Chemical Labelling & Storage: What a WorkSafe Inspector Looks For

What does a WorkSafe inspector check when they look at your chemical storage?

An inspector walking your site will typically check three things at once: are hazardous substances correctly labelled using the Globally Harmonised System (GHS), is there an up-to-date Safety Data Sheet and hazardous substances register accessible to workers, and are dangerous goods quantities within — or properly notified above — the thresholds set in Victorian law. Gaps in any of these are among the most common findings on manufacturing floors.

What labelling does every container need?

Australia's transition to GHS 7 labelling for newly manufactured or imported hazardous chemicals was completed at the end of 2022. Under Victoria's OHS Regulations 2017, a container of hazardous substance supplied to a workplace must be labelled in English, legible, and correctly identify:

• the product identifier
• the name, address and telephone number of the Australian manufacturer or importing supplier
• the correct hazard pictogram for the classification
• the hazard statement and precautionary statement

What about containers you've decanted chemicals into?

If employees transfer chemicals into another container — common around mixing stations and dip tanks — that container must be clearly and durably labelled too, showing at minimum the name of the contents and, where applicable, the hazard pictogram or hazard statement. WorkSafe Victoria has issued a safety alert on this specific issue after workers were seriously burned when they mistook an unlabelled flammable liquid for water. Written, stick-on or painted labels are all acceptable, as long as they're legible and durable — and chemicals should never be stored in food or drink containers, even if labelled.

What records does an inspector expect to see?

Employers must maintain a register of hazardous substances on site, together with a copy of the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each one. The register has to be accessible to any employee who might be exposed, and to health and safety representatives.

Manufacturers and importers are required to review and revise each SDS as often as necessary — and at least every five years — to keep the information accurate and current. Employers must keep the current SDS accessible and must not alter the information it contains.

When do you need to notify WorkSafe about chemical storage?

Victoria's Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022 set "manifest quantities" for each class of dangerous goods in Schedule 2. If your site stores or handles dangerous goods above the relevant manifest quantity, you must notify WorkSafe. You also need to notify WorkSafe within three business days if, for example:

• the quantity of notifiable goods increases by 20% or more since your last notification
• notifiable goods fall below the manifest quantity
• there's a significant change in the type of goods, or the plant used to store and handle them

There's no fee for notification, but once WorkSafe acknowledges it, you must display a copy of that acknowledgement at the premises.

Quick reference: what to have ready before an inspection

Item	What it should show
Container labels	GHS 7 pictograms, hazard/precautionary statements, supplier details
Hazardous substances register	Every substance on site, with a current SDS attached
SDS	Current version, accessible to workers, unaltered, reviewed within 5 years
Decanted containers	Clearly labelled with product name and hazard information
Dangerous goods notification	Lodged with WorkSafe if quantities exceed Schedule 2 manifest thresholds, with acknowledgement displayed

FAQ

Do I need to label a container I've decanted chemical into, even for internal use only? Yes, in almost all cases. The only exceptions are when the substance is used immediately after decanting and the container is then cleaned so it's no longer a health risk, or where labelling isn't practicable due to size — in which case another method of identifying the substance is needed.

How often does a Safety Data Sheet need to be updated? Manufacturers and importers must review and revise an SDS as often as necessary to keep it accurate, and at least every five years, under Victoria's OHS Regulations 2017.

What triggers a requirement to notify WorkSafe about dangerous goods on site? Storing or handling dangerous goods above the manifest quantity specified for that class of goods in Schedule 2 of the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2022, or a significant change to quantities or storage arrangements, notifiable within three business days.

If you're not sure whether your chemical register and labelling would hold up to a WorkSafe inspection, a safety practitioner can help you find the gaps first — book a site assessment at https://ardmor.com.au/book-audit.

This article is general information for Victorian manufacturers, not legal advice. Last updated: 10 August 2026.