Health and Community Services Module

Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods

In the health and community services industry, employees may use and handle hazardous substances and dangerous goods such as cleaning products, detergents, disinfectants, medical supplies and medical waste.

Note: Students on work experience must not clean contaminated waste.

Chemicals and hazardous substances in the work place need not be dangerous if used safely. Awareness of possible risks, even from ordinary substances, can help prevent sickness, discomfort and injury.

It is important that your supervisor makes sure you use hazardous substances and dangerous goods according to the manufacturers or supplier's written instructions (the Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS) and the agreed safe work procedures for your work place. If you need more information on the substances that you are using, ask your supervisor or health and safety representative.

To reduce risk, your employer can sometimes substitute a non-hazardous cleaning product. You may need to wear gloves when handling and using some chemical cleaning products. Your employer must provide protective gloves.

Medical Waste

Employers must make sure medical waste is handled safely. Safe work procedures include the following:

medical waste should be stored in a weather-proof, secure location, isolated from other wastes and in a safe manner, so that it does not pose a hazard to people or the environment
sharps (objects or devices having sharp points capable of cutting or piercing the skin) should be placed in a suitable container that is puncture resistant, leak-proof, clearly coloured, labelled and capable of being sealed when full. It should also carry the biohazard symbol recognised worldwide and adopted for use in Australia.

Caution, biological hazard

Biological Hazard

medical waste should be stored in a clean, leak-proof, clearly labelled container suitable for transport to a disposal site
biological specimens should be incinerated
people responsible for collecting medical waste must be authorised by the Department of Human Services
pharmaceutical products should be disposed of as for medical waste, and
reusable containers should be thoroughly cleaned prior to use.