Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1999
i
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous
Substances) Regulations 1999
S.R. No. 143/1999
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Regulation Page
PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1
100. Objective 1
101. Authorising provision 1
102. Commencement 1
103. Definitions 1
104. Application of these Regulations 7
105. Authority may grant exemptions from these Regulations 7
106. Publication date of amendments to incorporated documents 10
107. Date of effect of amendments to incorporated documents 11
108. Inconsistencies between provisions 11
PART 2—DUTIES WHICH APPLY TO MANUFACTURERS,
IMPORTERS AND SUPPLIERS 12
Division 1—General 12
200. Application of this Part 12
201. Certain regulations not to apply 12
Division 2—Classification of Substances 12
202. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to determine whether a
substance is a hazardous substance 12
203. Recognition of equivalent determinations 12
Division 3—Material Safety Data Sheet 13
204. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to prepare MSDS and to
disclose ingredients of hazardous substances on MSDS 13
205. Recognition of MSDS prepared in accordance with other
jurisdictions' legislation 15
206. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to review and revise MSDS 15
207. Manufacturer's, importer's and supplier's duty to provide current
MSDS 16
-- 1 of 57 --
Regulation Page
ii
Division 4—Labels 16
208. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to label containers 16
209. Recognition of other labelling systems 18
210. Supplier's duty to ensure container is labelled 19
211. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to disclose commercially
confidential information to a registered medical practitioner 19
PART 3—DUTIES WHICH APPLY TO EMPLOYERS 20
Division 1—Prohibitions 20
300. Employer's and self-employed person's duty to ensure prohibited
hazardous substances are not used 20
Division 2—Employer's Duties 20
301. Scope of this Division 20
302. Employer's duty to obtain MSDS and to ensure that MSDS is
accessible to employees 21
303. Employer's duty to ensure information in MSDS is not altered 21
304. Employer's duty to ensure that containers are labelled 21
305. Employer's duty to ensure container remains labelled until
cleaned 22
306. Employer's duty to identify hazardous substances in systems 22
307. Employer's duty to keep a register 23
308. Employer's duty to undertake risk assessment 23
309. Employer may make a generic risk assessment 24
310. Employer's duty to keep record of risk assessment 25
311. Employer's duty to review and revise risk assessment 25
312. Employer's general duty to undertake control of risk 25
313. Employer's duty to undertake specific measures to control risk 26
314. Employer's duty to ensure risk control measures are properly
used and maintained 26
315. Employer's duty to ensure exposure standard is not exceeded 27
316. Employer's duty to undertake atmospheric monitoring 27
317. Employer's duty in relation to records of atmospheric monitoring 27
318. Employer's duty to provide health surveillance 28
319. Employer's duty to keep health surveillance reports confidential 30
320. Employer's duty to keep records of health surveillance for
30 years 30
321. Employer's duty to provide information, instruction and training
to employees 30
322. Employer to consult health and safety representative in certain
circumstances 31
PART 4—ADDITIONAL DUTIES WHICH APPLY TO
CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES 32
-- 2 of 57 --
Regulation Page
iii
Division 1—Preliminary 32
400. Definitions 32
Division 2—Controls on Supply and Use of Scheduled Carcinogenic
Substances 34
401. Supplier's duty to keep record of supply 34
402. Prohibition on use of scheduled carcinogenic substances 34
Division 3—Licences 35
403. How to apply for a licence to use a scheduled carcinogenic
substance 35
404. Authority must confirm receipt of a licence application 36
405. Issue of licence to use a scheduled carcinogenic substance 36
406. Refusal or deferral of a licence to use a scheduled carcinogenic
substance 37
407. Authority must provide applicant with written notice in relation
to licence 37
408. Authority may impose licence conditions 38
409. Request to amend, suspend or cancel a licence 38
410. Authority may amend a licence 38
411. Procedure for suspending or cancelling a licence 39
412. Authority may suspend or cancel a licence 41
413. Surrender of an amended, suspended or cancelled licence 41
414. Authority must be advised of any changes to licence information 41
Division 4—Review of Decisions Relating to Licences 42
415. Review of Authority's decisions 42
Division 5—Notifications 43
416. How to notify an intention to use a Schedule 2 carcinogenic
substance at a laboratory 43
417. Authority must confirm receipt of a notification 44
418. Authority must be advised of any changes to a notification 44
Division 6—Miscellaneous 45
419. Employer must maintain records 45
420. Employer must provide employees with written statements 45
Division 7—Transitional Provisions Relating to Warrants 46
421. Definitions 46
-- 3 of 57 --
Regulation Page
iv
422. Warrants to continue to have effect 46
423. Delayed commencement for carcinogens not requiring a warrant 47
__________________
SCHEDULE—Fees 49
═══════════════
NOTES 50
-- 4 of 57 --
1
STATUTORY RULES 1999
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous
Substances) Regulations 1999
The Governor in Council makes the following Regulations:
Dated: 14 December 1999
Responsible Minister:
BOB CAMERON
Minister for WorkCover
HELEN DOYE
Clerk of the Executive Council
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
100. Objective
The objective of these Regulations is to protect
people at work against risks to their health
associated with the use of hazardous substances.
101. Authorising provision
These Regulations are made under section 59 of
the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985.
102. Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 1 June
2000.
