WorkSafe has issued a reminder about the requirement for employers to provide induction, information, training and supervision to all persons involved in the storage and handling of dangerous goods at healthcare facilities.
Dangerous goods are substances and articles capable of causing immediate harm to people and property because of their nature.
Healthcare facilities routinely use and store dangerous goods. Many of the dangerous goods in healthcare are also hazardous substances. Incorrect storage and handling can pose significant health, fire and explosive hazards.
Common examples of dangerous goods in healthcare include:
- Class 2 gases including oxygen, nitrous oxide and some anaesthetic gases
- Cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing agents including Class 3 flammables (alcohol-based hand sanitiser), Class 5.1 (peracetic acid) and Class 8 corrosives (sodium hypochlorite)
- Lithium-ion batteries for medical equipment (Class 9)
WorkSafe issues this safety alert after recent incidents involving dangerous goods that have occurred within healthcare settings, involving the incorrect handling of medical gases in cylinders.
- A serious fire incident involving a portable oxygen cylinder occurred within an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), leading to rapid ignition. The event resulted in multiple injuries and an immediate full-unit evacuation.
- A significant medical gas incident occurred in an acute setting during the routine replacement of a cylinder. Removal of the cylinder’s regulator resulted in an uncontrolled release of Nitrous Oxide, requiring staff to evacuate immediately.
The occupier of healthcare premises where dangerous goods are present must ensure that employees working within healthcare facilities are aware of the hazards and risks associated with the dangerous goods stored and handled within the premises.
A lack of understanding of hazards, risks and relevant control measures relating to the storage, handling and use of dangerous goods, may lead to an increased risk of injury to healthcare employees and other persons, such as patients and/or damage to property.
WorkSafe produces guidance materials for employers to assist them in understanding and complying with their duty under the OHS Act and OHS Regulations in relation to dangerous goods, and their duty to provide information, instruction and training to enable employees to perform their jobs safely.
- · Code of practice: The storage and handling of dangerous goods | WorkSafe Victoria
- · Lithium-ion battery catches fire | WorkSafe Victoria
- · Occupational health and safety - your legal duties | WorkSafe Victoria
- · Communicating across languages | WorkSafe Victoria
OHS Reps have further useful dangerous goods information for healthcare HSRs at our Dangerous Goods - OHS Reps and Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Checklist for HSRs - OHS Reps pages.
Read more: Dangerous goods training in healthcare facilities | WorkSafe Victoria