Controlling hazardous chemicals

controlling hazardous chemicals

CRICOS Provider Code: 02992E
RTO No.: 21870
STUDENT LEARNER GUIDE
BSBWHS331
Participate in identifying and
controlling hazardous
chemicals
P a g e | 1
Table of Contents
Unit of Competency ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Application …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Performance Criteria……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Foundation Skills …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Assessment Requirements……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
1. Apply information relating to identifying hazardous chemicals…………………………………………….. 10
1.1 – Identify and follow WHS laws and guidance notes in relation to the safe use, handling,
processing, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous chemicals used in the workplace ….. 11
What are hazardous chemicals? ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
WHS laws regarding hazardous chemicals…………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Activity 1A ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
1.2 – Identify and follow safety data sheets (SDSs) and other guidance to determine the potential
health effects of worker exposure to hazardous chemicals………………………………………………………… 14
1.3 – Identify and follow SDSs and other guidance to determine methods to control worker exposure
to hazardous chemicals………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
What are safety data sheets? ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Accessing safety data sheets……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
Following safety data sheets……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16
Activity 1B ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
2. Identify presence and use of hazardous chemicals in the workplace ……………………………………… 19
2.1 – Apply organisational inspection techniques to identify and document hazardous chemicals in
the workplace ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 20
Identifying hazardous chemicals………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
Documenting hazardous chemicals ……………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Activity 2A ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22
2.2 – Participate in consultation processes with workers to identify hazardous chemicals in the
workplace…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
Consultation processes ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
Activity 2B ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
2.3 – Identify tasks that may expose workers to hazardous chemicals used in the workplace ………… 26
Hazardous tasks ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
Risk assessments……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 26
P a g e | 2
Activity 2C ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28
3. Contribute to the control of hazardous chemicals in the workplace ………………………………………. 29
3.1 – Use WHS laws and guidance notes in relation to hazardous chemicals to identify controls to
remove or reduce worker exposure ………………………………………………………………………………………… 30
Establishing control measures …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30
Activity 3A ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32
3.2 – Assess effectiveness of current control measures according to WHS laws, guidance notes, and
organisational policies and procedures ……………………………………………………………………………………. 33
Assessing effectiveness of current controls…………………………………………………………………………… 33
WHS laws …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 34
Organisational policies and procedures………………………………………………………………………………… 35
Activity 3B ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36
3.3 – Participate in selecting additional control measures for implementation, as required…………… 37
Additional control measures……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 37
Working as a team …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 38
Activity 3C ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 39
3.4 – Assist in implementing procedures for safe use, handling, processing, storage, transportation,
and disposal of hazardous chemicals……………………………………………………………………………………….. 40
Implementing procedures…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 40
Using and handling hazardous chemicals ……………………………………………………………………………… 41
Processing hazardous chemicals………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42
Storing hazardous chemicals ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 42
Transporting hazardous chemicals ………………………………………………………………………………………. 44
Disposing of hazardous chemicals ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 46
Activity 3D ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 47
3.5 – Contribute to ensuring control measures are maintained according to organisational procedures
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48
Maintaining control measures…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 48
Activity 3E…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 51
4. Support worker consultation methods for hazardous chemicals …………………………………………… 52
4.1 – Communicate information about identified hazardous chemicals, and support required
personnel at risk of exposure to them……………………………………………………………………………………… 53
Communicating information……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
Supporting personnel at risk……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 54
Activity 4A ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 55
P a g e | 3
4.2 – Gather information about exposure to hazardous chemicals and possible health effects reported
by workers……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56
Gathering information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 56
Activity 4B ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
4.3 – Report gathered information to required parties including duty holder ………………………………. 59
Reporting information ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59
Record keeping …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 60
Activity 4C ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 63
Summative Assessments………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 64
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 65
P a g e | 4
Unit of Competency
Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and control hazardous chemicals in the
workplace. It requires knowledge of the potential hazards associated with chemicals and how to work
safely with them. It involves supporting workplace safety by communicating information about
hazardous chemicals using established consultation methods.
The unit applies to those who participate in identifying chemicals as part of their WHS responsibilities,
which are in addition to their main duties. It applies to hazardous chemicals with the potential to harm
human health, which may be solids, liquids or gases; pure substances or mixtures. When used in the
workplace, these substances can generate vapours, fumes, dusts and mists.