103. Definitions
-- 5 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
2
(1) In these Regulations—
"administrative controls" means systems of
work or safe work practices designed to
prevent or minimise exposure to hazardous
substances;
"Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous
Substances" means the Approved Criteria
for Classifying Hazardous Substances
published by the National Occupational
Health and Safety Commission, as amended
or published from time to time;
"atmospheric monitoring" means a procedure
whereby air is sampled within the breathing
zone of the worker to evaluate personal
exposure to airborne contaminants;
"biological monitoring" means the measurement
and evaluation of a hazardous substance, or
its metabolites, in the body tissue, fluids or
exhaled air of an exposed person;
"breathing zone" means a hemisphere of
300 mm. radius extending in front of a
person's face measured from the mid-point of
an imaginary straight line joining the ears;
"chemical name" in relation to a substance,
means its scientific or technical name;
"container" means anything in or by which a
hazardous substance is or has been wholly or
partly encased, covered, enclosed, contained
or packed (whether empty, partially full or
full) but does not include the fuel tank of a
vehicle, or a tank or bulk container within
the meaning of the Australian Code for the
Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and
Rail, published by the Australian
-- 6 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
3
Government Publishing Service, as amended
or published from time to time;
"current MSDS" means the most recent MSDS,
including any revised version of the MSDS,
prepared by the manufacturer or importer of
the hazardous substance;
"dangerous goods" means dangerous goods
within the meaning of the Dangerous Goods
Act 1985;
"engineering controls" means physical controls
designed to prevent or minimise employee
exposure to hazardous substances either by
suppressing or containing the substances at
the source, or by minimising the airborne
level of the substances in the work
environment;
"equivalent legislation" means legislation of
another Australian jurisdiction relating to the
use of hazardous substances at a workplace;
"exposure standard" means an airborne
concentration of a particular substance in a
person's breathing zone, as set out in the
Adopted National Exposure Standards for
Atmospheric Contaminants in the
Occupational Environment published by the
National Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, as amended or published from
time to time;
"generic name" in relation to a substance, means
a name that describes the category or group
of chemicals to which the substance belongs;
"hazard" means the potential to cause injury,
illness or disease;
"hazardous substance" means a substance
that—
r. 103
-- 7 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
4
(a) is listed in the List of Designated
Hazardous Substances; or
(b) meets the criteria for a hazardous
substance set out in the Approved
Criteria for Classifying Hazardous
Substances;
"health surveillance" means the monitoring of
an individual's health for the purpose of
identifying changes in their health status due
to occupational exposure to a hazardous
substance, and may include biological
monitoring;
"ingredient" means any component of a
substance (including impurities);
"List of Designated Hazardous Substances"
means the following sections of the List of
Designated Hazardous Substances published
by the National Occupational Health and
Safety Commission, as amended or
published from time to time—
(a) the section entitled "CAS Number
index"; and
(b) the section entitled "Alphabetical
index";
"MSDS" means the Material Safety Data Sheet
required to be prepared under regulation 204
or prepared by the manufacturer or importer
in accordance with equivalent legislation;
"National Model Regulations for the Control of
Workplace Hazardous Substances" means
the National Model Regulations for the
Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances
published by the National Occupational
Health and Safety Commission as amended
or published from time to time;
r. 103
-- 8 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
5
"National Occupational Health and Safety
Commission" means the National
Occupational Health and Safety Commission
established under section 6 of the National
Occupational Health and Safety Commission
Act 1985 of the Commonwealth;
"product name" in relation to a hazardous
substance, means the brand name or trade
name given to the substance by the
manufacturer, importer or supplier of the
substance;
"registered medical practitioner" means a
registered medical practitioner within the
meaning of the Medical Practice Act 1994;
"retail warehouse operator" means a person
who operates a warehouse where unopened
packaged goods intended for retail sale are
held on the premises;
"risk" means the likelihood of injury, illness or
disease arising from exposure to a hazardous
substance;
"risk phrase" means a phrase that describes the
hazards of a substance as provided in
Appendix I (Risk Phrases (Health Effects
only)) of the List of Designated Hazardous
Substances, published by the National
Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, as amended or published from
time to time;
"safety phrase" means a phrase that describes
the precautions to be taken for the safe use of
the substance as provided in Appendix III
(Safety Phrases) of the List of Designated
Hazardous Substances, published by the
National Occupational Health and Safety
r. 103
-- 9 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
6
Commission, as amended or published from
time to time;
"type I ingredient" in relation to a hazardous
substance, means a Type I ingredient within
the meaning of Schedule 1 to the National
Model Regulations for the Control of
Workplace Hazardous Substances;
"type II ingredient" in relation to a hazardous
substance, means a Type II ingredient within
the meaning of Schedule 1 to the National
Model Regulations for the Control of
Workplace Hazardous Substances;
"type III ingredient" in relation to a hazardous
substance, means a Type III ingredient
within the meaning of Schedule 1 to the
National Model Regulations for the Control
of Workplace Hazardous Substances;
"use" in relation to a substance, includes the
production, handling, storage or disposal of
the substance;
"Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal"
means the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal established under
section 8 of the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Act 1998.
(2) In relation to a substance, any reference in these
Regulations to—
(a) a "manufacturer" is a reference to a person
who manufactures that substance for sale or
exchange for use at a workplace; and
(b) an "importer" is a reference to a person
who imports that substance for sale or
exchange for use at a workplace; and
r. 103
-- 10 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
7
(c) a "supplier" is a reference to a person who
supplies that substance for sale or exchange
for use at a workplace.
(3) In these Regulations, any reference to "first
supplied" or "first used" or "on or before the
first occasion" must be read to mean the first
time the hazardous substance is supplied or used
on or after 1 June 2000.
104. Application of these Regulations
(1) These Regulations do not apply to the following
types of substances if their use is not related to a
work activity—
(a) food within the meaning of the Food Act
1984; or
(b) therapeutic goods within the meaning of the
Therapeutic Goods (Victoria) Act 1994; or
(c) cosmetics; or
(d) tobacco, or products made of tobacco; or
(e) toiletries and toilet products.
(2) These Regulations do not apply to—
(a) radioactive substances within the meaning of
Division 2AA of Part V of the Health Act
1958; or
(b) any culture or preparation of pathogenic
micro-organisms or other material capable of
causing disease in humans in respect of
which regulations may be made under
section 146(1)(n) of the Health Act 1958; or
(c) asbestos within the meaning of the
Occupational Health and Safety (Asbestos)
Regulations 1992.
105. Authority may grant exemptions from these
Regulations
r. 104
-- 11 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
8
(1) The Authority may, of its own volition or on the
written application of any person, exempt—
(a) a specific hazardous substance or a class of
hazardous substances; or
(b) any person; or
(c) any class of people—
from any requirement of, or prohibition in, these
Regulations.
(2) If the Authority grants an exemption under—
(a) sub-regulation (1)(a), the Authority must be
satisfied that an equivalent level of health
and safety can be achieved for the use of the
hazardous substance or class of hazardous
substances at a workplace as would be
achieved if these Regulations had been
complied with;
(b) sub-regulation (1)(b), the Authority must be
satisfied that the person is capable of
achieving an equivalent level of health and
safety for the use of a hazardous substance at
a workplace under the person's control or
management as would be achieved if the
person had complied with these Regulations;
(c) sub-regulation (1)(c), the Authority must be
satisfied that the people in the class are
capable of achieving an equivalent level of
health and safety for the use of a hazardous
substance at a workplace under their control
or management as would be achieved if they
had complied with these Regulations.
(3) The Authority may impose conditions on an
exemption in relation to—
-- 12 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
9
(a) the commencement date and duration of the
exemption; and
(b) risk control measures to be used or
implemented; and
(c) any—
(i) atmospheric monitoring; or
(ii) health surveillance; or
(iii) information, instruction and training; or
(iv) recording or keeping of health and
safety information—
associated with the use of a hazardous
substance at a workplace; and
(d) the reporting of information or results of
atmospheric monitoring or health
surveillance to the Authority; and
(e) limits on the quantity of a hazardous
substance to be used at the workplace; and
(f) a requirement for the applicant to give notice
that an exemption has been granted and any
conditions of the exemption to any specified
person who may be affected by the
exemption.
(4) If the Authority exempts a specific hazardous
substance or a class of hazardous substances
under sub-regulation (1)(a), or grants an
exemption to a class of people under sub-
regulation (1)(c), the Authority must place a
notice in the Government Gazette stating that an
exemption has been made or granted.
(5) If the Authority refuses to grant an exemption, the
Authority must notify the person who applied for
the exemption of the reasons for the refusal in
writing.
r. 105
-- 13 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
10
(6) The Authority may vary the conditions of an
exemption or revoke an exemption at any time by
way of a written notice to the person to whom the
exemption applies.
(7) The notice must include the Authority's reasons
for varying the conditions of the exemption or
revoking the exemption.
(8) A variation of the conditions of an exemption or
the revocation of an exemption takes effect—
(a) on the date on which the person to whom the
exemption applies is given written notice of
the variation or revocation; or
(b) on the date specified in the written notice,
which must be a date later than the date on
which the person to whom the exemption
applies is given the notice.
(9) An application for exemption may be made for
more than one hazardous substance.
(10) The Authority may charge a fee calculated at the
rate specified in the Schedule for the
consideration of an application for exemption.
