GHS Signage on Flammable Liquids and Corrosives cabinets.

GHS Signage: Flammable Liquids and Corrosives cabinets.

Do cabinets before GHS need to be updated to comply with GHS.

Are new placards required for chemical storerooms and machinery sheds?

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Publication Date: 22 October 2015
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GHS Signage on Flammable Liquids and Corrosives cabinets.

Answer reviewed 19 February 2023

Under the harmonised Work Health and Safety legislation, the Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code) class labels are retained for road transport and inclusion on placarding and chemical storage areas. GHS pictograms should not be used for placarding.

Cabinets dedicated to the storage of flammable and combustible liquids and of corrosive substances should comply with the current relevant Australian Standard. The Standards specify that these cabinets be labelled with the appropriate Dangerous Goods label(s). The Dangerous Goods class diamonds on such cabinets should not be replaced with GHS pictograms.

Placarding is only required where quantities exceed the threshold quantities, as set out in Schedule 11 of the WHS Regulations.1 However, it is unlikely that a school would store quantities above the manifest thresholds.

Additional information

Placarding

The purpose of placarding is to alert people such as contractors and emergency services personnel to the nature, quantity and location of dangerous goods present at a worksite. 

The Code of Practice ‘Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace provides guidance for implementing the Regulations and states: 

Where the WHS Regulations require a placard (Schedule 13), the relevant Dangerous Goods class label (pictogram) must be displayed on the placard, not the corresponding GHS pictogram.’2

Schedule 11 of the Regulations gives the specifications for placards, such as the colour scheme, font size and dimensions and where they should be located. Schedule 11 also includes the threshold quantities for which a manifest must be kept, however, it is unlikely that a school would store quantities above the manifest thresholds.

Signage for chemical storage cabinets and at the entrance to the Chemical Storage Area

Clause 6.5 of Australian Standard AS 2243.2 states that, 

The entrance to a room and the doors of a chemical storage cabinet shall display signage regarding dangerous goods which are stored or handled within. National, state or territory regulations may apply.’ 3

Clause 8.10 of Australian Standard AS 2243.2 states that, 

Signage shall be displayed at the entrance to the storage area. Refer to regulations for appropriate signage’ 3

For the minor quantities of chemicals which are stored in school chemical storage areas, there are no specific requirements for labelling of the chemical storage area door. Schools could consider displaying the Dangerous Goods labels for the chemical classes stored. If displaying these labels could potentially create a security issue, then a school could consider signage with less specific wording, for example, ‘Danger - Chemical Storage Area - Authorised Personnel Only’ as well as the name of a responsible person who should be contacted in case of emergency.

It is essential that the chemical storage area be secured against unauthorised access, with access restricted to laboratory staff and any other authorised staff member(s). See the Science ASSIST INFORMATION SHEET: School science area security AIS: School science area security.

References

1 Safe Work Australia. (2022, April). ‘Model Work Health and Safety Regulations’, Retrieved from the Safe Work Australia website, https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-whs-regulations 

2 Safe Work Australia. (2020 (July). ‘Model Code of Practice – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace’, Retrieved from the Safe Work Australia website, https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-code-practice-managing-ri...   © Commonwealth of Australia. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence

3 Standards Australia. (2021). AS 2243.2:2021 Safety in Laboratories Part 2: Chemical aspects and storage. Sydney, Australia. Reproduced by ASTA with the permission of Standards Australia Limited under licence CLF1222asta. Copyright in AS 2243.2:2021 vests in Standards Australia. Users must not copy or reuse this work without the permission of Standards Australia or the copyright owner.

Hampton, M. (2022, September, 12). Flammable Cabinet Storage Guidelines, Retrieved from the Storemasta website: https://blog.storemasta.com.au/flammable-cabinet-storage-guidelines

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