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Cleaning Chemicals Risk Assessment

Cleaning Chemicals Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
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Cleaning Chemicals Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with cleaning chemicals through a structured, management-level Cleaning Chemicals Risk Assessment that supports planning, policy, procurement and WHS governance. This document helps demonstrate Due Diligence, align with the WHS Act, and protect your business from chemical-related operational liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance & WHS Duties: Assessment of PCBU obligations, officer due diligence, consultation requirements and the overarching chemical risk management framework across the organisation.
  • Procurement & Supplier Management: Management of supplier selection, pre-purchase risk assessment, compliance of cleaning products with WHS and environmental requirements, and contractual controls.
  • Chemical Identification & Information Management: Protocols for maintaining current Safety Data Sheets (SDS), correct labelling, hazard classification, and centralised chemical registers for cleaning agents.
  • Storage, Segregation & Inventory Control: Assessment of storage design, segregation of incompatible substances, decanting controls, ventilation, security, and stock rotation for cleaning chemicals.
  • Mixing, Dilution & Incompatibility Management: Controls around concentrated products, automated dosing systems, mixing procedures, prevention of dangerous reactions, and verification of dilution ratios.
  • Plant, Equipment & Engineering Controls: Management of plant used with cleaning chemicals, including pumps, dispensers, scrubbers and ventilation systems, guarding, maintenance, and engineering controls to minimise exposure.
  • Training, Competency & Supervision: Assessment of induction, task-specific training, competency verification, supervision arrangements and refresher training for all personnel using cleaning chemicals.
  • Personal Protective Equipment & Health Monitoring: Protocols for PPE selection, fit, maintenance and replacement, along with requirements for health surveillance, exposure monitoring and medical review where indicated.
  • Safe Systems of Work for Chemical Use on Plant & Tools: Development of procedures and administrative controls for applying cleaning chemicals to plant, mixers, tools and surfaces, including isolation, lock-out and decontamination processes.
  • Nanotechnology-Based Cleaning Products: Assessment of emerging risks from nano-enabled cleaning agents, information gaps, precautionary controls and supplier assurance requirements.
  • Environmental Management, Waste & Spill Response: Management of effluent, trade waste, bunding, spill kits, disposal of containers, and controls to prevent environmental contamination from cleaning chemicals.
  • Incident Management & Emergency Preparedness: Protocols for first aid, emergency eyewash and shower facilities, spill and exposure response, notification procedures, and integration with continuous improvement and audit programs.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Facility Managers, Safety Managers and WHS Advisors responsible for planning, approving and overseeing the organisational use of cleaning chemicals across workplaces.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, WHS Duties and Chemical Risk Management Framework
  • • Absence of a documented hazardous chemicals management procedure aligned with WHS Act 2011, WHS Regulations and relevant Codes of Practice
  • • Lack of clearly defined WHS roles, responsibilities and due diligence obligations for officers in relation to cleaning chemicals
  • • Failure to systematically identify all hazardous chemicals (including nanotech products, solvents, degreasers and hazardous cleaning agents)
  • • No formal risk assessment process for cleaning chemicals, including incompatible chemicals and high‑risk processes (e.g. mixing products, cleaning mixers/tools)
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers and health and safety representatives about changes to products, processes or controls
  • • Poor integration of chemical risk management into overall WHS management system, leading to ad‑hoc controls
  • • No formal process to review incidents, near misses, health monitoring data or exposure results related to cleaning chemicals
2. Procurement, Supplier Management and Product Selection
  • • Procurement of unnecessary or excessively hazardous cleaning chemicals where safer alternatives exist (e.g. high‑VOC solvents, aggressive degreasers, sensitising disinfectants)
  • • Purchase of incompatible chemicals that can react dangerously when mixed, stored together, or used sequentially on the same surface
  • • Inadequate supplier information on product composition, nanomaterial content, stability and incompatibilities for nanotech‑based cleaning products
  • • Acquisition of products without current Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or with poor‑quality, non‑compliant SDS
  • • Ad‑hoc purchasing from retail outlets or online vendors that bypass internal WHS review processes