NOTES
1. The terms ‘occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ‘work health and safety’ (WHS) are equivalent,
and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where model WHS laws have not
been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of
competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.
2. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of
Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Unit Mapping Information
No equivalent unit. New unit.
Unit Sector
Regulation, Licensing and Risk – Work Health and Safety
P a g e | 5
Performance Criteria

P a g e | 6
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the
performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Reading
➢ Locates information from WHS laws, and workplace policies, procedures and records.
Writing
➢ Uses structure and language appropriate to audience and context in plans, reports, and general
advice.
Oral communication
➢ Presents information and assistance using appropriate levels of industry-specific vocabulary
➢ Uses listening and questioning to clarify and confirm understanding.
Navigate the world of work
➢ Follows legal and regulatory guidance and organisational policies and procedures in hazardous
chemicals
➢ Keeps up to date with changes to WHS laws, and organisational policies and procedures
relevant to own role.
Interact with others
➢ Identifies what to communicate and to whom in a range of contexts
➢ Cooperates with others as part of WHS activities and contributes to specific activities requiring
joint responsibility and accountability
➢ Shares information and resources, offers assistance voluntarily, and provides feedback when
requested
➢ Plays an active role in group discussions, paying attention to perspectives of others and
encouraging participation.
Get the work done
➢ Plans and implements tasks to achieve required outcomes
➢ Uses decision-making processes, setting or clarifying goals, gathering information to identify
hazardous chemicals.
P a g e | 7
Assessment Requirements
Performance Evidence
The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements,
performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, and to:
➢ Participate in:
o identifying two hazardous chemicals in the workplace
o selecting and implementing risk control options for each of the two identified chemicals
➢ On at least two occasions, promote and support worker consultation and participation in
hazardous chemical identification.
P a g e | 8
Knowledge Evidence
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements,
performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. This includes knowledge of:
➢ Requirements of commonwealth and state/territory WHS laws and publications relating to
identifying and controlling hazardous chemicals:
o communication, consultation and participation
o notification of incidents
o recordkeeping
o identification, risk assessment and control methods
o basic principles of incident causation and injury processes
➢ Organisational policies and procedures relating to identifying and controlling hazardous
chemicals:
o inspection techniques used to identify and document them
o controls to remove or reduce worker exposure
o assessing effectiveness of control measures
o ensuring use and maintenance of control measures
➢ Internal and external sources of WHS information and data:
o safety data sheets (SDSs)
o risk control options for hazardous chemicals and work situations
➢ WHS hazards that may be present in the workplace:
o harm they can cause, and how this harm occurs
o potential hazards associated with the chemicals described in the performance evidence,
including environmental, fire, health and reactivity
➢ Types of hazard and risk registers, and their key components
➢ Requirements of workplace communication processes for sharing information about hazard
identification, and risk assessment and control measures.
P a g e | 9
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must comply with WHS laws, and WHS legal responsibilities and duty of care required for
this unit. It must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent
performance of typical activities undertaken in the regulation, licensing and risk associated with working
with hazardous chemicals, and must include access to:
➢ Workplace equipment, technology, software and consumables required to implement and
maintain internal control procedures
➢ Corporate governance documentation required for role
➢ Case studies and, where possible, actual workplace situations
➢ Opportunities for interaction with others
➢ Organisational policies and procedures required for role.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the assessor requirements in applicable vocational education and
training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.
Links
Companion Volume Implementation Guides are available from VETNet –
https://vetnet.education.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=11ef6853-ceed-4ba7-9d87-4da407e23c10
P a g e | 10
1. Apply information relating to identifying hazardous
chemicals

Au/injury-prevention-safety/hazardous-chemicals/managing-hazchemrisks/labelling-

P a g e | 11
1.1 – Identify and follow WHS laws and guidance notes in relation to the safe
use, handling, processing, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous
chemicals used in the workplace
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Identify one WHS law related to hazardous chemicals and explain how this can be
applied to their own role.
What are hazardous chemicals?
