It is a requirement of the National Model Regulations to keep a register of hazardous substances.

(c) the register is readily accessible to all employees with the potential for exposure to hazardous substances.

Minimum requirements:

• List of hazardous substances produced or used.
• MSDS for the hazardous substances.
• Assessment of the hazardous substances.

The register must be kept up to date. When a hazardous substance is discontinued it must be removed from the register. When a new hazardous substance is introduced it must be added to the register.

The register must be accessible to:

• the employer;
• employees;
• employee representatives;
• emergency services; and
• other relevant authorities. (Victorian WorkCover Authority)

Reg 308 Manifests to be kept at certain premises

Exposure to chemicals can occur in one or more of the following physical forms:

• gases
• vapours
• particles (dust, fumes, fibres, smoke and mists)

There are many industrial processes which can give rise to these.

These are materials which (normally) exist as gases at normal temperature and pressure.

eg. carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur and hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, butane and ethylene.

Gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen are produced via combustion. Therefore any industrial processes that involve combustion will probably produce these gases. Oxides of sulfur will be produced if the fuel contains some sulfur.

Exposure to bottled gases can occur via leakages or while they are being used.

Hydrocarbons are usually produced at oil refining facilities or can be found where low molecular weight hydrocarbons are part of manufacturing processes. eg conversion of ethylene into polyethylene.

These are the evaporative products of volatile solvents such as petrol, acetone, trichlorethane, benzene, ethanol. etc.

They are found widely throughout industry but typically appear in workplaces such as laboratories, petroleum refineries/petrochemical works, rubber industry, printing processes and print manufacture, solvent manufacturing, cleaning industry, paper manufacture, synthetic fibre manufacture.

These are airborne solid particles that range in size from 0.1 to 25 micrometres. They are generated by operations such as mining, quarrying, grinding, road making, detonation, crushing, milling and striking as well as wood dust from cutting, sawing and sanding.

These are the condensed products of volatilised solids (solids heated to their evaporation point). Fumes most usually consist of metal oxide particles produced from processes such as welding, brazing, oxy-acetylene cutting, electro arc work and around blast furnaces and crucible refining of molten metals.

Consists of carbon (soot) particles and other condensed combustion products. Particles are usually less than 0.1mm and are produced form incomplete burning of carbon based fuels such as coal, oil and wood in industry and accidental fires involving these materials along with carpets, plastics, etc.

These are made up of finely divided droplets of liquid entrained in a gas such as air. They are typically produced in spraying operations such as painting, degreasing, acid spray washes, etc.

Fibres are divided into three groups:

• Synthetic, man made, derived from petroleum based materials.
• Artificial, man made, raw materials are natural in origin but final fibre is man made. eg rayon, protein fibres.
• Natural, occur in nature. eg animal fibres, wool silk mohair; vegetable fibres, cotton, flax and hemp; mineral fibres, asbestos, talc, synthetic mineral fibres such as glass fibre or rockwool.

Exposure to these fibres can occur during:

• manufacture
• mining (asbestos)
• processing (wool)
• installation (fibreglass bats)
• demolition
• disposal of waste
• wear and tear of fibre based products

Control

(5) An employer shall ensure that all engineering controls, safe work practices and personal protective equipment are effectively maintained.

• Exposure should be eliminated or if not practicable minimised.
• PPE is not to be the preferred method of control
• Hierarchy of control is to be used.
• Some hazards might require the use of more than one method of control.
• Control of exposure must be considered in the planning or modification of the workplace.
• All possible routes of entry to the body must be considered when designing and implementing control measures.

• Elimination
• Substitution
• Enclosure
• Isolation
• Engineering Techniques
• Safe Operating Procedures
• Administrative Controls
• Training
• Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

Can you do away with the chemical process? If the answer is yes then get rid of it. If the answer is no, then perhaps the following could be considered:

using a physical process rather than a chemical process;

using clips, clamps, etc instead of using a twin pack glue.

Replacing the existing substance with a less hazardous substance.

eg replacing a chlorinated degreasing solvent with a detergent;

brush application instead of using an aerosol can.

using water based paints instead of oil based paints;

If possible isolate the hazardous material by separating the process from people either by distance or barriers. Enclosure can either involve enclosing the process or the operator.

eg open solvent containers can have lids placed on them;

remote control booths.

