Dangerous Goods Assessments

Australian Risk Services can help manufacturers and suppliers of dangerous goods, as well as businesses storing and handling these items, to meet the requirement of the WHS Regulations 2011 and provide safe storage and handling of hazardous materials.

The incorrect storage of dangerous and hazardous goods can lead to toxic leaks, fires, and explosions. These in turn can injure or kill your staff members or cause significant damage to your property. To protect your staff and property, it pays to invest in excellent advice.

You should consider this service if you are:

1. Manufacturer or supplier of dangerous goods
2. Supplier of these materials
3. Occupiers of premises where dangerous goods are stored and handled
4. Health and safety representatives, employees and anyone else who has an interest in the risks to people or property posed by these types of substances

We work closely with our clients to ensure that staff is adequately involved in dangerous goods training and that they understand the process and requirements of law when conducting risk assessments. We also provide hazardous identification training that ensures the safety of your staff.

• Confined spaces risk assessment
• Dangerous goods
• Hazardous substances
• Manual handling
• Plant
• Working at heights

Hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods

Under the Model WHS Legislation 2012 the requirements for Dangerous Goods and Workplace Hazardous Substances are amalgamated and termed “Hazardous Chemicals”, applying the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals which is being introduced world-wide.

Under the WHS Regulations 2012, a hazardous chemical is any substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria of one or more Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) hazard classes, including a classification in Schedule 6 of the WHS Regulations.
The States and Territories also have legislative responsibility for the road and rail transport of Dangerous Goods. As of October 2010, the 7th edition of the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG 7) has been implemented in all jurisdictions in Australia (except for the Northern Territory).

Legislation in all states and territories mandates that all personnel involved in any way with the storage, handling or transport of dangerous materials must be trained to a level that ensures they are able to ensure compliance.

Most substances and mixtures that are classified under the ADG 7 Code are hazardous chemicals, except those that have only radioactive hazards (class 7), infectious substances (division 6.2) and most class 9 (miscellaneous).

What are the risks?

Dangerous goods and hazardous substances can cause significant damage if they are stored or handled incorrectly or transported in an unsafe way. Incidents involving these materials often result in explosions or fires, causing death and serious injury as well as large-scale damage to property and the surrounding environment. Unsafe use of these substances can also cause poisoning, chemical burns and other serious health problems.

Who has the duty to manage the risks?

Under the WHS Act, a person conducting a business or undertaking has the primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of workers and other persons are not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking. This includes ensuring the safe use, handling and storage of dangerous goods and hazardous substances. The WHS Regulations include specific duties for a person conducting a business or undertaking to manage the risks to health and safety associated with using, handling, generating and storing hazardous substances and dangerous goods at a workplace.

New transport requirements

Victorian law is now consistent with an updated national framework for transporting dangerous goods by road or rail. The framework, which is the responsibility of the National Transport Commission (NTC), closely aligns with international standards for the safe transport and storage of these substances.

How can Australian Risk Services Help?

ARS can help identify any sources of hazardous substances or dangerous goods in your workplace. We do this by considering the following:

• the inherent hazards of the materials, including their form and their chemical and physical properties;
• manufacturing and transport processes;
• how the goods are used, including any equipment involved;
• potential chemical or physical reaction between these materials and other substances or objects;
• the types of incidents that have occurred or could occur.

The identified risks are measured, existing controls evaluated and a set of recommendations provided. This approach helps us ensure that your company is fully compliant with the process of handling and transportation of hazardous chemicals.

We can also provide a monitoring and advisory service for the transport, packing and handling of these substances. We will issue you the statutory report as required by law.

The following are the type of services offered by our ARS:

• Hazardous substances and dangerous goods policies, procedures and SOPs
• Hazardous substances and dangerous goods training and induction
• Hazardous substances and dangerous goods risk assessments
• Work Permits – Hot, cold & confined space
• Compliance auditing in accordance with latest Australian Standards and Regulations, including WHS Regulations and ADG 7 Code
• Drafting facilities for site layout and detail design drawings
• Decommissioning of old Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling Facilities.