Hazardous chemicals can be defined as substances, mixtures, or articles that can pose a risk to health
and safety. Hazardous chemicals can be solids, liquids, or gases and may pose health hazards, physical
hazards, or both.
Hazardous chemicals are used for many reasons across many different organisations. Occupations such
as cleaners, hairdressers, painters, heating engineers, etc. are responsible for using, handling, storing,
transporting, and disposing of hazardous chemicals as part of their general working practices. These
chemicals pose a serious risk to the health of workers as well as their surrounding if the correct
procedures are not followed.
Examples of chemicals that can pose a risk to a person’s help include:
➢ Toxic chemicals
➢ Chemicals that cause skin damage
➢ Carcinogens.
Examples of chemicals that can immediately injure people or damage
property include:
➢ Flammable liquids
➢ Compressed gasses
➢ Explosives.
“Hazardous Chemicals” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/chemicals
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
WHS laws regarding hazardous chemicals
Any work you do regarding hazardous chemicals will need to abide by relevant the relevant laws and
regulations governing your territory and industry. Your workplace will provide you with the information
you need, but it is worth spending time carrying out your own research to familiarise yourself with the
laws and regulations which apply to you when working with hazardous chemicals. This will help to
ensure that you working in accordance with legal requirements, but also that you are able to maintain
your own safety as well as the safety of those around you.
P a g e | 12
Model WHS Laws
Model WHS Laws have been created to provide a basis for
consistent work health and safety across Australia. These laws
ensure that those running a business understand their
responsibility regarding health and safety, and employees
understand their right to a safe working environment.
The model WHS laws include:
➢ The model WHS Act
➢ The model WHS Regulations
➢ Model Codes of Practice.
Bear in mind that states and territories must agree to and
implement model WHS laws for them to be legally binding. You
will need to familiarise yourself with the laws governing your
location of work.
Model Work Health and Safety Regulations can be found here:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-work-health-and-safety-regulations
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
P a g e | 13
Activity 1A
P a g e | 14
1.2 – Identify and follow safety data sheets (SDSs) and other guidance to
determine the potential health effects of worker exposure to hazardous
chemicals
1.3 – Identify and follow SDSs and other guidance to determine methods to
control worker exposure to hazardous chemicals
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Follow a safety data sheet to identify the potential health effects of a chemical should a
worker be exposed
➢ Outline one method which could be implemented to control the risk of exposure to a
chemical, according to the relevant SDS.
What are safety data sheets?
Safety data sheets (SDSs) are documents which provide critical information about hazardous chemicals.
They must be used by all businesses when assessing the risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
A safety data sheet should include information on:
➢ Hazards of the chemical and how to handle it safely, including storage and disposal
➢ Physical and chemical properties of the chemical, as well as
potential health and emergency response measures
➢ Environmental effects of the chemical.
“Safety Data Sheets” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sds
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Who is responsible for safety data sheets?
There are a variety of different personnel who have a responsibility for developing, supplying and
following safety data sheets.
Manufacturers
The manufacturer or supplier of a hazardous chemical will be responsible for providing the relevant
information under WHS laws.
A manufacturer and importer of a hazardous chemical must:
➢ Prepare an SDS for the hazardous chemical before first manufacturing or importing the
hazardous chemical or if that is not practicable, as soon as practicable after first
manufacturing or importing the hazardous chemical
➢ Review the SDS at least once every five years and amend whenever necessary to
ensure it contains correct, current information.
P a g e | 15
Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
A PCBU may change an SDS for a hazardous chemical only if the person is an importer or
manufacturer and:
➢ Changes the SDS in a way that is consistent with the duties of the importer or
manufacturer
➢ The change is to attach a translation of the SDS and clearly states that the translation is
not part of the original SDS.
Note: A person who packages or re-labels a hazardous chemical with their own product name is
considered to be a manufacturer and therefore has the same obligations as a manufacturer or importer
under the WHS Regulations to prepare an SDS.
“Labelling and Safety Data Sheets” WorkCover Queensland:
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-safety/hazardous-chemicals/managing-hazchemrisks/labelling-and-safety-data-sheets
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Workers
Whilst it is not the responsibility of the worker to produce or circulate safety
data sheets, they do have a responsibility to work safely and in accordance with
given requirements at all times. This includes accessing, understanding, and
applying SDS’s and their instructions during any work involving hazardous
chemicals.
