Quick answer: A chemical register is a list of every hazardous chemical used, handled, generated or stored at your workplace, together with the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each product. It is a legal requirement under the Model WHS Regulations for any workplace where hazardous chemicals are present.
Last reviewed: June 2026 by the BlueSafe Technical Team. Reflects current Model WHS framework.
If your workplace uses any chemicals — cleaning products, paints, adhesives, solvents, lubricants, fuels, or industrial process chemicals — there is a good chance at least some of them are classified as hazardous. When they are, Australian WHS law requires you to keep a chemical register. This guide explains what a chemical register is, what it must contain, who needs one, and how to keep it up to date.
What is a chemical register?
A chemical register (sometimes called a hazardous chemicals register) is a central, written record of all hazardous chemicals present at a workplace. It works as a master inventory: at a glance, it tells workers, supervisors, emergency services and WHS inspectors exactly what chemicals are on site, where they are kept, in what quantities, and where to find the relevant safety information.
The chemical register is not the Safety Data Sheet itself — it is the list that tells you which SDSs you have and where they relate to. Think of it as the index to your chemical safety documentation.
Legal context
The obligation to maintain a chemical register comes from the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations, specifically regulation 346.
Under that regulation, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) who manages or controls a workplace where hazardous chemicals are used, handled, generated or stored must keep a register of hazardous chemicals at that workplace.
The register must include, at a minimum:
- A list of the hazardous chemicals at the workplace
- The current Safety Data Sheet for each hazardous chemical on the list
This is a baseline requirement. The Regulations do not prescribe every column you must include, but the SDS must be current — manufacturers are required to review and update SDSs at least every five years, and your register must reflect the current version.
The Model WHS Regulations have been adopted (with minor variations) by most Australian states and territories. If you operate in a jurisdiction that has adopted the Model Regulations — including New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory — this obligation applies to you.
What a chemical register records
Beyond the two mandatory elements (chemical list and current SDS), a well-maintained chemical register typically records the following for each product:
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Product name | The trade name as it appears on the label and SDS |
| Manufacturer / supplier | Who makes or supplies the product |
| Hazard class | The GHS hazard classification (e.g., Flammable Liquid Category 2, Acute Toxicity Category 4) |
| UN number | If applicable — relevant for transport and emergency response |
| Location on site | Where the chemical is stored or used (e.g., "Store Room 2", "Workshop — shelf B") |
| Approximate quantity | The normal maximum quantity held on site |
| Container type / size | Drum, bottle, cylinder, etc. |
| SDS reference | Version date and where the SDS can be found (e.g., folder location, software reference) |
| SDS expiry / review date | When the SDS is next due for review (typically five years from the issue date) |
| Date added to register | When the product was first recorded |
Not every workplace will need every column. A small business with five chemicals will need less detail than a manufacturing facility with fifty. The key is that the register is accurate, current and accessible to anyone who needs it.
Relationship to the SDS register
The chemical register and the SDS register work together but serve different functions.
Your chemical register is the list — it records what chemicals you have and points to the relevant SDS.
Your SDS register is the collection of Safety Data Sheets themselves — the full 16-section documents provided by the manufacturer or supplier that detail the hazards, safe handling requirements, first aid measures, emergency response procedures, and disposal information for each product.
In practice, many businesses maintain both as part of a single chemical management folder or software module. The important thing is that the SDS is current, accessible to workers at the point of use, and clearly linked to the relevant entry in your chemical register.
Who needs a chemical register?
Any PCBU who manages or controls a workplace where hazardous chemicals are used, handled, generated or stored must maintain a chemical register. This includes:
- Trades and construction — adhesives, solvents, paints, coatings, concrete hardeners, cutting fluids
- Manufacturing — process chemicals, cleaning agents, lubricants
- Hospitality and cleaning — commercial cleaning products, sanitisers, disinfectants
- Automotive workshops — fuels, brake fluid, battery acid, degreasers
- Hair and beauty — peroxide solutions, colour developers, relaxers
- Healthcare and laboratories — reagents, disinfectants, sterilants
- Retail and warehousing — any products stored in bulk that are classified as hazardous
If you are unsure whether a product in your workplace is classified as hazardous, check the SDS. Section 2 (Hazard Identification) will confirm whether the product meets the GHS criteria for a hazardous chemical.
