Hazardous chemicals can pose a risk to the health or safety of people exposed to them.

The health risks from inhaling, swallowing or absorbing certain types of chemicals through the skin can range from short term poisoning or chemical burns to long term conditions such as cancer, lung or liver disease, damage to the central nervous system or dermatitis. The substances that present these types of risks can be in the form of solids, liquids, vapours, gases, fumes or even dusts such as asbestos and coal dust. Exposure to such substances – formerly known as ‘hazardous substances’ – can occur during the production, handling, storage, transport or disposal of the substance.

The safety issues with hazardous chemicals arise mostly from the risk of fire or explosion associated with some substances, such as petrol or kerosene. Chemicals associated with these types of risks are known as dangerous goods.

The term ‘hazardous chemicals’ generally includes both hazardous substances and dangerous goods.

In addition to health and safety risks, some hazardous chemicals also pose risks to the environment, especially if they leak or spill into creeks and waterways, or contaminate soil.

Chemicals are present in every workplace, from the cleaning chemicals being used, to the industrial manufacturing processes, and welding fumes.
 
Work health and safety legislation imposes an obligation on employers and other ‘persons conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBUs) – as well as designers, manufacturers, suppliers and importers of chemicals – to eliminate or minimise the health and safety risks to which workers or other people might be exposed as a result of the work activities and operations.
 
The risks of hazardous chemicals must be controlled by ensuring that workplaces have a register of hazardous chemicals; that information on their safe use, handling and disposal is provided to workers through proper labelling, safety data sheets, training and supervision; that the health of people exposed to certain substances is monitored and that workplaces where large quantities of certain chemicals are used, handled or stored have appropriate safety systems.

[Last reviewed 1 May 2018]