Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00412:body:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00412
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 20161–23519

standards is available in the Guidance on the Interpretation
of Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants.
To comply with the WHS Regulations, monitoring of workplace contaminant levels for chemicals with exposure standards may need to be carried out.

Information on labels and safety data sheets
The purpose of a label is to ensure that the contents of a container can be readily identified.
The label also includes information on the hazards of the chemical and precautions to be observed to safely use, handle or store the hazardous chemical. This information on labels and SDS
is provided in the form of signal words, hazard pictograms and precautionary statements
(see Table 2). Always read the label and the SDS before using a hazardous chemical.
In situations where hazardous chemicals are decanted into another container and it will not be used immediately or it is supplied to someone else for later use, then the container should be labelled in accordance with the Code of Practice: Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals. However, if a decanted hazardous chemical will be used immediately, labelling of its container
is not required.

Table 2 Examples of hazard information on labels and safety data sheets

Label element             Examples

Signal words                    *    danger
                                *    warning
Hazard statements               *    may cause cancer
                                *    fatal if inhaled
                                *    flammable liquid and vapour
                                *    causes severe skin burns and eye damage
                                *    may cause respiratory irritation
Pictograms
                          Flammable Acute toxicity  Warning

                          Human health   Corrosive
Precautionary statements        *    use explosion proof electrical equipment
                                *    do not breathe vapours
                                *    do not get in eyes, on skin or clothing
                                *    use only outdoors or in a well ventilated area
                                *    if on skin, wash with plenty of soap and water

Isocyanates
Isocyanates are commonly found in 2-pack liquid spray paints, varnishes, adhesives and polyurethane plastics. Isocyanate polymers may also be present in paints including:
    * polyisocyanate
    * isocyanate pre-polymer
    * isocyanate polymer, and
    * polymerised isocyanates

Exposure to isocyanates can occur when aerosols, mists or powder paints containing isocyanates are released into the atmosphere during spraying or powder coating. Exposure to isocyanates can also occur during sanding of polyurethane paint that is not fully cured, as this activity can generate dusts containing un-reacted isocyanates. Further, isocyanate-containing materials may release isocyanates into the atmosphere when heated. Exposure to isocyanates should be considered
as high risk.
SDS and labels should be checked to determine if the products you are using contain isocyanates.

Lead
Workers who carry out surface preparation (such as preparing old vehicles for spray painting) could be exposed to lead when removing and sanding lead-based paints.
Paint that contains lead can no longer be purchased in Australia and the use of lead-free paints
will eventually