Australia's Science Forum

If you have chemicals whose original supplier is unknown or no longer exists, you should make an assessment of the chemicals to determine if they are stable, have not degraded and are still fit for purpose. For chemicals which have not degraded and are still in use, then it would be reasonable to keep them in stock. However, for chemicals which are old and likely to have degraded, or where there is doubt as to their stability, then we recommend that they be disposed of.

In determining whether a chemical is stable, consideration should be given to its hygroscopicity (capacity to absorb moisture), volatility, sensitivity to light or air, propensity to form peroxides or polymerise, etc. For more information about the factors which can affect the shelf life of chemicals, see Chemical Storage Timeframes.

We have sought advice from the safety regulators on the subject of the labelling of chemicals to meet compliance with the GHS. According to this advice, where the supplier or manufacturer of a chemical is unknown or no longer in business, it would be acceptable to refer to a relevant SDS from another supplier or other reputable source. You should ensure that the chemical covered by the SDS is in the same form as the one you have in stock. Relabelling the bottle with a GHS-compliant label using the information from this SDS would be acceptable.

The advice we have received is that in NSW, all bottles of chemicals are required to be relabelled with GHS-compliant labels by January 1st 2017, while in other jurisdictions, the end user will not be required to relabel bottles which still have their original pre-GHS label.

Nevertheless, Science ASSIST recommends that schools endeavour to relabel old stock bottles in accordance with the GHS requirements, so that labels are consistent, which will help staff and students to become familiar with the GHS system.

SafeWork Australia has provided guidelines for implementing the GHS system of labelling chemicals in their Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals. This Code of Practice has been adopted in each of the jurisdictions which have incorporated the GHS into their WHS legislation. The following extract from Section 2 of the Code of Practice gives details of the elements which are required for a GSH-compliant label:

Regulation 335, Part 3 of Schedule 9: A hazardous chemical is correctly labelled if the chemical is packed in a container that includes the following:
•is written in English
•the product identifier
•the name, Australian address and business telephone number of either the manufacturer or importer
•the identity and proportion disclosed, in accordance with Schedule 8 of the WHS Regulations, for each chemical ingredient
•any hazard pictogram(s) consistent with the correct classification(s) of the chemical
•any hazard statement(s), signal word and precautionary statement(s) that is consistent with the correct classification(s) of the chemical
•any information about the hazards, first aid and emergency procedures relevant to the chemical, which are not otherwise included in the hazard statement or precautionary statement, and
•the expiry date of the chemical, if applicable.

You may include any information on the label that does not contradict or cast doubt on any other information that is required on the label.

Where the manufacturer’s details are unknown or obsolete, Science ASSIST recommends including the phone number of the Poisons Information Centre. The SDS should be readily accessible in case the Poisons Information Centre needs to be contacted.

Reference

‘Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals’. 2015. Safe Work Australia website, http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sit ... ions/pages

sunray18 wrote:Has anyone else ever thought that we ALL struggle to do the right thing - we ALL help each other in knowing what we shoudl and shouldn't do, and yet it is our EMPLOYER who should be telling US what is the legal requirements.
In any other industry or workplace we would be TOLD what we had to do - especially on our low rate of pay [and may I add low status in a school] but here we are being at the forefront of researching and discovering what we need to do to keep the schools legally compliant..
NOW - WHY? we are not the incompetent ones - those who are above us are!

CC wrote:Hi all,
Glad to see I'm not alone. My anxiety is so bad over this that I burst into tears in front of the HT today when asking if she new where to put the labels. I felt like a real goose.
Is everybody printing their labels from chemwatch? I am so if i'm doing it wrong can someone let me know please
More Anxiety

CC.