Guidance Sheet 2: Dangerous Goods
Classification System
Dangerous Goods are Class 2 Gases: Compressed, flammable gases i.e. sodium
substances that are corrosive, Liquefied or Dissolved Under with water.
flammable, explosive, Pressure
spontaneously combustible, Class 5: Oxidising Agents and
toxic, and oxidising or water Organic Peroxides
reactive. These goods can be
deadly and can seriously
damage property and the
environment. Therefore, it’s Class 2 is subdivided into the
important that they are stored following three Divisions:
and handled safely. Class 5 is sub-divided into the
2.1 Flammable gases i.e.
following two Divisions:
Petrol, LPG, paints, pesticides acetylene and most Aerosols.
2.2 Non-flammable, non-toxic 5.1 Oxidizing agents i.e.
and acids are examples of
gases i.e. helium and oxygen. ammonium dichromate.
commonly used dangerous
goods. 2.3 Toxic gases i.e. chlorine. 5.2 Organic peroxides i.e. ethyl
methyl ketone peroxide.
They are defined in the Class 3: Flammable Liquids
Dangerous Goods Act 1985 and Class 6: Toxic and Infectious
are classified in the Australian Substances
Code for the Transport of
Dangerous Goods by Road and
Rail (Dangerous Goods Code) Liquids which can burn and have
according to their common a Flash Point (not boiling point)
hazardous properties. below 60.5°C i.e. acetone and Class 6 is sub-divided into the
kerosene. following two Divisions:
Classes of Dangerous Goods
Each substance or article of Class 4: Flammable Solids 6.1 Toxic substances i.e.
Dangerous Goods named in the etc. cyanides, arsenic compounds
Code is assigned to a particular and lead acetate.
Class relating to its primary 6.2 Infectious substances i.e.
hazardous property. The vaccines and pathology
Classes are as follows: specimens.
Class 4 is sub-divided into the
Class 1: Explosives following three Divisions: Class 7: Radioactive Materials
4.1 Flammable solids i.e.
phosphorous (red).
4.2 Substances liable to (white)
spontaneous combustion i.e. Substances and articles which
Explosives range from those that phosphorus. spontaneously emit radiation
are extremely hazardous with a 4.3 Substances that, when they greater than 70 kilobecquerel
mass explosion hazard such as come in contact, emit per kilogram i.e. uranium oxide.
TNT, Gunpowder etc.
Last Updated: 10 July 2018
Guidance Sheet 2: Dangerous Goods
Classification System
Class 8: Corrosive Risk of 6.1 to cover its toxicity Packing Group
Substances and Articles hazard.
Dangerous Goods of some
Classes are further divided into
Packing Groups according to the
degree of danger they present,
as follows:
This class is not further sub- Nitric Acid, Red, Fuming is Packing Group Great
divided but it includes both acids corrosive, a strong oxidising Danger
and bases/alkalis which can agent and toxic. It meets the
Packing Group Medium
react dangerously i.e. classification criteria for Classes
Danger
hydrochloric acid, sodium 8, 5.1 and 6.1. As its corrosivity,
hydroxide and batteries is its primary hazard, Nitric Acid, Packing Group Minor
containing acid. Red, Fuming is assigned to Danger
Class 8. However, it is also ‘Packing Group’ (referred to
Class 9: Miscellaneous allocated Subsidiary Risks of 5.1 as ‘Packaging Group’ in
Dangerous Goods and 6.1 to cover the other earlier versions of the
hazards. Regulations and Code)
does not apply to those
Classes/Divisions of
Dangerous Good against
which ‘Not applicable’
Dangerous substances and appears in the table below.
articles that do not fit into the United Nations (UN) Number The greater the degree of
above categories i.e. dry ice,
Each Dangerous Goods item danger, the more stringent the
asbestos and environmentally
listed in the Australian packaging requirement for the
hazardous substances.
Dangerous Goods Code is substance.
Subsidiary Risk assigned a unique number, The following Class/Packing
known as the UN Number Groups may be encountered:
Many dangerous goods present
(United Nations Number or UN
the hazards of more than one Class/Division Packing
No.).For example:
Class or Division. Such goods Group/s
are assigned to a Class UN No. 1090 Acetone 1 Not
according to their primary UN No. 1789 Hydrochloric applicable
hazard. The other hazard or Acid 2 Not
hazards are referred to as applicable
Some UN numbers apply to
Subsidiary Risks.
groups of substances having 3 , or
Examples: similar hazardous properties that 4 , or
Methanol is a highly flammable are not covered by specific
5.1 , or
liquid that is also toxic. It meets chemical entity entries. For
the classification criteria for both example: 5.2 only
Class 3 and Division 6.1. As its UN No. 1263 Paint 6.1 , or
flammability is its primary UN No. 1993 Flammable 6.2 N/A
hazard, Methanol is assigned to Liquid 7 N/A
Class 3. It is also shown in the
N.O.S. (Not Otherwise 8 , or
Australian Dangerous Goods
Specified)
Code as having a Subsidiary 9 or
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Guidance Sheet 2: Dangerous Goods
Classification System
New Labelling Requirements system and these will be What Schools Need To Do To
Effective From 1 January 2017 progressively replaced. Comply
From 1 January 2017, the Chemicals that have been
GHS Symbols and meanings decanted or stored in another
classification and labelling of
chemicals in Australia will be Aspiratory or container will need to be labelled
subject to the Globally respiratory hazard, according to the GHS
Harmonised System (GHS), carcinogenicity, requirements. The minimum
which is a single internationally mutagenicity information to be included on the
agreed system of chemical label is:
Hazardous to the
classification and hazard Product Name
environment
communication through labelling Hazard Pictogram or
of containers and provision of Hazard Statement
Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Labels for decanted chemicals
Under the GHS, hazards will be May cause can be printed using the
immediate health ChemWatch SDS database
communicated to chemical users
effect – skin, eye,
through nine hazard pictograms (GOLDFFX) for which the
respiratory
that represent the physical, Department has a subscription
health and environmental Acute toxicity via usage licence to provide full
hazards. Information about the oral, dermal or licence access to all of the
hazards will also be inhalation Department's Secondary and P-
communicated using a 12 schools.
combination of signal words, Chemical storage segregation
Corrosive, skin
hazard statements and requirements will remain the
damage, eye
precautionary statements. damage same; and labels and
Chemicals purchased after 1 pictograms on chemical storage
January 2017 from commercial cupboards that align with DG
suppliers will be labelled Compressed, requirements can continue to be
liquefied or used.
according to the GHS and
dissolved gases
similarly, safety data sheets will More information on chemicals
be provided in the GHS can be found at Safe Work
compliant format. Although not Oxidising Australia’s Classification and
yet mandatory, manufacturers substances labelling for workplace
and importers have begun using hazardous chemicals and the
the GHS for classification, Department’s Chemical
labelling and safety data sheets Management page.
of workplace hazardous Flammable,
pyrophoric, self
chemicals. In the interim either Further information and advice
heating substances;
the GHS or the existing water reactive can be obtained by contacting
classification, labelling and the Department’s OHS
MSDS system for hazardous Explosives, self- Advisory Service on 1300 074
substances and dangerous reactive substances, 715 or e-mail:
goods can be used and organic peroxides safety@edumail.vic.gov.au.
chemicals currently stored in
manufacturer or supplier
containers do not need to be
relabelled according to the GHS
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