<Service name>
Dangerous Products Policy
Services have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of each individual at all times.
A service’s health and safety policies and practices affect an individual’s physical and
psychological health and safety.
The Dangerous Products Policy is important not only for children, families and educators, but
relates to every person who enters the service’s premises or uses the service’s equipment.
Federal, state and territory governments have their own Occupational Health and Safety
(OHS) legislation and regulations, which govern the standards of health and safety in the
workplace. Therefore, services must comply with the relevant OHS legislation.
Services should regularly review policies in collaboration with educators, families, and if
appropriate, children; and seek recommendations from recognised authorities. The date the
policy is reviewed should be clearly documented on the policy.
Policy Number
<number>
Link to CCQA Principles
Family Day Care Quality Assurance (FDCQA)
Quality Practices Guide (2004) – Principle 4.1 /
Outside School Hours Care Quality Assurance (OSHCQA)
Quality Practices Guide (2003) – Principle 7.3, 8.1 /
Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (QIAS) Quality
Practices Guide (2005) – Principle 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
Policy statement

<Service name> has a duty of care to provide all persons 1 with a safe and healthy
environment.

The service defines a dangerous product as any chemical, substance or material that
can cause potential harm, injury or illness to persons or damage to the service’s
environment.

The service categorises dangerous products into the following sub groups;
o hazardous chemicals and substances;
o dangerous goods;
o poisons;
o drugs (including medications); and
o miscellaneous dangerous products.
These categories are examples of how services can reference dangerous products to
recognised authorities. For example, the recognised authority for categorising poisons
and drugs into ‘Schedules’ is the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The Australia National Transport Commission is the recognised authority for coding
hazardous chemicals and substances into ‘Classes’, known as the Australian
Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code. The understanding of schedules and codes can assist
services when developing their policy and risk management strategies.
For the purpose of this policy, 'persons' include <children, families, educators, carers' family, management,
coordination unit staff, ancillary staff (administrative staff, kitchen staff, cleaners, maintenance personnel), students,
volunteers, visitors, local community, school community, licensee, sponsor and/or service owner>.
1
Current as at September 2010
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
The service ensures that there are emergency procedures and practices for
accidental spills, contamination and corresponding first aid plans for all dangerous
goods handled and stored in the service.

It is understood that there is a shared legal responsibility and accountability between,
and a commitment by, all persons to implement the service’s Dangerous Products
Policy, procedures and practices.

The service also complies with <OHS National Standards, codes of practice, Australian
Standards> and best practice recommendations from recognised authorities.

The procedures relating to the Dangerous Products Policy are laminated, clearly
labelled and displayed in the service for all stakeholders to read.
OHS procedures and practices should be easy to read and interpret. Services may
need to consider obtaining information in community languages.
Rationale
The rationale represents a statement of reasons that detail why the policy and/or procedures
have been developed and are important to the service.
Please refer to:
 <title of federal/state/territory legislation and regulations2>
Please refer to the relevant federal, state or territory OHS legislation and worksafe
management agency3.

The service also complies with the <title of state/territory children’s services licensing
regulations or national standards> which reflect additional health and safety
requirements.

Australia National Transport Commission –
www.ntc.gov.au/ViewPage.aspx?page=A022113024004706250

Therapeutic Goods Administration – www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/index.htm

The strategies, procedures and practices document in the Dangerous Products Policy
reflect the service’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy.
Responsibilities of different stakeholders

Services can link this section by stating:
Please refer to the service’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy.
The OHS representative and/or committee