106. Publication date of amendments to incorporated
documents
For the purposes of these Regulations, an
amendment to any document incorporated,
applied or referred to in these Regulations is
published either—
(a) on the date it is published in the Government
Gazette of the Commonwealth; or
(b) on the date on which the notice of its making
is published in the Government Gazette of
the Commonwealth—
whichever occurs first.
r. 106
-- 14 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
11
107. Date of effect of amendments to incorporated
documents
If the effect of an amendment to any document
incorporated, applied or referred to in these
Regulations is—
(a) to prohibit a hazardous substance or process,
the amendment takes effect on the day after
it is published;
(b) to impose a new obligation or alter an
existing obligation under these Regulations,
a person may choose to comply with these
Regulations as if the amendment had not
been made until the expiry of 6 months after
the date the amendment is published.
108. Inconsistencies between provisions
If a provision of any document incorporated,
applied or referred to in these Regulations is
inconsistent with any provision in these
Regulations, the provision of these Regulations
prevails.
_______________
r. 107
-- 15 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
12
PART 2—DUTIES WHICH APPLY TO MANUFACTURERS,
IMPORTERS AND SUPPLIERS
Division 1—General
200. Application of this Part
(1) This Part applies to the manufacture, supply and
importation of hazardous substances, including
lead-containing hazardous substances.
(2) In this Part, the duties of a manufacturer or a
supplier do not apply in relation to a substance
that is produced as a waste—
(a) during the process of manufacturing a
substance; or
(b) when a substance is used at a workplace.
201. Certain regulations not to apply
Regulations 202, 204 and 208 do not apply to
substances supplied to a workplace for the
purpose of scientific analysis or for determining
whether the substance is a hazardous substance.
Division 2—Classification of Substances
202. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to determine
whether a substance is a hazardous substance
A manufacturer or an importer of a substance
must determine whether the substance is a
hazardous substance before the substance is first
supplied for use at a workplace.
203. Recognition of equivalent determinations
(1) A manufacturer of a substance is not required to
determine whether the substance is a hazardous
substance under regulation 202 if the
manufacturer has already made a determination in
r. 200
-- 16 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
13
relation to the substance in accordance with
equivalent legislation.
(2) An importer of a substance is not required to
determine whether the substance is a hazardous
substance under regulation 202 if a determination
in relation to the substance has already been made
in accordance with equivalent legislation.
Division 3—Material Safety Data Sheet
204. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to prepare MSDS
and to disclose ingredients of hazardous substances
on MSDS
(1) A manufacturer or an importer of a hazardous
substance must ensure that a Material Safety Data
Sheet is prepared for the substance before the
substance is first supplied for use at a workplace.
(2) The Material Safety Data Sheet must be in
English and must contain—
(a) the date it was last reviewed or, if it has not
been reviewed, then the date of its
preparation; and
(b) the name, address and telephone number
of—
(i) the Australian manufacturer of the
substance; or
(ii) the person who imported the substance
into Australia; and
(c) an Australian telephone number from where
information can be obtained in an
emergency; and
(d) for the hazardous substance to which it
relates—
(i) the product name; and
r. 204
-- 17 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
14
(ii) the chemical and physical properties of
the substance; and
(iii) the name of the ingredients of the
substance to the extent required by sub-
regulation (3); and
(iv) for each ingredient of the substance that
is required to be identified with a
chemical or generic name under sub-
paragraph (iii), the proportion (or
proportion ranges) of the substance that
is constituted by the ingredient; and
(v) any relevant health hazard information
including first aid information; and
(vi) the exposure standard (if any) relevant
to the substance or any or all of its
ingredients; and
(vii) information relating to the precautions
to be followed in relation to the safe
use of the substance; and
(e) a statement that the substance is a hazardous
substance.
(3) For the purposes of sub-regulation (2)(d)(iii), the
following information in relation to the
ingredients of a hazardous substance must be
disclosed—
(a) for each type I ingredient, its chemical name;
and
(b) for each type II and type III ingredient—
(i) its chemical name; or
(ii) if the identity of the ingredient is
commercially confidential, its generic
name.
r. 204
-- 18 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
15
(4) If—
(a) a manufacturer or an importer considers that
compliance with sub-regulation (3)(b)(ii)
would not provide sufficient commercial
protection for a type III ingredient; and
(b) the type III ingredient is not a hazardous
substance; and
(c) the type III ingredient does not have a known
synergistic effect—
it is sufficient compliance with sub-regulation
(3)(b) if the manufacturer or importer states on the
MSDS in relation to that ingredient "other
ingredients determined not to be hazardous".
205. Recognition of MSDS prepared in accordance with
other jurisdictions' legislation
It is sufficient compliance with regulation 204 if a
manufacturer or an importer has already prepared
a MSDS for the substance in accordance with
equivalent legislation.
206. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to review and
revise MSDS
(1) A manufacturer or an importer of a hazardous
substance must ensure that the MSDS for a
substance is reviewed—
(a) as often as is necessary to ensure that the
MSDS contains accurate and current
information; and
(b) in any case, every 5 years.
(2) A manufacturer or an importer must ensure that a
MSDS is revised if a review reveals that the
MSDS does not contain accurate or current
information.
r. 205
-- 19 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
16
207. Manufacturer's, importer's and supplier's duty to
provide current MSDS
(1) A manufacturer, importer or supplier of a
hazardous substance must ensure that a copy of
the current MSDS for the substance is provided—
(a) to any person to whom the substance is
supplied on or before the first occasion that
the substance is supplied for use at a
workplace to that person; and
(b) if the MSDS is reviewed, to any person to
whom the substance is supplied for use at a
workplace on or before the first occasion that
the substance is supplied to that person after
the review; and
(c) to any employer on request.
(2) Sub-regulation (1) does not apply—
(a) if the supplier is a retailer or a retail
warehouse operator and the hazardous
substance is supplied in a consumer package;
or
(b) if a hazardous substance is supplied to the
fuel tank of a vehicle as fuel for that vehicle.
Division 4—Labels
208. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to label
containers
(1) A manufacturer or an importer of a hazardous
substance must label any container that contains a
hazardous substance before the substance is first
supplied for use at a workplace.
(2) Sub-regulation (1) does not apply where
containers of hazardous substances are supplied to
a workplace for the purposes of affixing the label
in order to comply with sub-regulation (1).
r. 207
-- 20 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
17
(3) The label must be in English, be legible and be
firmly secured, and must contain—
(a) the product name of the hazardous
substance; and
(b) the name, address and telephone number
of—
(i) the Australian manufacturer of the
substance; or
(ii) the importer; and
(c) information relating to each ingredient to the
extent required by sub-regulation (4); and
(d) any relevant health and safety information
about the substance, including the
substance's risk phrases and safety phrases,
unless the container is so small that it is not
practical to provide such information; and
(e) the word "hazardous" clearly and
prominently displayed unless signal words
have been provided in accordance with
legislation referred to in regulation 209.
(4) For the purposes of sub-regulation (3)(c), the
following information in relation to the
ingredients of a hazardous substance must be
disclosed—
(a) for each type I ingredient—its chemical
name; and
(b) for each type II ingredient—
(i) its chemical name; or
(ii) if the identity of the ingredient is
commercially confidential, its generic
name.
