What is a Hazardous Chemical?
In simple terms, a hazardous chemical is any substance that has the potential to cause harm. This includes chemicals that are flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. Hazardous chemicals can enter the body through the skin, lungs, or digestive system. They can also be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. Once in the body, they can cause a variety of health effects, ranging from mild to severe. Some hazardous chemicals can cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. Others can damage the liver, kidneys, or nervous system. Exposure to hazardous chemicals can be reduced by using less-toxic products, wearing personal protective equipment, and following safety precautions when working with or around hazardous chemicals.
What is a Dangerous Good?
A dangerous goods means:
- Asbestos
- Anything defined under a code as:
– Dangerous goods; or
– Goods too dangerous to be transported.
- Contains substances that have been classified as dangerous goods.
Dangerous goods are substances that can pose a risk to people, property, or the environment if they are not handled properly. Dangerous goods are regulated by national and international laws, which vary depending on the type of good.
Safety Precautions for Dangerous Goods
There are also strict rules about how dangerous goods must be handled, stored, and disposed of. People who work with dangerous goods must receive dangerous goods training to ensure that they are aware of the risks involved. When handling, using or storing dangerous goods, the following safety precautions should be followed:
- Management should research hazardous materials regulations and legal requirements for workplace dangerous goods and secure any licenses or permits that are required.
- All dangerous goods should be stored and transported in accordance with the safety data sheet and statutory obligations.
- All dangerous goods should be segregated from incompatible materials with workplace inspections scheduled and performed to ensure compliance is maintained.
- Access to work areas where bulk dangerous goods are stored and used must be restricted and personnel adequately trained on risks.
- Where dangerous goods are stored, approved placards must be placed at entrances and any other location required to meet statutory obligations.
Purchasing a Hazardous Chemical or Dangerous Good
Before purchasing or beginning to use any hazardous chemical or dangerous good, a risk assessment should be undertaken to assess the risks involved with the handling and storage of that substance. All risk assessments should be undertaken in consultation with the affected workers. In addition, independent experts may need to be consulted depending on the complexity of the materials and processes. Where a chemical risk assessment determines that an industrial hygiene investigation is required, the investigation must be conducted, and the results explained to workers.
Risk assessments must consider all sources of information and in particular:
- Information from the applicable safety data sheet.
- The type and quantity of the hazardous substance, flammable liquids or dangerous goods to be used.
- The storage, handling and disposal requirements for the substance.
- The need for personal or environmental monitoring.
- The need for medical surveillance.
Where personal and environmental surveillance must be undertaken, it must be by appropriately qualified persons.
Contents of this Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods Procedure
- Approval.
- Purpose.
- Scope
- Terms and Definitions.
- Roles and Responsibilities.
- Procedures
- Purchasing and Using Chemicals.
- Chemical Registers.
- Manifest for Emergency Services.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s).
- Risk Assessments.
- Risk Control.
- Personal Protective Equipment.
- Dangerous Goods.
- Transport of Dangerous Goods.
- Shipping Dangerous Goods.
- Fuel Transfer.
- Disposal.
- Emergency Response.
- Storage and Labeling.
- Contractors
- Training.
- Suppliers.
- Emergency Service Organization.
- Department of Transportation.
- Signage.
- Health Monitoring and Airborne Contaminants.
- Related Procedures, Forms and Documents.
- Review Criteria.
- Record Management.
- References.
Why Choose to Buy this Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods Procedure
This 13-page hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods procedure template can assist you to:
- Ensure legal requirements and obligations are being met with regards to the handling, transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods.
- Provide guidelines for the selection and use of substances that may have a consequential risk to the safety and health of workers and/or an adverse effect on the environment.
- Have processes in place whereby chemicals to be used at your workplace must first have authorized for use.
- Ensure an approved hazardous chemical register and relevant safety data sheets are available to personnel.
In summary, this hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods procedure can enable safe management practices with hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods, minimizing the risks to health and safety from exposure.
After purchasing this template you will be able to:
- Very easily edit and customize the template to create your own procedure.
- Apply your own style, format and brand to the procedure.
- Use it in any industry or sector regardless of the size or type of organization.
Availability and Use of this Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods Procedure
- This procedure is accessible to you right now by clicking the ‘Buy Now’ button.
- The procedure will be delivered to you in fully editable Microsoft Word format for immediate and full use in your business.
- There are no subscriptions, contracts or ongoing costs.