Services can state the role of the OHS committee and/or OHS representative in
relation to the Dangerous Products Policy. For example, the OHS representative may
be the responsible person required to:
o discuss with and train educators on the recommended handling, dilutions,
storage, transportation and disposal of dangerous products
There are legislative Acts and regulations for each state and territory that address the issue of Occupational Health
and Safety. Services are advised to seek information that is relevant to their jurisdiction.
3 Services should contact their federal, state or territory worksafe management agency to clarify their OHS
obligations and seek further information and advice.
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

o conduct all safety checks relating to dangerous products
o ensure all dangerous products are correctly labelled, stored and diluted.
Services should contact their federal, state or territory worksafe management agency
for further information and advice.
Services can link this section by stating:
Please refer to the service’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy.
Strategies and practices
These are examples. Services are encouraged to develop and adapt the following strategies
and practices as required to meet their individual circumstances and daily best practices.
Risk management strategies
 Services can link this section by stating:
Please refer to the service’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy.
 Services can include the following information to assist in developing a risk
management strategy:
o Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
o handling, storing, transporting and disposal procedures and practices
o safety checks
o recommended Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
o first aid emergency plans.
 Services can either list each dangerous product one by one, or use the sub groups
outlined in the ‘Register of dangerous products’ section.
Register of dangerous products
 The service should list all the dangerous products in the service, even those products
that do not require a MSDS.
 Services can develop a register, which categorises dangerous goods into sub groups
with commonalities. For example:
o hazardous chemicals and substances dangerous goods
o poisons or drugs including medications
 Services should consider the following reflective questions:
o Where is the register located?
o Who has authority to update the register?
o How often is the register reviewed?
o What type of documentation supports the register? For example, OHS
procedures and practices, relevant MSDS, first aid instructions or risk
management assessments.
Hazardous chemicals and substances
 Examples of hazardous chemicals or substances are products:
o which produce toxins and labelled with an ADG Code
o with corrosive properties or can cause skin or respiratory problems
o are carcinogenic such as asbestos
o are flammable or have combustible properties
o are caustic such as cleaning products.
Handling and storing hazardous chemicals and substances
 MSDS can guide services to handle, label and store specific chemicals or substances.
 Services should consider the following reflective questions:
o How are hazardous chemicals and substances handled? For example,
educators may need to wear gloves and a facemask when handling
chemicals.
Current as at September 2010
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o
o
o
o
o
o
How are hazardous chemicals and substances stored out of reach of children?
For example, in a key locked storeroom or an out of reach cupboard.
What type of labelling does the service use to notify persons of storage areas?
Is the storeroom well ventilated and lit?
Who is responsible for the maintenance of stored chemicals and substances?
Are chemicals and substances stored appropriately together? For example,
some chemicals stored in close proximity can be dangerous. How does the
service minimise or eliminate this risk?
When chemicals are decanted, what is the safety condition of containers?
Transporting hazardous chemicals and substances
 MSDS can guide services to transport chemicals or substances.
 Services should consider the following reflective questions:
o How does the service ensure the safety of transporting hazardous chemicals or
substances?
o How do services promote correct manual handling practices when
transporting dangerous products?
Disposing of hazardous chemicals and substances
 MSDS can guide services to dispose of chemicals or substances.
Dangerous goods
 Dangerous goods may:
o contain lead such as paints
o emit radiation such as microwaves or computers
o include toners for printers and photocopiers.
Poisons
 Examples of poisons or products that produce poisons are:
o pesticides and fertilisers
o oven cleaners
o plants and animals such as venom from spiders or snakes.
Drugs and medications
 Examples of drugs and medication are:
o prescribed and non-prescribed medication
o alcohol and illegal drugs.
 Services can link this section by stating:
Please refer to the service’s Smoke Free Environments Policy.
Miscellaneous dangerous products
 Examples of miscellaneous dangerous products can be items or objects that:
o cause a blocked airway (small toys, foam packing)
o cut or pierce (knives, scissors)
o burn (irons, ovens)
o cause illness and infection (animal faeces).
 Services can link this section by stating:
Please refer to the service’s First Aid Policy.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 MSDS are produced and supplied by the manufacturers of hazardous chemicals and
substances.
 MSDS should be clearly displayed near the hazardous chemical or substance storage
area and the service’s first aid cabinet.
Current as at September 2010
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




