Victoria: chemical safety starts with knowing what is being used

WorkSafe Victoria’s Hazardous substances compliance code was published on 25 November 2022 and remains available on its official resource page. It operates within Victoria’s OHS framework.

Practical points

Maintain a register of hazardous substances supplied to the workplace with their safety data sheets. Update it when products change, use stops or suppliers issue revised sheets. Employees need access to useful, current information, not an inaccessible archive.

Keep supplied-container labels legible and intact. An incorrectly labelled container should be taken out of use and appropriately stored until correctly labelled. Assess exposure and select controls suited to the substance and task; a register is a starting point, not a control by itself.

Important update

WorkSafe expressly warns that this code has not been updated for the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022. Following it does not necessarily satisfy those separate duties. Do not reuse its old dangerous-goods references as current law.

A corrections example

For a hypothetical prison cleaning store, compare the products actually present with the register and check whether night-shift staff can access the relevant safety information. Escalate unidentified containers through the workplace’s safe procedures rather than guessing their contents.

Status and source

Following the code provides deemed compliance only for duties it covers. Other lawful methods are possible; the code does not replace the legislation. General education, not individual legal advice.

Read the official WorkSafe resource page and complete official PDF.