Use of Chemicals in Schools

Chemical safety is an important issue for all schools who have legislative obligations to use and handle chemicals safely.
Two kids working with test tubes in science class.

Managing chemicals in schools

All schools need to manage hazardous chemicals as per the Work, Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (NSW). This includes maintaining a hazardous chemicals register and holding current Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for each hazardous chemical and ensuring all containers are appropriately labelled.

There are many places around the school where chemicals are used, these include but are not limited to:

  • Staff areas and kitchens – washing up liquid, dishwasher chemicals
  • Laboratories – various laboratory chemicals
  • Art classrooms – paints, solvents, glues
  • Technical classrooms – solvents, stains, glues
  • Photography dark rooms – developers, fixatives
  • Cleaner’s storerooms – cleaning detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners
  • Maintenance sheds/rooms – petrol, paints, spray paints, oils
  • Swimming pools – acids, chlorine.

Chemwatch

Chemwatch program GoldFFX, is used for managing chemicals and contains a searchable database of database of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), both the vendor SDS and generic ones, to assist staff and students in the preparation of chemical registers and risk assessments.

Chemwatch contacts

CSNSW holds the Chemwatch licenses for Catholic schools in NSW/ACT.

School Chemical Safety Managers hold the log in details for each school. Contact them in the first instance.

If they cannot assist you, you can contact Gary Molloy at CSNSW for support:

Chemical Safety in Schools resource

We have co-developed a resource for teachers with the NSW Department of Education and the Association of Independent Schools NSW.

To access the resource contact Sharon Katina - CSNSW Education Policy Directorate:

Hazardous chemicals

Chemicals of a security concern

  • National Code of Practice for Chemicals of a Security Concern encourages organisations to consider and examine their own risks from a national security perspective and to take steps to reduce risks to ensure that chemicals are not stolen or diverted for terrorist purposes.
  • The Australian National Security has identified chemicals of security concern because of their potential to be used by terrorists to make bombs or chemical weapons. Visit Chemical Security for more information.

Asbestos

Radiation

Safety Guide: Use of Radiation in Schools

  • Part 1: Ionizing Radiation
  • Part 2: Lasers

Visit Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) for more information.

Safety Data Sheets

Understanding Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals

This fact sheet outlines:

  • the information in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
  • what each section in the SDS means.

Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

Contact

If you have any queries regarding your school’s obligations regarding chemical safety please contact CSNSW.