  • • Bulk purchasing leading to excessive volumes on site, increasing storage and fire/explosion risks
  • • Procurement of industrial‑strength products (e.g. heavy‑duty degreasers, corrosive cleaners) for low‑risk domestic‑type tasks
3. Chemical Identification, SDS, Labelling and Information Management
  • • Unlabelled or incorrectly labelled decanted containers leading to inadvertent mixing or misuse of cleaning chemicals
  • • Workers not having ready access to current SDS for heavy‑duty degreasers, solvents, nanotech‑based products and other hazardous cleaners
  • • Failure to identify specific hazards such as flammability, oxidising properties, sensitisation, corrosivity or chronic toxicity (e.g. reproductive, carcinogenic, respiratory hazards)
  • • Inconsistent or non‑GHS compliant labelling on imported products or legacy stock
  • • Poor communication of specific incompatibilities (e.g. acids with hypochlorite bleach, oxidisers with solvents) to workers and contractors
  • • Lack of clear identification of nanomaterial content and related health hazards due to incomplete manufacturer documentation
4. Storage, Segregation and Inventory Control of Cleaning Chemicals
  • • Incompatible chemicals (e.g. acids, alkalis, oxidisers, solvents, chlorine‑containing products) stored together leading to fire, explosion or toxic gas generation if containers fail or leak
  • • Insufficient ventilation in chemical storage rooms, increasing vapour build‑up from solvents, degreasers or volatile cleaners
  • • Improper storage of nanotech‑based products where settling, agglomeration or container degradation may alter hazard profiles
  • • Inadequate secondary containment and spill control, leading to environmental contamination and worker exposure
  • • Overstocking of flammable or corrosive cleaning chemicals increasing fire load and severity of potential incidents
  • • Insecure storage areas allowing unauthorised access by untrained workers, visitors or members of the public
  • • Storage of chemicals above shoulder height or in unstable configurations, increasing risk of container falls and spills
  • • Failure to segregate cleaning chemicals from food areas, amenities or incompatible workplace processes
5. Mixing, Dilution and Incompatibility Management
  • • Uncontrolled mixing of different cleaning chemicals (e.g. acids with chlorine‑based products, ammonia with bleach, oxidisers with organic solvents) causing toxic gas release or violent reactions
  • • Incorrect dilution rates of concentrates leading to excessive exposure to corrosive or irritant agents during routine cleaning
  • • Use of heavy‑duty degreasers and solvents on inappropriate surfaces or equipment, creating unexpected reactions, off‑gassing or degradation of materials
  • • Sequential use of incompatible products on the same surface or in mixers and tools, causing residual chemical interactions
  • • Lack of engineering controls such as closed dilution systems, resulting in splashes, aerosol generation and inhalation hazards
  • • Inadequate instruction on mixing order, water temperature, and prohibition of mixing across product lines, particularly for multi‑component or nanotech systems
6. Plant, Equipment and Engineering Controls for Chemical Use
  • • Inadequate containment or ventilation when using solvents, heavy‑duty degreasers or nanotech‑based sprays leading to inhalation of vapours, aerosols or fine particles
  • • Use of unsuitable application equipment (e.g. high‑pressure sprays, mists) that increases airborne exposure and overspray
  • • Poor maintenance of extraction systems, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) or general ventilation resulting in ineffective control of airborne contaminants
  • • Lack of dedicated washing and rinsing facilities for cleaning mixers, tools and equipment leading to spillage and uncontrolled runoff
  • • Use of incompatible seals, hoses, pump components or containers that degrade when exposed to certain cleaning chemicals or solvents
  • • Inadequate segregation or guarding where flammable solvents and degreasers are used near ignition sources or electrical equipment
  • • Improvised decanting and mixing setups (funnels, open buckets) lacking spill containment and stability
7. Training, Competency and Supervision for Chemical Use
  • • Workers not understanding the specific hazards of the cleaning chemicals they handle, including long‑term health effects and nanomaterial risks
  • • Incorrect use of PPE, including selection, fitting, maintenance and disposal, leading to a false sense of protection
  • • Inadequate induction for new workers, contractors and labour‑hire staff regarding site‑specific chemical procedures and emergency arrangements
  • • Language, literacy or cultural barriers preventing workers from fully understanding SDS and written procedures
  • • Insufficient supervision or competency verification for higher‑risk chemical tasks (e.g. use of concentrated corrosives, solvents, heavy‑duty degreasers)
  • • Lack of refresher training leading to drift from safe practices and normalisation of shortcuts
8. Personal Protective Equipment and Health Monitoring Systems
