access to and be inducted into the relevant SWMS including referencing Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Substances must be transported, handled, stored, labelled and disposed in accordance with the applicable SDS.

Operational

R A hazardous substance/dangerous goods register must be maintained on site containing an SDS for each hazardous substance or dangerous good used/stored on site.

The SDS register must be located on site and accessible to all site personnel e.g. first aid room/main gate.

People using hazardous substance/dangerous goods must follow the recommendations on the SDS.

SDS’s must be reviewed and re-issued at intervals not exceeding 5 years.

Decanting of substances must be into an approved container and be labelled appropriately

Appropriate signage must be displayed and barricading used where hazardous substances or dangerous goods are present on site.

Storage and Disposal

Delivery, disposal or removal of hazardous substances to and from site must be in accordance with the relevant SDS.

Substances must be stored:

• In accordance with the SDS
• On bunds / in appropriate cabinets, where applicable
• In allocated, well ventilated and signed storage areas.