(5) In sub-regulation (3)(e), "signal words" means
words such as "dangerous poison", "poison",
r. 208
-- 21 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
18
"warning" or "caution" that are clearly and
prominently displayed on labels of substances to
indicate the relative severity of the hazard.
209. Recognition of other labelling systems
A manufacturer or an importer of a hazardous
substance need not comply with regulation 208
if—
(a) the container has already been labelled in
accordance with equivalent legislation; or
(b) the substance is an agricultural chemical
product within the meaning of the
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act
1988 of the Commonwealth and the
container is labelled in accordance with the
Australian Agricultural and Veterinary
Chemicals Council's Code of Practice for
Labelling Agricultural Chemical Products
published by the Australian Government
Publishing Service, as amended or published
from time to time; or
(c) the substance is a veterinary chemical
product within the meaning of the
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act
1988 of the Commonwealth and the
container is labelled in accordance with the
Australian Agricultural and Veterinary
Chemicals Council's Code of Practice for
Labelling Veterinary Chemical Products
published by the Australian Government
Publishing Service, as amended or published
from time to time; or
(d) the substance is "therapeutic goods" within
the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods
(Victoria) Act 1994 and the container is
labelled in accordance with an order in force
r. 209
-- 22 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
19
under section 10 of the Therapeutic Goods
Act 1989 of the Commonwealth.
210. Supplier's duty to ensure container is labelled
A supplier of a hazardous substance for use at a
workplace must ensure that the container in which
the substance is supplied is labelled with the
manufacturer's or importer's label.
211. Manufacturer's and importer's duty to disclose
commercially confidential information to a registered
medical practitioner
(1) A manufacturer or an importer of a hazardous
substance must disclose the chemical name of an
ingredient of the substance to a registered medical
practitioner if—
(a) the MSDS for the substance, or the label on
the container in which the substance is
supplied, does not disclose the chemical
name of the ingredient; and
(b) the medical practitioner requests the
chemical name of the ingredient to assist
with the management of a patient.
(2) A manufacturer or an importer must immediately
comply with a request from a registered medical
practitioner for the chemical name of an
ingredient of a hazardous substance.
(3) A registered medical practitioner to whom a
chemical name is disclosed under this regulation
must ensure that the chemical name is not used for
any purpose other than for the purpose of the
management of a patient.
_______________
r. 210
-- 23 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
20
PART 3—DUTIES WHICH APPLY TO EMPLOYERS
Division 1—Prohibitions
300. Employer's and self-employed person's duty to ensure
prohibited hazardous substances are not used
An employer or a self-employed person must
ensure that any hazardous substance—
(a) listed in Schedule 2 to the National Model
Regulations for the Control of Workplace
Hazardous Substances as a prohibited
substance; or
(b) determined by the Authority by notice
published in the Government Gazette to be a
prohibited substance—
is not used at the employer's or self-employed
person's workplace for any purpose specified in
that Schedule or notice in respect of that
substance.
Division 2—Employer's Duties
301. Scope of this Division
(1) This Division applies to substances that have been
determined under these Regulations or under
equivalent legislation to be hazardous substances
by the manufacturer or importer of the substances,
but does not apply to the use of inorganic lead,
lead metal or lead alloys at a workplace.
(2) In this Division, a reference to a risk associated
with the use of a hazardous substance at a
workplace includes a risk associated with any
consequential waste, intermediate or product.
(3) In this regulation, "inorganic lead" means lead
compounds and lead salts of organic acids.
r. 300
-- 24 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
21
302. Employer's duty to obtain MSDS and to ensure that
MSDS is accessible to employees
(1) An employer must ensure that a current MSDS is
obtained on or before the first occasion that a
hazardous substance is supplied to the employer's
workplace.
(2) An employer must ensure that the MSDS for a
hazardous substance is readily accessible to any
employee who has the potential to be exposed to
the substance.
303. Employer's duty to ensure information in MSDS is
not altered
An employer must ensure that the information in a
MSDS obtained under regulation 302(1) is not
altered.
304. Employer's duty to ensure that containers are labelled
(1) An employer must ensure that a container in
which a hazardous substance is supplied for use at
the employer's workplace is labelled with the
manufacturer's or importer's label.
(2) An employer must ensure that the label on a
container in which a hazardous substance is
supplied for use at the employer's workplace—
(a) remains legible; and
(b) is not removed, defaced or altered.
(3) An employer is not required to comply with sub-
regulation (1) if—
(a) the hazardous substance is contained in a
pipe, piping system, process vessel, reactor
vessel or other plant that forms part of a
manufacturing process; or
(b) the hazardous substance is decanted into a
container and—
r. 302
-- 25 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
22
(i) the container is clearly labelled with the
product name of the substance; or
(ii) if it is not practical to label the
container with the product name of the
substance, the employer uses some
other means of identifying the
substance.
(4) An employer is not required to comply with sub-
regulation (1) or (3)(b) if a decanted substance is
consumed immediately and the container is
immediately—
(a) cleaned after use to the extent that it is no
longer a risk to health; or
(b) neutralised, cured or chemically deactivated
after use to the extent that any residue is no
longer a risk to health.
305. Employer's duty to ensure container remains labelled
until cleaned
If a container that contains a hazardous substance
is required to be labelled under regulation 304, the
employer must ensure that the container remains
labelled until—
(a) it has been cleaned to the extent that it is no
longer a risk to health; or
(b) its contents have been neutralised, cured or
chemically deactivated to the extent that any
residue is no longer a risk to health.
306. Employer's duty to identify hazardous substances in
systems
An employer must ensure that a hazardous
substance contained in a pipe, piping system,
process vessel, reactor vessel or other plant that
forms part of a manufacturing process is identified
r. 305
-- 26 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
23
to employees who have the potential to be
exposed to the substance.
307. Employer's duty to keep a register
(1) An employer must ensure a register is kept and
maintained of all hazardous substances supplied to
the employer's workplace.
(2) The register must contain—
(a) a list of the product names of the hazardous
substances supplied to the employer's
workplace; and
(b) a copy of the MSDS for all the hazardous
substances supplied to the employer's
workplace.
(3) An employer must ensure that the register is
readily accessible to any employee who has the
potential to be exposed to a hazardous substance
at the employer's workplace.
(4) An employer is not required to comply with sub-
regulation (1) if the employer is a retailer or a
retail warehouse operator and—
(a) the hazardous substance is supplied in a
consumer package; and
(b) the consumer package is intended for retail
sale; and
(c) the consumer package is not intended to be
opened on the premises of the retailer or
retail warehouse operator.
308. Employer's duty to undertake risk assessment
(1) An employer must ensure that an assessment is
made to determine whether there is any risk
associated with the use of a hazardous substance
at the employer's workplace—
r. 307
-- 27 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
24
(a) before the substance is used for the first time
at the workplace; and
(b) for a substance in use at the workplace
before 1 June 2000, on or before 1
September 2000.
(2) An assessment under sub-regulation (1) may be
undertaken for a work process and may cover
more than one hazardous substance.
(3) The assessment must take into account—
(a) each hazardous substance used; and
(b) the information on the MSDS for each
hazardous substance; and
(c) the information on the manufacturer's or
importer's label; and
(d) the nature of the work required to be
performed with each hazardous substance;
and
(e) any information regarding incidents,
illnesses or diseases associated with the use
of the hazardous substance at the workplace.
