Hazardous Materials

Question 1

Dangerous Goods Classification

Answer 1

Substances in Aus required to be categorised by system developed by UN
Ensures imports/exports have same information of hazards

Question 2

Dangerous Goods Classes

Answer 2

Class 1: explosives
Class 2: gases - flammable, compressed, toxic
Class 3: flammable liquids
Class 4: flammable liquids
Class 5: oxidising substances
Class 6: toxic substances
Class 7: corrosive substances
Class 8: miscellaneous dangerous goods

Question 3

Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

Answer 3

Dangerous Goods Safety Act (2004) and associated Regulations provide for explosives and dangerous goods (including security risk substances) safety and security within a licensing regime

Question 4

Poisons Act 1964

Answer 4

Schedule 1: no longer is use
Schedule 2: pharmacy medicine
Schedule 3: pharmacist medicine
Schedule 4: prescription medicine
Schedule 5: caution - readily available but require caution
Schedule 6: poisons - readily available but more hazardous than schedule 5
Schedule 7: dangerous poisons - require special precautions
Schedule 8: controlled drug
Schedule 9: prohibited substances

Question 5

Classifications of Hazardous Substances

Answer 5

Irritant
Corrosive
Toxic
Harmful
Explosive
Flammable
Oxidising
Mutagen
Reproductive toxicity
Carcinogen

Question 6

Hazardous Substances

Answer 6

Most workplaces use them in production or cleaning:
- acids, caustic
- lime
- welding fumes
- mercury
Can also be found around the house
- ammonia
- LPG
- manufactured products

Question 7

Physical Effects of Chemicals

Answer 7

Explosiveness
Flammability
Reactivity
Oxidisation
Corrosiveness
Other hazards relate to temperature and pressure
Hot/very cold chemicals burn on contact

Question 8

Heath Effects

Answer 8

Chronic: long term exposures
Acute: immediate effects
Systemic: damages body organs
Local: damages exposed area
Sensitisers: alters body's response

Question 9

IARC

Answer 9

Group 1: carcinogenic to humans
Group 2A: probably carcinogenic to humans
Group 2B: possibility carcinogenic to humans
Group 3: not classifiable as carcinogenic to humans
Group 4: probably not carcinogenic to humans

Question 10

United Nations - GHS

Answer 10

Globally harmonised system of classification and labelling chemcials

Question 11

Labelling

Answer 11

Label identifies: 
- materials in container
- whether material is hazardous
- basic information about safe use and handling
Label information:
- product name and manufacturer
- main ingredients
- dangerous goods class
- pictograms, signal words and hazard statement
- risk and safety phrases/precautionary statements
- additional directions for use
- suppliers details and emergency number

Question 12

Safety Data Sheet

Answer 12

Information sheet provides basic information
Contains information about:
- properties and use
- health effects
- precautions for use
- safe handling
- emergency procedures
- develop 'safe working procedures'
- first aid measures
- medical treatment
- fire fighting measures
- stability and reactivity
- toxicological information

Question 13

Risk Assessment

Answer 13

Description of data
Work area
Hazardous substances used
Health effects
Who has potential to be exposed
Routes of entry
How much is used
How each person is exposed/duration
Control measures in place
Compliance with control measures
Effectiveness of control measures
Washing facilities
Emergency facilities
Waste disposal 
Risk conclusions
- summarise deficiencies

Question 14

Elimination

Answer 14

Difficult to achieve in practice

• production
• quality
• cost

Question 15

Substitution

Answer 15

Use safer form of substance
Use a safer substance/products
Process modification

Question 16

Isolation

Answer 16

Separate people from a harmful agent/process by:

• distance
• time
• barriers

Question 17

Engineering Controls

Answer 17

Use of equipment or processes, to prevent or minimise the release of hazardous chemical agents

Question 18

Total Enclosure/Containment

Answer 18

Operator controls the process from outside the enclosure. Used when working with:

• carcinogens
• sensitisers
• materials under high temperature or pressure

Question 19

Storage Requirements

Answer 19

Large quantities controlled Dangerous Goods Regulations
Permit required for some scheduled poisons
Advice on label and SDS

Question 20

Good Storage

Answer 20

Prohibition of eating, drinking, and smoking in work areas

Promptly deal with spills and leaks

Question 21

Wash Facilites

Answer 21

Health Implications: disease transmission, skin diseases, ingestion of hazardous substances, skin irritation and sensitisation
Minimum Facilities: toilets, change rooms, showers, central dispensers for cleaning agents, washing clothes

Question 22

Administrative Controls

Answer 22

Safe system rely on:

• good management/supervision
• employee engagement/behaviour
• written rules/procedures
• information

Question 23

Actions

Answer 23

Induction and training
- extent depends on level of risk
- use information on hazards and controls to prepare training materials
Ongoing workplace monitoring

Question 24

Procedures and PPE

Answer 24

Initial and ongoing training in selection, use and maintenance of PPE