All workers also have a general duty of care which must be exercised during
their working practice. A duty of care refers to the legal and moral obligation to
reduce or limit the risk they expose themselves, their colleagues, and anybody
else in the environment to. Generally speaking, duty of care can be exercised by
working in the safest manner at all times, and following SDS’s will be pivotal in
this.
Accessing safety data sheets
Easy access to relevant safety data sheets will be crucial to ensuring that they can be followed, and
hazardous chemicals identified and controlled as appropriate.
Safety data sheets must be supplied to a workplace:
➢ When the hazardous chemical is first supplied to the workplace
➢ The first time a hazardous chemical is supplied after an SDS has been amended.
Workers can access safety data sheets through:
➢ Paper copy collections of an SDS
➢ Computerised and internet-based SDS databases.
P a g e | 16
“Safety Data Sheets” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sds#obtaining-safety-data-sheets
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Risk registers
Any person conducting a business or undertaking (a PCBU) is required to ensure
that a register of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is prepared and
maintained. A register will include a list of the product names of all hazardous
chemicals used, handled, and stored in the workplace. The SDS’s for each
chemical should be stored along with the register.
It’s crucial for workplace safety that registers are kept up to date in accordance
with any changes to the chemicals on site. This will include updates according to
new chemicals being introduced to the workplace as well as any chemicals which
are removed or discontinued.
Whilst it is the responsibility of the PCBU to prepare and maintain the register, all
workers have a responsibility to report any issues, so you should be aware of how to read and interpret
the register.
“Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/managing_risks_of_hazardous_c
hemicals2.pdf
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Following safety data sheets
There are two key things you will be looking to do:
➢ Determine the potential health effects of worker exposure to hazardous chemicals
➢ Determine methods to control worker exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Potential health effects
Safety data sheets will outline the potential health effects the chemical can have to a person if exposure
occurs.
Chemicals can have effects such as:
➢ Poisoning
➢ Nausea and vomiting
➢ Headache
➢ Skin rashes, such as dermatitis
➢ Chemical burns
P a g e | 17
➢ Birth defects
➢ Disorders of the lung, kidney or liver
➢ Nervous system disorders.
“Workplace Safety – Hazardous Substances” Better Health Channel:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/workplace-safety-hazardous-substances
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Some chemicals will pose more extreme effects than others, so it’s important that the SDS is read and
understood before a chemical is introduced to the workplace. It’s also important to recognise that
health effects aren’t caused only by direct contact with a chemical. Inhalation of a substance can also
cause adverse effects in the case of certain chemicals. SDS’s will provide guidance regarding how
chemicals should be handled so as to avoid any effect to a worker’s health and safety. You might also
find this information directly from suppliers/manufacturers or from other personnel within your
organisation.
Controlling exposure to chemicals
To minimise the risk of harm caused by hazardous chemicals, it’s important that the level of exposure is
controlled. The necessary control measures suggested by the SDS will depend on the health effects
posed by the chemical.
For example, suggested control measures could
include:
➢ Employee training
➢ Signs
➢ Warning labels
➢ Use of PPE.
When hazardous chemicals are introduced to the workplace, a risk assessment must be performed
which can then be used to determine specific control measures. Risk assessments and further control
methods will be explored in more detail in a later chapter.
P a g e | 18
Activity 1B
P a g e | 19
2. Identify presence and use of hazardous chemicals in the
workplace

2.3. Identify tasks that may expose workers to hazardous chemicals used in the workplace
P a g e | 20
2.1 – Apply organisational inspection techniques to identify and document
hazardous chemicals in the workplace
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Outline how to identify and document hazardous chemicals according to workplace
procedures.
Identifying hazardous chemicals
Identifying the hazardous chemicals which are present in your workplace will be key to ensuring that
they can be used, handled, and stored safely.
Inspection techniques
Your organisation may have specific techniques in place for the
identification of hazardous chemicals in your workplace. These should be
fully understood and followed at all times to ensure that all chemicals can
be identified effectively and safely. Failure to follow guidelines could lead
to chemicals not being identified, and in turn could pose a risk to the safety
of yourself, your colleagues, or anybody else who enters the environment.
