Dangerous or Hazardous? What's the
difference?
Hazardous substances are classified based only on health effects (whether they are
immediate or long term), while dangerous goods are classified according to their
immediate physical or chemical effects, such as fire, explosion, corrosion and
poisoning, affecting property, the environment or people.
"Hazardous Substances" have the potential to harm human health. They may be solids,
liquids or gases; they may be pure substances or mixtures. When used in the
workplace, these substances often produce vapors, fume, dusts and mists. There are
many industrial, laboratory and agricultural chemicals which are classified as
hazardous. Hazardous substances may cause immediate or long-term health effects.
Exposure could result in:
• poisoning;
• irritation;
• chemical burns;
• sensitization;
• cancer;
• birth defects; or
• diseases of certain organs such as the skin, lungs, liver, kidneys and nervous
system.
Dangerous goods are substances that may be corrosive, flammable, explosive,
spontaneously combustible, toxic, oxidizing, or water-reactive. These goods can be
deadly and can seriously injure or kill people, damage property and the
environment. Numbers of dangerous substances are covered under the Dangerous
Goods Act 1985 and the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2012,
as well as other regs covering transport of these substances. For more information, go
to the Dangerous Goods (basics) information page on the WorkSafe website.
Hazardous substances and dangerous goods are covered by separate legislation, each
focusing on controlling the different risks associated with them. as Many hazardous
substances are also classified dangerous goods, so both pieces of legislation apply to
these.
Hazardous substances are defined in the Regulations as being either listed on
the Hazardous Substances Consolidated Lists (Alphabetical or according to CAS
number) or fitting the description (meeting the criteria) of a hazardous substance
according to the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous
Substances [NOHSC:1008(2004] 3rd Edition and/or have National Exposure Standards
declared under the Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric
Contaminants in the Occupational Environment [NOHSC:1003(1995)].