309. Employer may make a generic risk assessment
(1) For the purposes of regulation 308, if one or more
hazardous substances are used in the same or
similar circumstances at more than one workplace
or at more than one work area within a workplace,
an employer may apply a single generic
assessment of representative work with the
substances to each of those workplaces or work
areas.
(2) If an employer applies a generic assessment under
sub-regulation (1), the employer must ensure that
it is appropriate to apply the assessment and that
all risks associated with the use of the hazardous
substances are taken into account.
r. 309
-- 28 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
25
310. Employer's duty to keep record of risk assessment
(1) An employer must record the results of any risk
assessment made in relation to a hazardous
substance and must retain the record of the results
while the assessment is relevant to the use of the
hazardous substance at the employer's workplace.
(2) An employer must ensure that a copy of the record
of the results is readily accessible to any employee
who has the potential to be exposed to the
substance.
311. Employer's duty to review and revise risk assessment
(1) An employer must ensure that a risk assessment is
reviewed and, where necessary, revised, or that
another assessment is carried out, if—
(a) the work activity or process changes
significantly; or
(b) there is evidence to indicate that the risk
assessment no longer adequately assesses the
risk associated with the use of a hazardous
substance at the employer's workplace.
(2) Despite sub-regulation (1), an employer must
ensure that a risk assessment is reviewed at
intervals not exceeding 5 years.
312. Employer's general duty to undertake control of risk
(1) An employer must ensure, in accordance with
regulation 313, that any risk associated with the
use of a hazardous substance at the employer's
workplace—
(a) is eliminated; or
(b) if it is not practicable to eliminate the risk, is
reduced so far as is practicable.
r. 310
-- 29 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
26
(2) Nothing in this Division (except regulation 301)
limits the operation of sub-regulation (1).
313. Employer's duty to undertake specific measures to
control risk
(1) For the purposes of complying with regulation
312, an employer must ensure that any risk
associated with the use of a hazardous substance
is controlled by—
(a) substituting the substance with—
(i) a substance that is less hazardous; or
(ii) a less hazardous form of the substance;
or
(b) isolating employees from the source of
exposure to the hazardous substance; or
(c) using engineering controls; or
(d) combining any of the control measures in
paragraphs (a), (b) or (c).
(2) If an employer has complied with sub-regulation
(1) so far as is practicable and a risk associated
with the use of a hazardous substance remains, the
employer must, so far as is practicable, use
administrative controls to reduce the risk.
(3) If an employer has complied with sub-regulations
(1) and (2) so far as is practicable and a risk
associated with the use of a hazardous substance
remains, the employer must control the risk by
providing personal protective equipment to
employees at risk.
314. Employer's duty to ensure risk control measures are
properly used and maintained
An employer must ensure that any control
measures used to control the risk associated with
r. 313
-- 30 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
27
the use of a hazardous substance are properly used
and maintained.
315. Employer's duty to ensure exposure standard is not
exceeded
An employer must ensure that an employee is not
exposed to an atmospheric concentration of a
hazardous substance in use at the workplace
above the exposure standard (if any) for the
substance or any or all of its ingredients.
316. Employer's duty to undertake atmospheric monitoring
(1) An employer must ensure that atmospheric
monitoring at the employer's workplace is
provided if, in relation to a hazardous substance
used at the workplace, there is an exposure
standard for the hazardous substance, and—
(a) there is uncertainty as to whether the
exposure standard may be exceeded; or
(b) atmospheric monitoring is necessary to
determine whether there is a risk to health.
(2) An employer must provide the results of any
atmospheric monitoring at the employer's
workplace as soon as is reasonably possible to any
employee who has been, or who has the potential
to be, exposed to the hazardous substance which
is the subject of the monitoring.
(3) An employer is not required to comply with sub-
regulation (1) in relation to a hazardous substance
if health surveillance is required for that substance
under regulation 318, and the health surveillance
includes biological monitoring.
317. Employer's duty in relation to records of atmospheric
monitoring
(1) An employer must retain a record of the results of
atmospheric monitoring for—
r. 315
-- 31 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
28
(a) a period not exceeding 30 years determined
by the Authority by notice published in the
Government Gazette; or
(b) if no period has been determined by the
Authority, 30 years.
(2) In determining a period for the purposes of sub-
regulation (1)(a), the Authority may specify
different periods for a hazardous substance or
class of hazardous substances.
(3) An employer must ensure that the record of
atmospheric monitoring is accessible to any
employee who has been, or who has the potential
to be, exposed to the hazardous substance which
is the subject of the monitoring.
318. Employer's duty to provide health surveillance
(1) An employer must ensure that health surveillance
for an employee is provided if—
(a) the employee is exposed to any hazardous
substance—
(i) listed in column 1 of Schedule 3 to the
National Model Regulations for the
Control of Workplace Hazardous
Substances (except asbestos); or
(ii) determined by the Authority by notice
published in the Government Gazette to
be a hazardous substance for which
health surveillance is required; and
(b) the exposure of the employee to the
hazardous substance is such that an adverse
effect on the employee's health is reasonably
likely to occur under the particular
conditions of work.
(2) The employer must ensure—
r. 318
-- 32 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
29
(a) that the health surveillance is performed
under the supervision of a registered medical
practitioner; and
(b) that a report of the health surveillance is
prepared and that a copy of the report is
given to the employer; and
(c) that the health surveillance report includes
(if relevant)—
(i) any indications of adverse health
effects identified by the registered
medical practitioner which may be
attributed to the hazardous substance;
and
(ii) any recommendations relating to the
need for the employer to take measures
to ensure that the employee is not
exposed to the substance for a specified
period of time; and
(iii) an interpretation of the results; and
(d) that health surveillance is undertaken at the
expense of the employer; and
(e) that the employee is given a copy of the
health surveillance report as soon as is
reasonably possible after the employer
receives it.
(3) If an employer receives advice from a registered
medical practitioner under sub-regulation (2)(c)(i)
that adverse health effects have been identified by
the health surveillance, the employer must ensure
that the measures to control the risk are reviewed
and if necessary, revised.
(4) If an employer receives recommendations under
sub-regulation (2)(c)(ii), the employer must
r. 318
-- 33 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
30
ensure that a copy of the health surveillance report
is provided to the Authority.
319. Employer's duty to keep health surveillance reports
confidential
An employer must ensure that a health
surveillance report provided under regulation
318(2) is kept confidential and may only release a
copy of the report to—
(a) an employee to whom the report relates; or
(b) a third party, if the employee to whom the
report relates authorises in writing access to
the report by the third party; or
(c) the Authority, if the employer is required
under regulation 318(4) to provide a copy of
the report to the Authority, or if the
Authority requests a copy of the report.
320. Employer's duty to keep records of health surveillance
for 30 years
(1) An employer must retain any health surveillance
report given to the employer under regulation
318(2) for—
(a) a period not exceeding 30 years determined
by the Authority by notice published in the
Government Gazette; or
(b) if no period has been determined by the
Authority, 30 years.
(2) In specifying a period for the purposes of sub-
regulation (1)(a), the Authority may specify
different periods for a hazardous substance or
class of hazardous substances.