Generally speaking, hazardous chemicals can be identified by walking
around your workplace and locating each chemical which is present. This
should include each area of your workplace, even those you are not
directly involved in. You should gain access to secure areas such as
cupboards and storerooms as well as locating chemicals which are in plain
sight. Your organisation may store chemicals which are not often used, and
it’s equally important that these are identified and noted.
You should make notes of each chemical you identify as you go. At this stage, it’s not essential that your
notes are formal or completely understandable to others; these can be tidied up and extended at a later
point. You should, however, ensure that all chemicals you locate are noted in some format so that
nothing is forgotten or missed. It will be a good idea to carry out the process with at least one of your
colleagues. What one person might look past, another might pay full attention to; working in small
teams will make it more likely that all relevant chemicals will be identified. Two heads are always better
than one!
Documenting hazardous chemicals
Once you have identified each chemical present in your workplace, you should document this
information according to the guidelines of your organisation. Organisational guidelines might determine
factors such as format, layout, and language and terminology.
Documentation should be:
➢ Clear
➢ Understandable
➢ Structured.
P a g e | 21
It’s a good idea to ask a relevant colleague to have a quick look over any documentation you produce. A
second eye can often spot mistakes or highlight discrepancies which the writer can easily miss.
Risk registers
Risk registers were discussed in a previous chapter, and whilst
the production of these is usually the responsibility of the
PCBU, the information you document might be used to form
your organisation’s risk register. If you have the relevant
training and/or knowledge, you might also be asked to add to
or update the risk register using the information you have
gathered. If this is the case, you should familiarise yourself
with the appropriate format to follow, and the information
which is required. If you are ever unsure, communicate with
the relevant person before you go ahead with the task.
Inaccurate or incomplete risk registers pose a serious hazard
for any organisation, so it’s crucial that these are correct at all
times; it’s always better to ask for help than to put the safety
of others at risk.
“Registers, Manifests and Placards” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/registers-manifests-and-placards
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
P a g e | 22
Activity 2A
P a g e | 23
2.2 – Participate in consultation processes with workers to identify hazardous
chemicals in the workplace
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Take part in a group discussion to identify hazardous chemicals present in the
workplace.
Consultation processes
The benefit of working as a team when identifying hazardous chemicals in the workplace was identified
in the previous chapter. We will now explore the process of consultation in more detail.
Consultation is a two-way process and will involve collaborative communication with your colleagues.
Consultation will involve you:
➢ Talking to each other about determined
subjects
➢ Listening to worker’s concerns and raising
your concerns
➢ Seeking and sharing views and information
➢ Considering what your workers say before
you make decisions
➢ Advising workers of the outcome of
consultation in a timely manner.
“Consultation with Workers Safe Work SA:
https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/resources/work-health-and-safety-consultation-co-operation-and-coordination
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Consultation doesn’t always need to be a formal process such as a meeting; it can simply involve talking
to each other on a regular basis to seek information or opinions about workplace matters.
Active listening
When engaging in consultative processes, it’s important that you practice active listening. So often,
when we communicate with others, we are listening but not really hearing. Active listening allows us to
take a step back and really pay attention to what others are saying.
P a g e | 24
Here are some simple steps for practising active listening:
➢ Pay full attention – make eye contact and demonstrate
prompts such as nodding your head to show the person that
you are engaged and understanding their point(s)
➢ Don’t interrupt – let the other person finish their point before
you respond. Too often information is misunderstood or
missed completely by our eagerness to cut in with ideas or
questions before we let the other person make their points
➢ Aim to understand – rather than focusing on your response,
focus on your understanding of the point(s) being made. A
good way to do this is to paraphrase the things the speaker has
said, and ask any questions relating to this.
P a g e | 25
Activity 2B
P a g e | 26
2.3 – Identify tasks that may expose workers to hazardous chemicals used in the
workplace
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Identify a range of tasks performed in their workplace which may expose workers to
hazardous chemicals.
Hazardous tasks
To effectively control the risks posed by the use of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, it will be
necessary to determine the circumstances in which workers are most likely to be exposed. This will
mean assessing the role of workers in your organisation and the activities they are responsible for.
