Hazardous substances on construction sites should be identified before work starts, understood using current safety information and controlled for the way they will actually be used. Builders, subcontractors and supervisors need to consider exposure, storage, incompatible materials, emergencies and the other trades or people who may be affected.
Information current: 14 August 2026.
What are the main hazards?
Construction products such as solvents, adhesives, sealants, paints, fuels, cleaning products, resins and concrete treatments can harm health. Work activities may also generate hazardous substances, including welding fumes, wood dust, silica dust and lead dust.
Exposure can occur through breathing contaminated air, skin or eye contact, swallowing contaminated material or injection from a sharp object or high-pressure equipment. Depending on the substance and dose, harm can be immediate or develop over time. Possible effects include irritation, chemical burns, poisoning, sensitisation, organ damage and cancer.
Hazardous substances and dangerous goods are not identical classifications. Hazardous substances are classified for their health effects, while dangerous goods are classified for risks such as fire, explosion and corrosion. A product can be both, so health and physical risks may need separate controls.
The work method matters. Spraying a coating can create mist, heating a product can release vapour, and cutting a silica-containing material can create respirable dust. A familiar product can become much more hazardous when used in a confined, enclosed or poorly ventilated area.
What should be sorted before work starts?
Start by confirming what products and process-generated contaminants will be present. Check quantities, storage locations, the intended work method, possible exposure routes, nearby ignition sources and whether incompatible materials could come into contact.
Obtain the current safety data sheet (SDS) for each supplied hazardous substance. The SDS explains matters such as the substance's identity, health hazards, precautions, safe handling and emergency measures. Keep it accessible to the people who may be exposed.
Prepare and maintain the hazardous substances register required for the workplace. Check that original labels remain legible and that decanted substances are clearly identified. Never store chemicals in food or drink containers.
Consult workers, health and safety representatives where applicable, subcontractors and other affected duty holders. This is particularly important when several trades share storage areas, ventilation, access routes or emergency arrangements.
Workers should receive practical information, instruction and training covering labels, SDS use, hazards, storage, disposal, controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), first aid, incident reporting and emergency procedures.
What do good controls and documents usually cover?
Apply the hierarchy of control. First look for a way to eliminate the hazardous substance or hazardous work method. If elimination is not reasonably practicable, consider substitution, isolation and engineering controls before relying on administrative controls and PPE.
Practical examples include choosing a water-based product, using mechanical fasteners instead of an adhesive, purchasing a material as a paste rather than a powder, enclosing a process or using effective local exhaust ventilation. Administrative rules and PPE then support the higher-order controls.
Documents and records commonly cover:
- a hazardous substances register and current SDS
- task risk assessments or safe work procedures
- product approval, storage, segregation and waste arrangements
- ventilation, dust extraction and equipment checks
- PPE selection, use, cleaning and replacement
- induction, training, consultation and supervision
- spill response, first aid, fire and emergency actions
- atmospheric monitoring or health monitoring where required
- incidents, inspections, corrective actions and control reviews.
The documents should name the actual product, task, equipment and controls. Instructions such as "wear PPE" or "provide ventilation" are too vague unless the required equipment, setup and checks are clear.
When does a SWMS or another site-specific document apply?
Using a hazardous substance does not automatically mean every task needs a safe work method statement (SWMS). A SWMS commonly applies when the task is high risk construction work under the requirements operating in the relevant jurisdiction. Chemical-related work may overlap with high risk categories, such as work in a confined space or an area that may have a flammable or contaminated atmosphere.
Where a SWMS is not required, the task may still need a site-specific risk assessment, safe work procedure, permit, hazardous substances register entry or emergency plan. The appropriate document depends on the product, exposure, task, workplace and client requirements.
Local requirements vary. Check current regulator material and the rules applying to the project. National Model Codes can provide useful general orientation, but they are not automatically applicable law in every jurisdiction.
Practical warning signs
Stop and reassess the work if you find:
- a missing, outdated or inaccessible SDS
- an unlabelled container or damaged label
- visible dust, mist, fumes or uncontrolled vapour
- strong odours or workers reporting irritation, headaches or nausea
- incompatible products stored together
- ineffective ventilation or extraction
- spill equipment that is missing or unsuitable
- workers who are unsure about controls, PPE or emergency actions
- site paperwork that does not match the work being performed.
Atmospheric monitoring may be required where an exposure standard applies and there is uncertainty about whether it could be exceeded, or where monitoring is needed to determine the health risk. Health monitoring may also be required for certain exposures. Monitoring supports effective controls; its results should be acted on and recorded.
How Blue Safe can help
Blue Safe provides compliant WHS documents tailored to the client's activities, applicable Australian WHS/OHS requirements, jurisdiction and industry. This can include hazardous substances procedures, registers, risk assessments, SWMS for applicable high risk construction work, emergency arrangements and supporting records.
Blue Safe guarantees the document compliance of the WHS documents it provides, including eligible customer documents after Blue Safe has reviewed and upgraded them. Customers actively put the compliant documents into practice through controls, consultation, training, actions, records and evidence. This gives supervisors and workers a clear, practical system to follow on site.