  • • Reliance on PPE as the primary control in place of higher‑order controls for hazardous cleaning chemicals
  • • Incorrect PPE selection for specific cleaning agents, solvents or nanotech‑based products (e.g. wrong glove material, inadequate respiratory protection)
  • • Poor PPE management, including inadequate cleaning, storage or replacement, leading to contamination and dermal exposure
  • • Lack of systems for fit‑testing and fit‑checking tight‑fitting respirators where required
  • • Absence of health monitoring or exposure surveillance for workers handling chemicals with known chronic health risks (e.g. certain solvents or sensitisers)
  • • No process to review PPE performance following incidents, near misses or introduction of new chemicals
9. Safe Systems of Work for Using Cleaning Chemicals on Plant, Mixers and Tools
  • • Absence of documented safe systems of work for using hazardous cleaning products on plant, mixers and tools, leading to inconsistent practices
  • • Exposure to atomised or aerosolised cleaners when cleaning moving or recently operated machinery, mixers or tools
  • • Inadequate isolation and lockout systems during cleaning of mixers and mechanical equipment, leading to entanglement or crush hazards combined with chemical exposure
  • • Use of heavy‑duty degreasers and solvents in confined or poorly ventilated areas during equipment cleaning
  • • Residue build‑up of incompatible chemicals on mixers and tools that may react with subsequent cleaning products or process materials
  • • Cross‑contamination of work areas and tools from poor decontamination and waste handling procedures
10. Management of Nanotech‑Based Cleaning Products
  • • Limited toxicological data and uncertainty around long‑term health effects of engineered nanomaterials used in certain cleaning products
  • • Potential for inhalation of nano‑aerosols during spraying, misting or agitation, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
  • • Inadequate recognition of nanotech products as potentially higher‑risk, leading to use of standard controls that may not be sufficient
  • • Lack of specific information from suppliers about nano‑content, particle size, stability and appropriate control measures
  • • Potential environmental release and accumulation of nanoparticles in wastewater streams from cleaning operations
  • • Difficulty in monitoring worker exposure or environmental levels due to limited standard measurement methods
11. Environmental Management, Waste and Spill Response for Cleaning Chemicals
  • • Uncontrolled discharge of chemical residues, solvents, degreasers and nanotech‑containing waste to stormwater or soil
  • • Inadequate planning and systems for spill response, leading to worker exposure and environmental contamination during incidents
  • • Improper disposal of empty or partially used containers, including incompatible waste mixing in general rubbish
  • • No clear accountability for management of hazardous cleaning waste streams, including segregation of solvent‑contaminated materials
  • • Lack of integration between WHS and environmental management systems for chemical use, leading to conflicting or incomplete controls
12. Incident Management, Emergency Preparedness and Continuous Improvement
  • • Delayed or ineffective response to chemical exposures, spills, fires or gas releases involving cleaning chemicals
  • • Lack of clear emergency procedures for scenarios such as solvent fires, toxic gas from mixed chemicals, or eye/skin exposure to corrosive cleaners
  • • Inadequate emergency equipment (e.g. eyewash, safety showers, first aid resources, fire extinguishers) or poor access/maintenance
  • • Under‑reporting of chemical‑related incidents and near misses, preventing learning and improvement
  • • Emergency services not being aware of the types and quantities of cleaning chemicals stored on site
  • • Failure to analyse trends and implement systemic corrective actions following incidents involving cleaning chemicals

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

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Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Guidance on identifying, assessing and controlling chemical risks.
  • Model Code of Practice – Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals: Requirements for compliant labelling of hazardous cleaning products.
  • Model Code of Practice – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Framework for systematic WHS risk management and due diligence.
  • Model Code of Practice – First Aid in the Workplace: Guidance on first aid facilities and response for chemical exposures.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines.
  • AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids (where applicable to solvent-based cleaning products).
  • AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment.
  • AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves – Selection, use and maintenance.
  • AS 4775: Emergency eyewash and shower equipment.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

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