You should look to identify:
➢ The level of exposure
➢ The duration of exposure.
The best way to do this will be to observe workers as they carry out their daily activities. This will give
you a realistic insight into the type of level of exposure they experience.
As mentioned previously, exposure isn’t just direct contact with a chemical, so when carrying out
observations, you should take into consideration the surroundings of the worker as well as their
individual tasks.
Safe Work Australia outlines a number of different case studies exploring worker exposure to a
variety of hazardous chemicals. These can be found at the following website:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/chemicals#reportcasestudy
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Risk assessments
Carrying out a risk assessment will allow you to determine when, where, and how workers are exposed
to chemical-related risks.
A risk assessment will aim to determine:
➢ How severe a risk is
➢ Whether any existing control measures are
effective
➢ What action you should take to control the
risk
➢ How urgently the action needs to be taken.
P a g e | 27
In some circumstances, legislation will determine specific risk controls for the use, storage, and/or
transportation of hazardous chemicals. In this case, you won’t be required to carry out a risk assessment
for this specific chemical, and the outlined control measures can simply be implemented.
More information about risk assessments and how they should be carried out can be found at the
following website:
“Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Health and Safety Risks” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/model-code-practice-how-manage-work-health-andsafety-risks#3-step-2how-to-assess-risks
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Once a risk assessment has been carried out, relevant personnel within a workplace can then develop
and implement appropriate methods to control any risks identified. Control methods will be explored in
more detail later in the unit.
P a g e | 28
Activity 2C
P a g e | 29
3. Contribute to the control of hazardous chemicals in the
workplace

Selecting additional control measures

3.3. Participate in selecting additional control measures for implementation, as required

3.5. Contribute to ensuring control measures are maintained according to organisational procedures
P a g e | 30
3.1 – Use WHS laws and guidance notes in relation to hazardous chemicals to
identify controls to remove or reduce worker exposure
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Outline one control measure to remove or reduce worker exposure to hazardous
chemicals in their workplace.
Establishing control measures
Establishing, implementing, and maintaining effective control measures will help to ensure that the risk
posed by hazardous chemicals is minimised during all working practices.
The hierarchy of control measures
The hierarchy of control measures ranks the ways of controlling risks for the highest level of protection
and reliability to the lowest. WHS regulations make it mandatory for duty holders to work through this
hierarchy when managing certain risks in the workplace.
The following image outlines the hierarchy of control measures:
As you can see from the image, the most effective method of controlling a risk is to eliminate it
altogether. Where possible, this step should be taken. However, chemicals are a huge part of the dayto-day functioning for many businesses, and so it will not be reasonable to do this.
P a g e | 31
Take a cleaning company, for example, cleaning staff will be required to use, handle, transport, and
store hazardous chemicals on a day-to-day basis, and whilst certain chemicals can be swapped out for
safer options, it’s likely that there will always be hazardous chemicals in use. It will then be necessary
for the cleaning company to work their way through the hierarchy to determine how they can keep the
risk posed by the chemicals to a minimum.
More information, including a more in-depth breakdown of each way of controlling risks, can be found
at the following website:
“Identify, Assess, and Control Hazards” Safe Work Australia:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/model-code-practice-how-manage-work-health-andsafety-risks#41-the-hierarchy-of-control-measures
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
P a g e | 32
Activity 3A
P a g e | 33
3.2 – Assess effectiveness of current control measures according to WHS laws,
guidance notes, and organisational policies and procedures
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ List three example circumstances in which a review of current control measures will be
required according to the policies of their organisation or the WHS laws governing their
workplace
➢ Outline one method which can be used to assess the effectiveness of current control
measures.
Assessing effectiveness of current controls
To ensure that control measures remain appropriate and effective, your workplace should aim to assess
them on a regular basis. Any assessment methods should be agreed with the relevant personnel
beforehand to ensure that everybody is on board, and all relevant factors have been considered.
There are many different ways to assess the effectiveness
of current control measures. For example, you might
gather information from:
➢ Hazard, incident and investigation reports
➢ Complaints
➢ Worker surveys
➢ Consultation with health and safety
representatives and work teams
➢ Workers’ injury management data
➢ Direct observations in the workplace.