A product being household-strength or widely available does not automatically mean it falls outside these obligations. The classification is based on the chemical properties of the product, not its familiarity.
How to maintain a chemical register
1. Audit your chemicals
Walk your workplace and make a list of every chemical product present — in storerooms, on shelves, in dispensers, in vehicles and in equipment. Include products that are used occasionally, not just those in daily use.
2. Check each product against the GHS classification
Review the SDS for each product. If Section 2 shows a hazard classification, the product belongs on your register.
3. Obtain current SDSs
Contact the manufacturer or supplier for any products where you do not have a current SDS, or where your SDS is more than five years old. SDSs are generally available on the supplier's website or by request.
4. Build your register
Enter each hazardous chemical into your register with the fields listed above. Link or file each SDS so it can be located quickly.
5. Make the register accessible
The register and SDSs must be readily accessible to workers at the workplace — and to emergency services when requested. A physical folder in a fixed location is acceptable. A digital register is also acceptable provided workers can access it easily during their work activities.
6. Review and update regularly
Update the register whenever a new chemical is introduced, a product is discontinued, an SDS is revised, or storage locations change. Conduct a full review at least annually.
Sample register rows
The following example shows how three common workplace chemicals might appear in a chemical register.
| Product Name | Manufacturer | Hazard Class | Location | Max. Qty | SDS Version | SDS Location | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Degreaser HD | ChemCo Pty Ltd | Flammable Liquid Cat. 3; Skin Irritant Cat. 2 | Workshop — cabinet A | 20 L | January 2024 | Folder: Workshop / SDS Binder, p.4 | January 2029 |
| Concrete Sealer Pro | BuildChem | Eye Irritant Cat. 2; Acute Tox. Cat. 4 (inhal.) | Store Room 1 — shelf 3 | 10 L | March 2025 | Shared drive: Safety / SDS / Concrete-Sealer-Pro.pdf | March 2030 |
| Commercial Bleach 12.5% | CleanPro | Corrosive; Oxidiser Cat. 1 | Cleaners' room | 5 L | June 2023 | Folder: Office / SDS Binder, p.12 | June 2028 |
These entries confirm what is on site, where it is kept, what the hazard profile is, and where to find the full SDS — the information workers and emergency responders need in the event of a spill, fire or health incident.
Related resources
If you are setting up or reviewing your chemical documentation, these guides may also be useful:
- What Is an SDS Register? — how to build and maintain your Safety Data Sheet collection alongside your chemical register
- Hazardous Chemicals SWMS Guide — when a Safe Work Method Statement is required for work involving hazardous chemicals, and what it must include
Frequently asked questions
Is a chemical register a legal requirement in Australia?
Yes. Under the Model WHS Regulations (regulation 346), a PCBU who manages or controls a workplace where hazardous chemicals are used, handled, generated or stored must maintain a register of hazardous chemicals. The register must include a list of each hazardous chemical and the current Safety Data Sheet for each one.
What is the difference between a chemical register and an SDS register?
A chemical register is a list of every hazardous chemical at your workplace, recording key details such as product name, hazard class, location, quantity and the SDS reference. An SDS register is the collection of Safety Data Sheets themselves — the full technical documents from the manufacturer. The two are closely linked: your chemical register should reference each SDS, and your SDS register holds the actual documents. Some businesses maintain them as a single combined document.
How often should a chemical register be updated?
Your chemical register should be updated whenever a new hazardous chemical is introduced to the workplace, when a product is no longer used or stored on site, when the SDS for a product is revised (manufacturers must review SDSs every five years), and whenever quantities or storage locations change. At minimum, review the register annually as part of your routine WHS review.
Does a sole trader or small business need a chemical register?
If you use, handle, generate or store hazardous chemicals at your workplace — even a single product, such as a solvent, adhesive, or cleaning agent classified as hazardous — you are required to maintain a chemical register under the Model WHS Regulations. The size of your business does not affect this obligation. The register does not need to be complex; a simple spreadsheet listing each product and its SDS reference is sufficient for most small businesses.
Ready to build your chemical register?
BlueSafe Online gives you access to ready-to-use WHS document templates including chemical registers, SDS management tools, and the supporting safe work procedures your workplace needs.
This guide provides general information only. Your specific obligations will depend on the nature of your workplace, the chemicals present, and the legislation applicable in your jurisdiction. This is not legal advice.