Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace 3.2a: 3.2 Choose the right depth of assessment: basic, generic or detailed

A risk assessment is not mandatory for hazardous chemicals under the WHS Regulations but is often the best way to decide controls, identify exposed workers, find the sources and processes causing risk and check controls work. It can be skipped where hazards and controls are well known and a few chemicals are well understood. It should consider foreseeable failures of plant and controls, such as a power failure stopping ventilation or a spill corroding nearby plant. A basic assessment reviews the label and SDS and decides whether existing controls recommended in the SDS suffice. A generic assessment applies one assessment to identical workplaces, tasks and chemicals, for example service stations or dry cleaners, and is not suitable for very high risk chemicals such as carcinogens. A detailed assessment is needed for significant health risk and very high risk chemicals such as carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants and sensitisers, and where uncertainty exists, and decides on further information, controls, use and maintenance and whether air or health monitoring is needed.