Plant or processes which minimise the generation of hazardous substances and their escape into the surrounding work area.

eg Wet methods

Involves spraying the material with water to keep it damp. Used whenever a process produces hazardous dusts.

Ventilation

Involves the use of an exhaust or extraction system to remove airborne particulates, gases and vapours. Ventilation systems can be localised and operate at the point of generation of the hazardous particles, gases or dusts.

The whole work area also can be ventilated.

When using ventilation systems to control emissions of hazardous materials it is essential to consider the following:

# does the local extraction hood draw fumes away from the operators breathing space or past their face;

# is the hood as close as possible to the hazardous source;

# is clean air drawn into the workplace to replace the removed air;

# if air is recycled is it filtered properly;

# does the ventilation system create a noise exposure problem;

# what happens to the contaminated air after extraction; and

# is the efficiency of the system monitored?

Safe work procedures are designed to enable employees to minimise their exposure to a hazardous substance by following certain steps. They are one of the least preferred methods as they rely on people doing the right thing. Safe operating procedures are often used in conjunction with engineering controls and the wearing of personal protective clothing and equipment.

eg maintenance of equipment and plant;

housekeeping;

prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking in contaminated areas;

storage of substances; etc.

Some control of hazards can be done using administrative techniques. However they rely on people doing the right thing and are used in conjunction with other control techniques.

eg job rotation;

shorter working periods (using STELs);

excluding non-essential entry.

Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances National Model Regulations [NOHSC:1005(1994)]

Induction and Training

Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 1989

Reg 427 Training

The use of personal protective clothing and equipment should be limited to situations where other control measures are not practicable or where they are used in conjunction with other control measures.

Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances National Code of Practice [NOHSC:2007(1994)]

Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 1989

Reg 428 Provision and maintenance of personal protection equipment

PPC&E includes respirators, gloves, boots, overalls, goggles, etc. PPC&E is the least preferred option due to the following:

• some items do not meet Australian Standards and are not properly maintained;
• the onus is on workers to protect themselves rather than focussing on making the workplace safe;
• makes work more difficult to perform;
• impedes warning signals;
• makes communication difficult;
• can aggravate pre-existing health problems;
• some types of equipment requires individual fitting;
• can be uncomfortable to wear resulting in its removal; and
• employees not always adequately trained.

• Boots - Must be chemically resistant, non-slip soles and may need steel caps.

AS 2210 Safety Footwear

• Gloves - Must be chemically resistant and non slip ribbing on the palm.

AS 2161 Industrial Safety Gloves and Mittens

• Aprons - must be chemically resistant. Full chemical suits encapsulate the wearer providing total body protection.

AS 3765 Clothing for Protection Against Hazardous Chemicals

Eyes must be protected from both splash and vapours. Eye protection is vital when dealing with chemicals, especially those from Class 8

Ordinary safety glasses will give some protection against splash, a better option would be a full face shield as not only eyes are protected but so is the face. For fuming chemicals, goggles are the preferred option.

AS 1336 Recommended Practices for Eye Protection in the Industrial Environment

AS 1337 Eye Protection for Industrial Applications

When required, proper respiratory protection is vital. It is important that the right type is selected, it is working properly and is fitted correctly.

• Canister Respiration - commonly known as full face or half face respirators, they rely on drawing air through a purifying filter (for particles) or a chemical canister (for gases and vapours).

They are to be used for the following:

nuisance dust;

harmful dust;

gases and vapours;

viruses and bacteria;

moulds and fibres.

They should not be used in:

areas with high concentrations of toxic materials;

low oxygen level areas;

atmospheres where eye damage might occur (this applies to half faces respirators, not full face masks and visors);

areas where contaminants are unknown.

The filters/canisters used in these respirators are colour and letter coded.

Remember:

you must have the correct filter for the chemical being used;

the mask must be clean, well maintained and for individual use only;

mask and filters must be sealed from the air when not in use to prevent unnecessary contamination of the filters.

canisters and filters have a shelf life and a use life.

• Air Supplied Devices - usually take the form of breathing masks supplied with air forma compressor or large cylinder or alternatively a self contained breathing apparatus style as used by the emergency services. These types of devices are used when concentration levels of the contaminants is high, the contaminant is unknown or for rescue work in areas of low oxygen concentration. They are often used in conjunction with fully encapsulated chemical suits.

AS 1715 Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Devices

AS 1716 Respiratory Protective Devices