MSDS should detail how the hazardous chemical or substance is safely: handled;
stored; diluted; transported; and disposed.
Services should not alter or delete the information on a MSDS.
Translating MSDS into community languages should only be considered if the service
assesses the risk of misinterpretation as high.
Services should consider the following reflective questions:
o How does the service ensure that the information recorded on MSDS is current
and accurate?
o Where are MSDS located and displayed in the service?
o Who is responsible for reviewing the MSDS?
o How does the service communicate the MSDS requirements of hazardous
chemicals or substances to family day carer’s in their own home?
o How does the service communicate MSDS information to persons who are
non-English speaking?
In some state or territories, family day carers are not required to collect MSDS for the
products used in their homes. The family day care scheme should consider the
following reflective questions:
o How does the carer ensure the first aid information for dangerous products is
accurate and available to access in an emergency?
o How does the carer communicate about dangerous products to their family?
o How does the carer ensure that dangerous products used by the carer’s family
are handled, stored and disposed of safely when children are in care?
Labelling of dangerous products
 MSDS can guide services to label specific dangerous products.
 Many services decant or dilute hazardous chemicals or substances from the
packaging provided and labelled by the manufacturer, into smaller and more
useable containers. This is a major risk, especially if the container is not labelled and
the contents cannot be identified or verified.
 Services should consider the following reflective questions:
o How does the service ensure that the information labelled is current and
accurate?
o Are labels written in English?
o Who is responsible for labelling containers?
o Who is responsible for diluting and decanting chemicals or substances?
o How does the service communicate the information on labels to persons from
non-English speaking backgrounds?
o How durable is the label?
o What type of information is on a label? For example, the:
 name of the chemical or substance
 dilution rate
 date the container was refilled
 first aid requirements.
o How does the service ensure that labels are removed once the container no
longer stores a particular dangerous product?
 Services should contact their federal, state or territory worksafe management agency
for further information and advice.
Important: At no time should the service store a dangerous product in a container which is
labelled for something different. Children, regardless if they can read or not, are often more
aware of symbols; similarly, adults will often interpret a symbol before reading the text.
Therefore, placing a hazardous chemical in a milk carton, for example, even if there is clear
labelling communicating that the liquid is a hazardous chemical, is an extremely risky
Current as at September 2010
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practice. Children and adults may perceive the carton to contain milk and consume the
contents.
At all times, services should ensure the containers that store hazardous chemicals or
substances are clear of symbols representing any other product and correctly labelled.
First aid
 At all times, an educator with first aid qualifications is on duty.
 The Poisons Information Centre telephone number 131126 is displayed:
o next to every telephone in the service; and
o where dangerous products are stored.
Links to other policies
The following are a list of examples:
 Child protection
 Emergency
 Employment of educators
 First aid
 Food safety
 Hygiene and infection control
 Illness
 Maintenance of buildings and equipment
 Medication
 Occupational health and safety
 Rest and sleep
 Smoke free environments
 Supervision
 The role of carers’ families in family day care
Sources




Australia National Transport Commission. (n.d.). Australian dangerous goods code.
Retrieved June 25, 2007, from
www.ntc.gov.au/ViewPage.aspx?page=A022113024004706250
Kids and Poisons. (n.d.). Safeguarding against poisons. Retrieved June 28, 2007, from
http://www.childsafetyaustralia.com.au/community/poisons/poisons.htm
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2000). A guide to labelling drugs and poisons.
Retrieved June 238, 2007, from http://www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/gldap.htm
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2007). Scheduling of medicines and poisons:
National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (NDPSC). Retrieved June 28, 2007,
from http://www.tga.gov.au/ndpsc/index.htm
Services can also contact the worksafe management agency in their state or territory. The
contact details for these agencies are listed in the NCAC Policy Template for Occupational
Health and Safety.
Further reading

Tarrant, S. (2002). Managing OHS in children’s services: A model for implementing an
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management system in your children’s
service. NSW: Lady Gowrie Child Centre.
Current as at September 2010
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Useful NCAC resources



McLeod, P. (2005). Health and safety information on the internet. Putting Children First,
15, 12-13.
OSHCQA Factsheet #3 – Safety in children’s services.
QIAS Factsheet #23 – Safety in children’s services.
Policy created date
<date>
Policy review date
<date>
Signatures
<signatures>
Current as at September 2010
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