321. Employer's duty to provide information, instruction
and training to employees
r. 319
-- 34 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
31
An employer must provide any employees who
use a hazardous substance as part of their work, or
who are likely to be exposed to a risk associated
with the use of a hazardous substance at the
employer's workplace, with such information,
instruction and training in relation to—
(a) the nature of the hazards and the risk
associated with the use of the substance; and
(b) the need for, and proper use, of measures to
control the risk—
as is necessary to enable the employees to perform
their work in a manner that is safe and without
risks to their health.
322. Employer to consult health and safety representative
in certain circumstances
An employer must, if practicable, when
undertaking in accordance with these
Regulations—
(a) any risk assessment; or
(b) control of risk processes—
relating to the use of hazardous substances that
may affect the health of any member of a
designated work group, consult with that group's
health and safety representative about the risk
assessment or control of risk processes, as the
case may be.
_______________
-- 35 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
32
PART 4—ADDITIONAL DUTIES WHICH APPLY TO
CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES
Division 1—Preliminary
400. Definitions
In this Part—
"laboratory" means a building, room or
designated area where a scheduled
carcinogenic substance is used for—
(a) scientific analysis or investigation; or
(b) research; or
(c) practical teaching;
"licence" means a licence issued by the Authority
under regulation 405 authorising the use
of—
(a) a Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance at
a laboratory; or
(b) a Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance at
a workplace other than a laboratory;
"licensee" means a holder of a licence;
"National Model Regulations for the Control of
Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances"
means the National Model Regulations for
the Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic
Substances published by the National
Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, as amended or published from
time to time;
"notification" means a notification sent to the
Authority of an intention to use a Schedule 2
carcinogenic substance at a laboratory;
r. 400
-- 36 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
33
"Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance" means—
(a) a substance (or any of its salts) listed in
Schedule 1 to the National Model
Regulations for the Control of
Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances
used as a pure substance or in a mixture
containing 0·1% or more of that
substance, determined as a
weight/weight (w/w) concentration for
solids or liquids and a volume/volume
(v/v) concentration for gases; but
(b) does not include amosite or crocidolite
as listed in that Schedule;
"Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance" means—
(a) benzene as listed in Schedule 2 to the
National Model Regulations for the
Control of Scheduled Carcinogenic
Substances; and
(b) any other substance (or any of its salts)
listed in Schedule 2 to the National
Model Regulations for the Control of
Scheduled Carcinogenic Substances
used as a pure substance or in a mixture
containing 0·1% or more of that
substance, determined as a
weight/weight (w/w) concentration for
solids or liquids and a volume/volume
(v/v) concentration for gases, except for
chrysoltile or cyclophosphamide as
listed in that Schedule;
"scheduled carcinogenic substance" means a
Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance or a
Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance;
r. 400
-- 37 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
34
"use" in the definitions of "laboratory",
"Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance" and
"Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance" and in
regulations 403(d), 403(e), 408(g), 416(1)(d)
and 416(1)(e) does not include production,
storage or disposal.
Division 2—Controls on Supply and Use of Scheduled
Carcinogenic Substances
401. Supplier's duty to keep record of supply
A person who supplies a scheduled carcinogenic
substance to an employer or a self-employed
person for use at the employer's or self-employed
person's workplace must—
(a) record—
(i) the name and address of the employer
or self-employed person; and
(ii) the name and quantity of the substance
supplied; and
(b) retain the record of supply for at least
5 years.
402. Prohibition on use of scheduled carcinogenic
substances
(1) An employer or a self-employed person must
ensure that a Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance is
not used at the employer's or self-employed
person's workplace unless—
(a) the substance is used at a laboratory; and
(b) the employer or self-employed person has a
licence to use the substance at that
workplace.
r. 401
-- 38 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
35
(2) An employer or a self-employed person must
ensure that a Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance is
not used at the employer's or self-employed
person's workplace unless—
(a) the substance is used at a workplace other
than a laboratory and the employer or self-
employed person has a licence to use that
substance; or
(b) the substance is used at a laboratory and
notification of the intention to use that
substance has been given in accordance with
Division 5 of this Part and has been
confirmed by the Authority.
(3) Sub-regulations (1) and (2) do not apply to a
scheduled carcinogenic substance that is supplied
to an employer or self-employed person in a
sealed container if the sealed container is not
intended to be opened on the premises of the
employer or self-employed person.
Division 3—Licences
403. How to apply for a licence to use a scheduled
carcinogenic substance
An application for a licence must be made to the
Authority in the form determined by the Authority
and must include—
(a) the name and business address of the
applicant; and
(b) the workplace address at which the
carcinogenic substance is intended to be
used; and
(c) the name of the carcinogenic substance; and
(d) the quantity of the carcinogenic substance
intended to be used each year; and
r. 403
-- 39 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
36
(e) the purposes for which the carcinogenic
substance is intended to be used; and
(f) a statement, supported by reasons, that the
elimination or substitution of the
carcinogenic substance is not practicable;
and
(g) a description of the control measures
intended to be put in place to eliminate risks
or reduce risks so far as is practicable and a
justification of those control measures; and
(h) the number of employees who might be
exposed to the carcinogenic substance; and
(i) the name and address of the intended
supplier of the carcinogenic substance.
404. Authority must confirm receipt of a licence
application
Within 14 days after receiving an application for a
licence, the Authority must advise the applicant in
writing that the application has been received.
405. Issue of licence to use a scheduled carcinogenic
substance
(1) Upon receipt of an application that complies with
regulation 403, the Authority may issue a licence
to an employer or self-employed person to use—
(a) a Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance at a
laboratory; or
(b) a Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance at a
workplace other than a laboratory.
(2) A licence expires 5 years after the day on which it
was issued.
(3) The Authority may charge a fee calculated at the
rate specified in the Schedule for the
r. 404
-- 40 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
37
consideration of an application for a licence under
this Part.
406. Refusal or deferral of a licence to use a scheduled
carcinogenic substance
The Authority may
(a) refuse to issue a licence; or
(b) defer the issuing of a licence; or
(c) request the person who applied for a licence
to provide additional information in relation
to any matter listed in regulation 403.
407. Authority must provide applicant with written notice
in relation to licence
(1) Within 60 days after receiving an application for a
licence, the Authority must give the applicant a
written notice stating—
(a) that the licence will be issued; or
(b) that the Authority has decided to refuse to
issue the licence and the reasons for the
refusal; or
(c) that the Authority has decided to defer the
issuing of the licence, the reasons for the
deferral and the steps that need to be taken
by the applicant before the licence
application will be re-considered.
(2) If the Authority decides—
(a) to refuse to issue a licence; or
(b) to defer the issuing of a licence—
the Authority must ensure that the written notice
invites the applicant to be heard by the Authority
in relation to the decision within 30 days after the
decision was made.
r. 406
-- 41 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
38
408. Authority may impose licence conditions
The Authority may impose on a licence any
conditions that it thinks appropriate in relation
to—
(a) the risk control measures to be used or
implemented by the licensee; and
(b) atmospheric monitoring; and
(c) health surveillance; and
(d) information, instruction and training; and
(e) the recording or keeping of health and safety
information; and
(f) the reporting of information relating to
atmospheric monitoring or health
surveillance to the Authority; and
(g) limits on the quantity of a scheduled
carcinogenic substance to be used at the
licensee's workplace; and
(h) the date, being a date not later than
12 months after the date of issue of the
licence, by which specified risk control
measures must be implemented.
