Purpose of this fact sheet

To provide an overview to employers and employees in the Commonwealth jurisdiction on the training requirements needed to work with hazardous substances. It outlines the training requirements of the hazardous substances regulations.

This fact sheet is one of a series which describes the provisions of the hazardous substances regulations, accompanying codes of practice and guidance material.

Employer’s duty to provide training

Employers must provide training to all employees who could be exposed to hazardous substances at work.

The amount of training, and what is covered in it, should be appropriate with the level of risk to health. The assessment of the health risk involved in work with hazardous substances will provide important guidance on the training needs of particular employees. (See fact sheet 17g Risk Management Approach to Hazardous Substances.)

An employer must keep records of training. Records should include the names of employees receiving training, an outline of the course, and details of training providers. Training records must be kept for 5 years.

Guidance on the key elements of a training program can be found in the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) (formerly NOHSC) National Code of Practice for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances.

Who needs training?

The people who need training are:

• all employees who could be exposed to hazardous substances at work
• employees who supervise others who work with hazardous substances.

Training methods

The method of training must be appropriate to the employees who need training. Particular focus should be on new and young employees as they are at greater risk.

Training should take account of employees’ knowledge and experience. It should be practical and include "hands-on" sessions where appropriate. For example, this might include practical use of control measures and how to interpret warning symbols on containers.

If literacy levels are low, then verbal or visual training methods should be used. If employees are from non-English speaking backgrounds, training should be provided in the languages used by employees at the workplace.

What training is needed?

A hazardous substances training program must include:

• information about the hazard associated with the substance
• the process of risk assessment and the level of risk
• what control procedures are used with the hazardous substances
• the correct use and maintenance of control measures
• the proper use, fitting, testing and storage of personal protective equipment.

The training program should also include:

• container labels and how to understand them
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), how to access them and how to understand them
• the risk involved in particular work, the degree of exposure and how the hazardous substances can get into the body ("routes of entry")
• how employees can contribute to the assessment process
• work practices and procedures for the safe use, handling, processing, storage, transportation, clean-up or disposal of hazardous substances
• emergency procedures, incident reporting and first aid
• information about any health surveillance - what is needed, why and access to results
• the duties of suppliers, the employer and employees under the hazardous substances regulations.

Review and revision of training

Training should be evaluated to ensure that it has been effective in increasing employees' understanding about hazardous substances and the need to use control measures to minimise risks to health.

Training should be updated each time there is a change in health hazard information about substances or a change in the work practices or control measures.

Training should be provided to new employees, employees who are performing particular work for the first time or employees who need a refresher.

Additional information

• Occupational Health and Safety Code of Practice 2008 

• Information on the Hazardous Substances Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidance Material - No. 17a
• What is a Hazardous Substance? - No. 17b
• Material Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Substances - No. 17c
• Labelling of Hazardous Substances - No. 17d
• Information Employers Must Obtain and Provide about Hazardous Substances - No. 17e
• Information Manufacturers and Suppliers Must Provide about Hazardous Substances - No. 17f
• Risk Management Approach to Hazardous Substances - No. 17g
• Training Employees Should Have about Hazardous Substances - No. 17h
• Health Surveillance and Atmospheric Monitoring for Hazardous Substances - No. 17i

• Australian Safety and Compensation Council website ascc.gov.au telephone: 02 6121-5317

For further information about this fact sheet, or others in the series, please contact Comcare on the General Enquiry Line 1300 366 979 or visit our internet website on comcare.gov.au