“Monitoring Effectiveness of Controls” Government of
Western Australia:
https://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Safety/Monitoring-effectiveness-of-25397.aspx
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
Different methods of assessment will, of course, provide different outcomes. You should work with your
colleagues to determine what you are aiming to achieve and the methods which you think will help
achieve the desired answers.
When should control measures be assessed?
As already mentioned, assessment of current control measures should take place on a regular basis.
This is important as it ensure that any ineffective methods are not in place for a prolonged period of
time. Your organisation should outline a suitable time period in which controls should be formally
assessed. This might be weekly, monthly, or annually, for example, depending on the control measure
and the nature of the related hazard.
P a g e | 34
As well as according to agreed timeframes, there are specific occasions in which control measures
should be assessed.
These include when:
➢ A new hazard or risk is identified
➢ A control measure is not effective in minimising the risk
➢ A significant workplace change is planned (e.g. a change to the work environment or
systems of work)
➢ Consultation indicates operational challenges to effective implementation (e.g.
practicability issues, concerns raised by safety and health representatives).
“Monitoring Effectiveness of Controls” Government of Western Australia:
https://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Safety/Monitoring-effectiveness-of-25397.aspx
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
WHS laws
Under certain conditions, assessing current control measures will be a mandatory process in accordance
with relevant WHS laws in the workplace.
The legal requirements regarding when a review will be necessary might differ depending on the
legislation governing the location of your workplace.
For example, the WHS regulation covering Queensland determines that a review is required:
➢ When the control measure does not control
the risk it was implemented to control
➢ Before a change at the workplace which is
likely to give rise to a new or different health
and safety risk that the control measure may
not effectively control
➢ If a new hazard or risk is identified
➢ If the results of consultation indicate that a
review is necessary
➢ If a health and safety representative requests a review and they reasonably believe
that a circumstance referred to above affects or may affect the health and safety of a
member of the workgroup they represent.
“Managing Risk” WorkCover Queensland:
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-safety/managing-risks/managing-risk
(Accessed 11.10.2019)
P a g e | 35
You should familiarise yourself with the relevant WHS laws and regulations regarding the assessment of
current control measures to ensure that the practices of your organisation are effective and up to date.
Organisational policies and procedures
As well as WHS laws and regulations, you will also need to factor in any specific policies and/or
procedures of your organisation regarding the assessment of current control measures. Organisational
procedures will tend to reflect the relevant WHS laws, but they may also outline individual
circumstances in which a review of current control measures is required. This might include specific
methods for assessment or time periods in which assessment should take place, for example.
P a g e | 36
Activity 3B
P a g e | 37
3.3 – Participate in selecting additional control measures for implementation, as
required
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
➢ Work as a team to identify relevant additional control measures.
Additional control measures
There are many benefits to having additional control measures in place. For example, even if you have
full confidence in the control measures implemented, additional control measures can be implemented
as a backup – there is no such thing as too safe! Alternatively, additional control measures can be
implemented in the case that none of the control measures outlined in the hierarchy of risk controls are
practical. Additional controls can also be used in emergency situations when other control measures
have failed.
Just as the control measures previously discussed,
additional control measures should be relevant to the
specific risk posed by the hazardous chemicals present in
your workplace. By nature though, additional control
measures will likely be less precise, and used as a more
generalised way to control such risks.
Examples of additional controls include:
➢ Reducing the number of workers exposed
to the chemical (for example by performing the task out of normal work hours or by
restricting worker access to certain areas)
➢ Reducing the duration and/or frequency of workers’ exposure through specific work
procedures (for example, job rotation)
➢ Reducing quantities of hazardous chemicals through inventory reduction
➢ Implementing procedures to prevent introduction of ignition sources into hazardous
areas
➢ Implementing procedures to prevent introduction of ignition sources into hazardous
areas
➢ Safe work practices, including good housekeeping, regular cleaning of work areas, etc.
➢ Changing packaging material to minimise exposure during handling.
“Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice” Safe Work Australia
(2012)
(Accessed 11.10.2019)

Assignment online is a team of top-class experts whose only goal is to give you the best assignment help service. Follow the link below to order now...

#write essay #research paper