Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00424:front:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00424
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 5470–8499

Regulations which set out the legal requirements. These references are not exhaustive. The words 'must', 'requires' or 'mandatory' indicate that a legal requirement exists and must be complied with.

    1.               INTRODUCTION

1.1         What is a safety data sheet?
A safety data sheet (SDS), previously called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), is a document that provides information on the properties of hazardous chemicals, how they affect health and safety in the workplace and on how to manage the hazardous chemicals in the workplace. For example it includes information on the identity, health and physicochemical hazards, safe handling and storage, emergency procedures and disposal considerations.
An SDS is an important tool for eliminating or minimising the risks associated with the use of hazardous chemicals in workplaces.

1.2 The meaning of key terms and abbreviations
ADG Code means the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail, 7th edition, approved by the Australian Transport Council. The ADG Code is accessible at the National Transport Commission website www.ntc.gov.au
Hazardous chemical means any substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria for a hazard class in the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) including a classification referred to in Schedule 6 of the WHS Regulations, but does not include a substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria solely for one of the following hazard classes:
    * acute toxicity - oral - Category 5
    * acute toxicity - dermal - Category 5
    * acute toxicity - inhalation - Category 5
    * skin corrosion/irritation - Category 3
    * serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2B
    * aspiration hazard - Category 2
    * flammable gas - Category 2
    * acute hazard to the aquatic environment – Category 1, 2 or 3
    * chronic hazard to the aquatic environment - Categories 1, 2, 3 or 4, or
    * hazardous to the ozone layer.
Further definitions and abbreviations used in this Code are listed in Appendix A.

1.3 What are the duties in relation to the preparation of safety data sheets?
Manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemicals have duties under the WHS Regulations to provide current information about the hazardous chemical in the form of an SDS. These duties are summarised below.

Duty holder                                        Responsibilities

Manufacturer and importer of a hazardous chemical      * Must prepare an SDS for the hazardous chemical before first manufacturing or importing the hazardous chemical or if that is not practicable, as soon as practicable after first manufacturing or importing the hazardous chemical.
                                                       * Must review the SDS at least once every 5 years and amend whenever necessary to ensure it contains correct current information.
                                                       * Must provide the current SDS to any person, if the