Hazardous Materials Register
What is a Hazardous Materials Register?
Hazardous Materials Registers go hand in hand with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to provide information and instruction to workers to safely manage the risk from exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
What information is in a Hazardous Materials Register?
It is a requirement for all companies, self employed persons, or partnerships to assess if the products they use, or their employees or contractors use, are hazardous. If they are, they need to maintain a Hazardous Material Register, containing the following information (at a minimum):
ü Product name
ü Storage location, quantity and use
ü Product labelling
ü Current MSDS
ü Is substance hazardous? Yes/No
ü What personal protective equipment (ppe) is required?
It is also a requirement for all companies, self employed persons or partnerships to make sure that copies of the hazardous materials register and MSDS are available at the place of use of the product. This means work vehicles must carry copies of these documents if they also carry any products that require MSDS.
As a brief example of the reason for this requirement- some products, if swallowed, require the affected person to drink milk as an immediate treatment whereas other products may require the affected person to vomit. If you get this wrong it may result in further damage to the affected person, therefore it is vital that all relevant information is close to hand if needed.
What information is in an MSDS?
An MSDS is a document that contains important information about a substance and must state:
· The name of the substance,
· Its classification – Hazardous or Non Hazardous,
· Health hazard information including short and long term health effects on the person using the substance,
· P.P.E requirements for persons working with the product,
· The chemical and physical properties of the hazardous substance,
· Precautions for safe use and handling, and
· The manufacturers or importer’s name, Australian address and telephone number.
Hazardous Materials Register
Trade Name / Storage Location and Quantity / Current MSDS Yes/Noinclude date of issue / Is Substance Hazardous? Yes/No / Is Container Labelled? Yes/No / Uses and application of Substance / What PPE is required?