Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace: the PCBU's duties under Part 7.1 of the WHS Regulations, the register and manifest, safety data sheets and labels, health and physical risk assessment, the hierarchy of control, health monitoring, emergency planning and fire protection, and storage guidance for gases, flammable liquids, oxidisers, organic peroxides and corrosives. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275).
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 7 domains and 56 controls. The largest domains are Section 4: Controlling risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (16 controls), Section 3: The risk management process – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (11 controls), Section 1: Duties, prohibited chemicals, exposure standards, register and manifest – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (9 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (7)
Appendix J: Safe management of higher hazard chemicals – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::J1 | Appendix J: Test, store and handle gas cylinders, including used and empty ones |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::J2 | Appendix J: Control unodourised LP gas and dimethyl ether |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::J3 | Appendix J: Store flammable liquids and abandon or remove underground tanks safely |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::J4 | Appendix J: Control self-reactive, pyrophoric, water-reactive and flammable solids, including nitrocellulose |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::J5 | Appendix J: Store and handle oxidising agents and solid pool chlorine |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::J6 | Appendix J: Store organic peroxides and corrosives |
Section 1: Duties, prohibited chemicals, exposure standards, register and manifest – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.2a | 1.2 Eliminate or minimise hazardous chemical risks and meet the Part 7.1 duties |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.2b | 1.2 Classify, label and supply hazardous chemicals as designer, manufacturer, importer or supplier |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.2c | 1.2 Exercise officer due diligence and make worker and visitor duties known |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.3a | 1.3 Manage chemical risk by the systematic process, hierarchy and worker consultation |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.3b | 1.3 Consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders where chemicals are shared |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.4 | 1.4 Respect prohibited and restricted hazardous chemicals (Schedule 10) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.5 | 1.5 Keep airborne exposure below the exposure standard (r 49) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.6a | 1.6 Keep a current register of hazardous chemicals with SDS (r 346) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::1.6b | 1.6 Prepare and update a manifest when Schedule 11 quantities are exceeded (r 347) |
Section 2: Identifying hazards, safety data sheets and labels – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::2.1 | 2.1 Identify every chemical used, handled, stored or generated, including by-products and process contents |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::2.2a | 2.2 Obtain the current SDS from the Australian manufacturer, importer or supplier before use |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::2.2b | 2.2 Give workers and emergency responders ready access to the SDS (r 344) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::2.3 | 2.3 Label hazardous chemicals, containers and pipework correctly |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::2.4 | 2.4 Use other reliable sources of hazard information |
Section 3: The risk management process – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.1 | 3.1 Choose competent people to do the risk assessment and obtain external help where needed |
| 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 |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.2b | 3.2 Structure the assessment by area, similar exposure groups, chemical groups and real work practice |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.3a | 3.3 Assess health risk from the route of entry, form, concentration and properties of the chemical |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.3b | 3.3 Work out who could be exposed, when, and how often |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.3c | 3.3 Estimate exposure and monitor air properly, keeping records for 30 years |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.3d | 3.3 Act on exposure results: review at half the standard and protect sensitised workers |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.4a | 3.4 Assess fire and explosion risk from fuel, oxygen and ignition sources (Part 3.2 Division 8) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.4b | 3.4 Assess how physical state, temperature, pressure, confinement, oxidisers, reactions and dusts change fire and explosion risk |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.4c | 3.4 Assess off-site and external risks to and from the workplace |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::3.4d | 3.4 Assess corrosive, compressed gas, asphyxiation and compressed air hazards |
Section 4: Controlling risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
Section 5: Monitoring and review – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::5.1 | 5.1 Provide health monitoring where the Regulations require it (r 368) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::5.2 | 5.2 Review chemical risk controls on defined triggers and at least every five years (rr 38 and 352) |
Section 6: Emergency preparedness – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.1a | 6.1 Prepare, maintain and implement an emergency plan (rr 43 and 361) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.1b | 6.1 Develop, consult on, test and review emergency procedures |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.2 | 6.2 Provide emergency and safety equipment that is accessible and compatible |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.3 | 6.3 Provide fire protection and firefighting equipment designed for the chemicals (r 359) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.4 | 6.4 Install and test monitors and alarms |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.5 | 6.5 Consider automatic sprinkler systems where risk justifies them and water is suitable |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicals-in-the-workplace::6.6 | 6.6 Secure a reliable water supply for fire protection |
What is Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace and who does it apply to?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 7 domains and 56 controls. The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace: the PCBU's duties under Part 7.1 of the WHS Regulations, the register and manifest, safety data sheets and labels, health and physical risk assessment, the hierarchy of control, health monitoring, emergency planning and fire protection, and storage guidance for gases, flammable liquids, oxidisers, organic peroxides and corrosives. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275). It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace actually require?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace has 56 controls organised across 7 domains. The largest domains are Section 4: Controlling risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (16 controls), Section 3: The risk management process – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (11 controls), Section 1: Duties, prohibited chemicals, exposure standards, register and manifest – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (9 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace do I already cover?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace does not currently have cross-framework mappings in our system. Check back as we continuously expand our mapping database.
How do I implement Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace?
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