Dangerous Substances (Safe Handling) Act 2005

New legislation

What are dangerous substances?

"Dangerous substances" is a new term. It refers to chemicals that include dangerous goods, combustible liquids and hazardous substances.

If you work with chemicals that may be classified as a dangerous good, a combustible liquid or a hazardous substance according to the relevant classification criteria, this new legislation applies to you.

The Dangerous Substances (Safe Handling) Act 2005 is based upon the NOHSC National Standard for the Storage and Handling of Workplace Dangerous Goods (NOHSC) and the National Standard for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities.

Workplace Standards Tasmania is presently working on a major project to develop a new regulatory framework for dangerous substances. It involves drafting new regulations, developing guidance material and tools to assist workplaces to understand and comply with the legislation, and it involves developing new administrative processes to deal with notification and assessment as required by the new legislation.

We are drafting Regulations to accompany the Act so that the Act can be proclaimed. The new legislation, once implemented, will meet Tasmania’s commitment to adopt the national standards and bring Tasmania into line with the way in which the handling of dangerous substances is regulated in other jurisdictions.

We are currently developing new fireworks regulations which will be part of the Safe Handling Regulations. A Discussion Paper was released in October and comment closed in mid-November. The next stage of development is the preparation of draft fireworks regulations and a Regulatory Impact Analysis and Statement according to the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act. The draft fireworks regulations and the Regulatory Impact Statement will be released for public consultation when the exposure draft is complete.

The general Dangerous Substances (Safe Handling) Regulations will also be released as a draft for public consultation early in 2008.

Once these processes are finalised, Workplace Standards Tasmania will be able to finalise the Regulations and the new legislation will be proclaimed.