409. Request to amend, suspend or cancel a licence
The Authority may amend, suspend or cancel a
licence on the written request of a licensee.
410. Authority may amend a licence
(1) The Authority may, of its own volition, amend a
licence.
(2) Before doing so, the Authority must give the
licensee written notice of the proposed
amendment.
r. 408
-- 42 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
39
(3) The notice must—
(a) set out the proposed amendment and the
reasons for it; and
(b) invite the licensee to be heard by the
Authority in relation to the proposed
amendment; and
(c) specify a period of not less than 14 days
within which the licensee may accept the
invitation to be heard by the Authority.
(4) After hearing and considering any representations
made by the licensee in the time allowed, the
Authority may amend the licence by way of a
second written notice to the licensee.
(5) The notice must—
(a) set out the amendment; and
(b) specify the date on which the amendment is
to take effect; and
(c) contain a copy of regulation 415.
(6) In specifying the date that the amendment is to
take effect, the Authority must not specify a date
that is less than 30 days after the licensee is given
the notice.
(7) However, if in the opinion of the Authority there
exists an immediate risk to health or safety, the
Authority may specify that the amendment is to
take effect on a date that is within the 30 day
period.
411. Procedure for suspending or cancelling a licence
(1) The Authority may, of its own volition or after
receiving a complaint, conduct an inquiry into
whether there is proper cause for the suspension
or cancellation of a licence.
r. 411
-- 43 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
40
(2) There is proper cause for suspending or cancelling
a licence if—
(a) the licensee has not complied with any
condition of the licence; or
(b) a charge against the licensee under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985
or any regulations made under that Act has
been found proven by a court; or
(c) the licence was obtained on the basis of false
or misleading information or a failure to
disclose particular information; or
(d) the licensee ceases to carry on business at
the address to which the licence relates; or
(e) the licensee has not complied with these
Regulations; or
(f) the Authority is satisfied that there is an
immediate risk to health.
(3) The Authority must give the licensee written
notice of an inquiry.
(4) The notice must—
(a) set out what the inquiry is into and the
reasons for conducting it; and
(b) invite the licensee to attend the inquiry; and
(c) specify a period of not less than 14 days
within which the licensee may accept the
invitation to attend the inquiry.
(5) Unless the Authority is satisfied that there are
exceptional circumstances, an inquiry must not
start until 14 days after the licensee is given the
written notice.
r. 411
-- 44 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
41
412. Authority may suspend or cancel a licence
(1) If, after conducting an inquiry, the Authority is
satisfied that there is proper cause under
regulation 411(2) for suspending or cancelling a
licence, the Authority may suspend or cancel the
licence by way of a written notice to the licensee.
(2) The notice must—
(a) set out the suspension or cancellation; and
(b) specify the date on which the suspension or
cancellation is to take effect; and
(c) contain a copy of regulation 415.
(3) In specifying the date that the suspension or
cancellation is to take effect, the Authority must
not specify a date that is less than 30 days after
the licensee is given the notice.
(4) However, if in the opinion of the Authority there
exists an immediate risk to health or safety, the
Authority may specify that the suspension or
cancellation is to take effect on a date that is
within the 30 day period.
413. Surrender of an amended, suspended or cancelled
licence
If the Authority amends, suspends or cancels a
licence and the amendment, suspension or
cancellation has taken effect, the licensee must
surrender the original licence to an inspector or
the Authority on demand.
414. Authority must be advised of any changes to licence
information
If any changes occur to the information required
under regulation 403 for a licence, the licensee
must ensure that the Authority is advised of those
changes as soon as is reasonably possible.
r. 412
-- 45 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
42
Division 4—Review of Decisions Relating to Licences
415. Review of Authority's decisions
(1) Any employer or self-employed person who may
be affected by a final decision of the Authority in
relation to—
(a) a refusal to issue a licence; or
(b) a deferral of the issuing of a licence; or
(c) an amendment to a licence; or
(d) a particular condition of a licence; or
(e) a suspension or cancellation of a licence—
may apply to the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal for a review of a decision
of the Authority.
(2) An application for a review must be made within
30 days after the later of—
(a) the day the employer or self-employed
person is given written notice by the
Authority of the decision;
(b) if, under the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal Act 1998, the
employer or self-employed person requests a
statement of reasons for the decision, the day
on which the statement of reasons is given to
the employer or self-employed person or the
employer or self-employed person is
informed under section 46(5) of that Act that
a statement of reasons will not be given.
(3) If an employer or self-employed person applies
for a review of a decision within the specified 30
days, the decision is stayed until—
(a) the application is withdrawn by the employer
or self-employed person; or
r. 415
-- 46 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
43
(b) the employer or self-employed person is
given a document setting out the terms of the
decision of the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal on the appeal.
Division 5—Notifications
416. How to notify an intention to use a Schedule 2
carcinogenic substance at a laboratory
(1) A notification must be given to the Authority in
the form determined by the Authority and must
include—
(a) the name and business address of the person
giving it; and
(b) the workplace address at which the
carcinogenic substance is intended to be
used; and
(c) the name of the carcinogenic substance; and
(d) the quantity of the carcinogenic substance
intended to be used each year; and
(e) the purposes for which the carcinogenic
substance is intended to be used; and
(f) a description of the control measures
intended to be put in place to eliminate the
risks associated with the use of the
carcinogenic substance or to reduce those
risks so far as is practicable and a
justification of those control measures; and
(g) the number of employees who might be
exposed to the carcinogenic substance; and
(h) the name and address of the intended
supplier of the carcinogenic substance.
r. 416
-- 47 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
44
(2) A notification must be accompanied by the
relevant fee specified in the Schedule.
(3) An employer or self-employed person must
re-notify the Authority of an intention to use a
Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance in a laboratory
every 5 years after the date on which the
Authority provided confirmation of any previous
notification.
417. Authority must confirm receipt of a notification
(1) Within 30 days after receiving a notification, the
Authority must give the person who sent the
notification a written notice stating—
(a) that the notification is confirmed; or
(b) that confirmation of the notification is
deferred due to—
(i) inadequate information being provided;
or
(ii) a failure to provide the required fee;
and
(c) if inadequate information is provided, what
further information is required.
(2) Any information or fee submitted in response to
any advice given under sub-regulation (1)(b) must
be treated as if it were a notification.
(3) If the Authority fails to comply with sub-
regulation (1) within 30 days after receiving a
notification, the notification is deemed to have
been confirmed and the Authority must ensure
that written notice of the deemed confirmation is
supplied to the person who gave the notification
as soon as is reasonably possible.
418. Authority must be advised of any changes to a
notification
r. 417
-- 48 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
45
If any changes occur to the information required
under regulation 416(1) for a notification, the
person who gave the notification must ensure that
the Authority is advised of those changes as soon
as is reasonably possible.
Division 6—Miscellaneous
419. Employer must maintain records
(1) An employer must maintain a record of every
employee who works with a scheduled
carcinogenic substance at the employer's
workplace.
(2) The record must contain—
(a) the employee's full name; and
(b) the employee's date of birth; and
(c) the employee's residential address during the
period that the employee worked with the
carcinogenic substance; and
(d) the name of each scheduled carcinogenic
substance that the employee worked with at
the employer's workplace; and
(e) the period of time over which the employee
worked with each of the scheduled
carcinogenic substances.
