Regulation of the use of carcinogenic substances

The use of carcinogenic substances - and the prohibition of others - is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1999. These Regulations came into operation on 1 June 2000. In the extracts below, the [Chemical Abstract Number] is given where appropriate.

Schedule 1 carcinogens

A "Schedule 1 carcinogenic substance" is a substance (or any of its salts) listed in Schedule 1 used as a pure substance or in a mixture containing 0·1% or more of that substance. This is determined as a weight/weight (w/w) concentration for solids or liquids and a volume/volume (v/v) concentration for gases.

Schedule 1 carcinogens are prohibited from use.

SCHEDULE 1: PROHIBITED CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES

2-Acetylaminofluorene [53-96-3]
Aflatoxins
4-Aminodiphenyl [92-67-1]
Amosite (brown asbestos) [12172-73-5] See Note 1
Benzidine and its salts (including benzidine dihydrochloride [531-85-1]) [92-87-5]
bis(Chloromethyl) ether [542-88-1]
Chloromethyl methyl ether (technical grade which contains bis(chloromethyl) ether) [107-30-2]
Crocidolite (blue asbestos) [12001-28-4] See Note 2
4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene [60-11-7]
2-Naphthylamine and its salts [91-59-8]
4-Nitrodiphenyl [92-93-3]

Note 1: except for removal and disposal purposes and situations where amosite occurs naturally and is not used for any new application.
Note 2: except for removal and disposal purposes and situations where crocidolite occurs naturally and is not used for any new application.

Schedule 2 carginogens

A "Schedule 2 carcinogenic substance" is any other substance (or any of its salts) listed in Schedule 2 used as a pure substance or in a mixture containing 0·1% or more of that substance. This is determined as a weight/weight (w/w) concentration for solids or liquids and a volume/volume (v/v) concentration for gases, except for chrysoltile or cyclophosphamide as listed in that Schedule.

Schedule 2 carcinogens are only permitted for use in the laboratory if WorkSafe Victoria is notified first. The School of Chemistry has informed WorkSafe that we use Benzene and Dimethyl sulphate.

If you are using or intend to use any of the other Schedule 2 chemicals please inform the Safety Officer ASAP. If you have been exposed to any of these chemicals, you must also inform the Safety Officer ASAP. You may need to undergo a health check.

SCHEDULE 2: NOTIFIABLE CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES

Acrylonitrile [107-13-1]
Benzene when used as a feedstock containing more than 50% of benzene by volume [71-43-2]
Chrysotile (white asbestos) when used for the manufacture of asbestos products. [12001-29-5]
Cyclophosphamide (cytotoxic drug) [50-18-0] See Note 3
3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine [91-94-1] and its salts (including 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine dihydrochloride
[612-83-9])
Diethyl sulfate [64-67-5]
Dimethyl sulfate [77-78-1]
Ethylene dibromide when used as a fumigant [106-93-4]
4,4'-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) - MOCA [101-14-4]
2-Propiolactone [57-57-8]
o-Toluidine [95-53-4]
o-Toluidine hydrochloride [636-21-5]
Vinyl chloride monomer [75-01-4]

Note 3: when used in preparation for therapeutic use in hospitals and oncological treatment facilities, and in manufacturing operations.

Hazardous substances requiring health surveillance

Asbestos, Crystalline silica, 4,4 Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) MOCA, Vinyl chloride, Isocyanates, Organophosphate pesticides, Acrylotnitrile, Benzene, Cadmium, Inorganic Chromium, Creosote, Inorganic Mercury, Pentachlorophenol (PCP), Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), Thallium

Carcinogenic substances:

Benzidine and its salts, p-Biphenylamine, Chloromethyl methyl ether, 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine and its salts, sym-Dichloromethyl ether, N-2-fluoroenylacetamide, 1-Naphthylamine 2-Naphthylamine, N-Nitrosodiumethylamine, beta-Propiolactone, Acrylonitrile Camphechlor, 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane, p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene, 4,4'-Methylenebis (2-Chloroaniline)

* Preparations containing 1% or more of any of the substances referred to above are included.

NB: Health surveillance is only required where there is actual exposure of staff or students to a hazardous substances.

A record of employees working with scheduled carcinogenic substances must be maintained for 30 years.