The object of this Schedule is to minimise the risk to the health of persons due to exposure to hazardous substances by:
(a) ensuring that when hazardous substances to be used at workplaces are supplied to the workplace:
(i) the substances are labelled; and
(ii) the workplace is supplied with Safety Data Sheets; and
(b) providing for:
(i) the assessment of the risk of exposure to hazardous substances; and
(ii) the control of exposure to hazardous substances; and
(iii) the training of employees and contractors who could be exposed to hazardous substances at work on the nature of the hazard and the level of risk posed by the hazardous substances, and the means of assessing and controlling exposure to the substances; and
(c) ensuring that emergency services and the Inspectorate have access to relevant information about hazardous substances used at workplaces; and
(d) ensuring that relevant information included in evaluation statements for hazardous substances is given to operators.
2 Application of Schedule 1
(1) Subject to subclause (2), this Schedule applies:
(a) to all hazardous substances; and
(b) to all workplaces at which hazardous substances are used; and
(c) in relation to all persons who could be exposed to hazardous substances at a workplace.
Note: Hazardous substance and use are defined in clause 3.
(2) This Schedule does not apply to a substance that is being transported in accordance with the requirements set out in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code published by the International Maritime Organization, as it exists at the time this Schedule commences.
3 Definitions for Schedule 1
In this Schedule:
article means a solid object:
(a) that is produced with a specific shape, design or surface; and
(b) that is used for a purpose that depends, wholly or partly, on that shape, design or surface; and
(c) the chemical composition and physical state of which:
(i) do not change when the object is used for that purpose; or
(ii) change only when the object is used for that purpose.
asbestos means any of the following fibrous forms of mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups of rock‑forming minerals:
(a) actinolite asbestos;
(b) amosite (brown asbestos);
(c) anthophyllite asbestos;
(d) chrysotile (white asbestos);
(e) crocidolite (blue asbestos);
(f) tremolite asbestos.
atmospheric monitoring means the sampling of workplace atmospheres to derive a quantitative measure of exposure to a hazardous substance through inhalation.
biological monitoring means the measurement and evaluation of a hazardous substance, or the substance’s metabolites, in the body tissue, fluids or exhaled air of an employee or a contractor.
bona fide research:
(a) means a systematic, investigative or experimental activity conducted for the purpose of:
(i) acquiring new knowledge; or
(ii) creating new or improved materials, products, devices, processes or services; and
(b) includes an activity conducted for the purpose of preparing an item containing asbestos for display in a museum or other historical displays.
container:
(a) means an object in, or by which, a substance is, or has been, wholly or partly contained or packed, whether or not the object is empty, partly filled or completely filled; and
(b) does not include a tank or a bulk storage container within the meaning of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail, 7.9th edition, published by the National Transport Commission, as it exists at the time this Schedule commences.
Note: The Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail could in 2026 be viewed on the National Transport Commission’s website (https://www.ntc.gov.au).
emergency service includes a fire, ambulance and police department, and any other department, agency or instrumentality of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory, that may be required to attend at the scene of an emergency at a workplace.
hazardous substance means one of the following substances:
(a) actinolite asbestos;
(b) amosite (brown asbestos);
(c) anthophyllite asbestos;
(d) chrysotile (white asbestos);
(e) crocidolite (blue asbestos);
(f) tremolite asbestos.
Note: The omission of a substance from this definition is not indicative of the absence of a hazard relating to the substance.
hazard statement, in relation to a hazardous substance, means a word, or series of words:
(a) that describes the hazards of the substance; and
(b) that is set out in Appendix D of the labelling model code.
health surveillance means the monitoring of an employee or a contractor, including the use of biological monitoring, to identify changes (if any) in the employee’s or contractor’s health due to exposure to a hazardous substance, but does not include atmospheric monitoring.
in situ, in relation to a product that contains asbestos, means that, at the time the use of the form of asbestos that is in the product is prohibited under clause 8, the product is fixed or installed:
(a) in:
(i) a ship or any other structure that forms a workplace; or
(ii) plant or any other thing that is for use at a workplace; and
(b) in a way that does not constitute a risk to users until the asbestos contained in the product is disturbed.
Note: The following are examples of asbestos in products that are in situ:
(a) amosite and chrysotile used between lamina in laminated panelling;
(b) chrysotile used as a fire retardant in wall cladding in engine rooms.
labelling model code means the Model Code of Practice: Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals published by Safe Work Australia as it exists at the time this Schedule commences.
manufacturer includes a person who is, under section 17 of the Act, taken to be a manufacturer for the purposes of sections 15 and 16 of the Act.
minimise means to reduce to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable to achieve.
precautionary statement, in relation to a hazardous substance, means a word, or series of words:
(a) that describes the procedures for the safe handling or storage of the substance or the use of personal protective equipment in connection with the substance; and
(b) that is set out in Appendix D of the labelling model code.
product name, in relation to a hazardous substance, means the brand name, trade name, code name or code number given to the substance by the supplier of the substance.
risk assessment means an assessment made under paragraph 13(1)(a), incorporating any revision of that assessment.
risk to health means the likelihood that a substance will cause harm to health in the circumstances of the substance’s use.
SDS has the meaning given by subclause 4(1).
Note: The purpose of an SDS is to provide the information needed to allow the safe handling of hazardous substances used at workplaces. The SDS for a substance describes the substance’s identity, relevant health hazard information, precautions for use and safe handling information.
substance:
(a) includes a chemical entity, composite material, mixture or formulation; and
(b) other than in relation to an article that contains asbestos—does not include an article.
use, in relation to a substance at a workplace, means produce, handle, store, transport or dispose of the substance at the workplace.