(3) The employer must retain the record for 30 years
from the date that the employee last worked with a
scheduled carcinogenic substance.
420. Employer must provide employees with written
statements
(1) An employer must give to an employee who
worked with a carcinogenic substance at the
employer's workplace a written statement at the
r. 419
-- 49 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
46
time of that employee's termination of
employment.
(2) The written statement must contain—
(a) the name of any scheduled carcinogenic
substance that the employee worked with at
the employer's workplace; and
(b) the period of time over which the employee
worked with the scheduled carcinogenic
substance; and
(c) details of how and where records kept under
regulation 419 may be obtained; and
(d) a statement advising the employee to have
periodical health assessments and details of
the types of tests that are relevant.
Division 7—Transitional Provisions Relating to Warrants
421. Definitions
In this Division—
"Order" means the Order to Subject to
Conditions or Restrictions the Supply and
Use of High Risk Carcinogenic Substances
made on 26 April 1995 under the Dangerous
Goods Act 1985 and published in the
Government Gazette on 27 April 1995;
"warrant" means a warrant issued under the
Order.
422. Warrants to continue to have effect
(1) If, immediately before 1 June 2000, a warrant
permitted a person to use a carcinogenic substance
that the person could only use under this Part with
a licence, the person may continue until
30 November 2000 to use that substance as if—
r. 421
-- 50 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
47
(a) the warrant was a licence issued by the
Authority under regulation 405; and
(b) the conditions and restrictions that applied to
the warrant under the Order, immediately
before this regulation came into operation,
were imposed by the Authority under
regulation 408.
(2) If, immediately before 1 June 2000, a warrant
permitted a person to use a carcinogenic substance
that the person could only use under this Part after
giving the Authority a notification, the person
may continue until 30 November 2000 to use that
substance as if—
(a) the person had given the Authority the
notification; and
(b) the Authority had given the person a written
notice of confirmation under regulation 417.
(3) This regulation expires on 1 December 2000.
423. Delayed commencement for carcinogens not
requiring a warrant
(1) This regulation applies if an employer or self-
employed person—
(a) used a substance at a workplace before this
regulation came into operation; and
(b) was not required to hold a warrant under the
Order to use that substance; and
(c) is required to hold a licence or give a
notification under this Part to use that
substance at a workplace.
(2) The employer or self-employed person may
continue to use the substance without a licence or
without giving a notification (as the case may be)
until 30 November 2000.
r. 423
-- 51 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
48
(3) This regulation expires on 1 December 2000.
__________________
-- 52 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
49
SCHEDULE
FEES
1. The fee for the consideration of an application for an exemption under
regulation 105(10) is $51 for each hour or part of an hour with a
maximum fee of $1938.
2. The fee for the assessment of a licence application under regulation
405(3) is $51 for each hour or part of an hour with a maximum fee of
$1632.
3. The fee for the assessment of a notification under regulation 416(2) is
$54.
═══════════════
Sch.
-- 53 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
50
NOTES
Table of Applied, Adopted or Incorporated Matter Required by the
Subordinate Legislation Regulations 1994
Note that the following table of applied, adopted or incorporated matter is
included in accordance with the requirements of regulation 6 of the
Subordinate Legislation Regulations 1994.
Statutory Rule
Provision
Title of applied, adopted or
incorporated document
Matter in
applied,
adopted or
incorporated
document
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"Approved Criteria
for Classifying
Hazardous
Substances"
Approved Criteria for
Classifying Hazardous
Substances, second edition,
published by the National
Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, 1999
The whole
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"container"
Federal Office of Road Safety,
Australian Code for the
Transport of Dangerous Goods
by Road and Rail, sixth edition,
published by the Australian
Government Publishing
Service, 1998
Definitions of
"bulk container"
and "tank"
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"dangerous goods"
Federal Office of Road Safety,
Australian Code for the
Transport of Dangerous Goods
by Road and Rail, sixth edition,
published by the Australian
Government Publishing
Service, 1998
Definition of
"dangerous
goods"
Notes
-- 54 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
51
NOTES—continued
Statutory Rule
Provision
Title of applied, adopted or
incorporated document
Matter in
applied,
adopted or
incorporated
document
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"exposure standard"
Exposure Standards for
Atmospheric Contaminants in
the Occupational Environment,
published by the National
Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, 1995
The section
titled "Adopted
National
Exposure
Standards for
Atmospheric
Contaminants in
the Occupational
Environment"
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"hazardous substance"
List of Designated Hazardous
Substances, published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1999
CAS Number
index and
Alphabetical
index
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"hazardous substance"
Approved Criteria for
Classifying Hazardous
Substances published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1999
The whole
Regulation 103—
Definition of "List of
Designated Hazardous
Substances"
List of Designated Hazardous
Substances, published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1999
CAS Number
index and
Alphabetical
index
Regulation 103—
Definition of
"National Model
Regulations for the
Control of Workplace
Hazardous
Substances"
Control of Workplace
Hazardous Substances:
National Model Regulations,
published by the National
Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, 1994
Schedule 1,
Schedule 2 and
Schedule 3
Regulation 103—
Definition of "risk
phrase"
List of Designated Hazardous
Substances, published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1999
Appendix I
NOTES—continued
-- 55 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
52
Statutory Rule
Provision
Title of applied, adopted or
incorporated document
Matter in
applied,
adopted or
incorporated
document
Regulation 103—
Definition of "safety
phrase"
List of Designated Hazardous
Substances, published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1999
Appendix III
Regulation 103—
Definitions of "type I
ingredient", "type II
ingredient" and
"type III ingredient"
Control of Workplace
Hazardous Substances:
National Model Regulations,
published by the National
Occupational Health and Safety
Commission, 1994
Schedule 1
Regulation 209(b) Australian Agricultural and
Veterinary Chemicals Council,
Code of Practice for Labelling
Agricultural Chemical
Products, Australian
Government Publishing
Service, Canberra, 1989
The whole
Regulation 209(c) Australian Agricultural and
Veterinary Chemicals Council,
Code of Practice for Labelling
Veterinary Chemical Products,
Australian Government
Publishing Service, Canberra,
1989
The whole
Regulation 400—
Definition of
"National Model
Regulations for the
Control of Scheduled
Carcinogenic
Substances"
Control of Workplace
Hazardous Substances Part 2—
scheduled carcinogenic
substances: National Model
Regulations, published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1995
Schedule 1 and
Schedule 2
NOTES—continued
-- 56 of 57 --
S.R. No. 143/1999
Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances)
Regulations 1999
53
Statutory Rule
Provision
Title of applied, adopted or
incorporated document
Matter in
applied,
adopted or
incorporated
document
Regulation 400—
Definitions of
"Schedule 1
carcinogenic
substance" and
"Schedule 2
carcinogenic
substance"
Control of Workplace
Hazardous Substances Part 2—
scheduled carcinogenic
substances: National Model
Regulations, published by the
National Occupational Health
and Safety Commission, 1995
Schedule 1 and
Schedule 2
The publications referred to in column 2 of the above table are available for
inspection at all local WorkCover offices and are available for purchase from
the Commonwealth Government Bookshop, 190 Queen Street, Melbourne,
Victoria, 3000, telephone 13 2447, fax 9670 4115.
-- 57 of 57 --