Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods
Expert advice on hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods — helping you manage risk, meet compliance, and protect people and operations.
Why Compliance Matters
Under the WHS Regulation 2017, the use, handling, and storage of hazardous chemicals must be risk-assessed, clearly documented, and controlled through safe systems of work. Additionally, chemical risks are regulated under legislation such as the NSW Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Regulation, Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act, and EPA licence conditions for some facilities.
Failure to comply can lead to major incidents, environmental damage, worker exposure, and prosecution. We help you navigate this complex space with confidence.
Our Services – Clear Advice for Complex Chemical Risk
We assist with both WHS compliance and environmental planning, offering independent support across a wide range of sites and industries.
Risk Assessments & Site Audits
We conduct site-specific chemical risk assessments to identify hazards associated with storage, handling, transport, or use of dangerous goods. This includes flammables, oxidisers, corrosives, acutely toxic substances, and environmentally hazardous materials.
Our assessments consider storage compatibility, ventilation, bunding, labelling, ignition sources, SDS review, and emergency planning requirements. We also audit existing storage areas against Australian Standards and SafeWork NSW expectations.
Hazardous Chemicals Registers & Safety Documentation
Every workplace that uses or stores hazardous chemicals must maintain a compliant hazardous chemicals register — including up-to-date SDSs, labels, and risk control measures. We prepare and review registers, ensuring they're site-specific, accessible, and legally sound.
We can also help develop supporting documentation such as Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Chemical Management Plans tailored to your site and workforce.
Dangerous Goods Storage & Planning Advice
For developments or facilities involving dangerous goods, we assist with layout planning, bunding design reviews, and regulatory liaison. We work with industrial builders, project managers, and DA consultants to ensure designs meet EPA and fire safety requirements from the outset.
If your site stores goods above manifest thresholds, we also support dangerous goods manifest preparation, site plan development, and emergency services compatibility.
Common Sites & Situations We Support
We regularly assist:
Construction and demolition projects involving chemicals, fuels, or adhesives
Workshops and maintenance depots with paints, solvents, or flammable gases
Government and council facilities with long-term storage of cleaning agents or pesticides
Industrial and manufacturing sites managing large volumes of dangerous goods
Developments or change-of-use sites requiring planning input or environmental assessment
No matter the industry, if chemicals are used or stored, there’s a duty to manage risk — and we help you get it right.
Why Choose Confluence Environmental?
We are independent consultants with technical expertise in WHS, environmental risk, and hazardous materials compliance. Our advice is clear, practical, and aligned with SafeWork NSW, the EPA, and relevant Australian Standards such as AS 1940, AS 3780, and AS/NZS 4452.
We don’t just identify risks — we provide solutions that work on the ground, tailored to your site and workforce.
Where We Work
We provide hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods consulting across:
Greater Sydney and Western Sydney
Central Coast
Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter Valley
South Coast, Mid North Coast, and regional NSW
Need expert advice?
Need help with chemical compliance, storage audits, or planning advice? Whether you're preparing a development, responding to an incident, or reviewing your WHS system — we can help.
Call 0493 042 642 or book online to request an assessment or quote.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Hazardous Chemicals & Dangerous Goods
Q: What’s the difference between hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods?
While they often overlap, hazardous chemicals are substances that pose a risk to health or safety in the workplace, such as causing burns, respiratory issues, or long-term illness. Dangerous goods are classified based on physical hazards (like flammability, explosiveness, or reactivity) under transport and emergency regulations.
Some chemicals fall into both categories. For example, petrol is both a hazardous chemical and a dangerous good. We help you assess and manage both risk types under the appropriate legislation.
Q: Do I need a hazardous chemicals register for my workplace?
Yes. If your business uses, handles, or stores hazardous chemicals, the WHS Regulation 2017 requires you to maintain a current hazardous chemicals register. This must include:
A list of all hazardous chemicals on site
A current safety data sheet (SDS) for each chemical
Risk control measures and labels where applicable
Access for workers and emergency services
We can audit your register or prepare a fully compliant version tailored to your site.
Q: What is a dangerous goods manifest, and who needs one?
A dangerous goods manifest is a formal document required if your site stores dangerous goods above prescribed threshold quantities. It must include:
A full list of dangerous goods
Storage locations and quantities
Emergency information and contact details
A site plan showing access and storage zones
If required, it must be accessible to emergency services and submitted to Fire and Rescue NSW. We assist with manifest preparation, site mapping, and regulator submissions.
Q: What regulations apply to chemical storage in NSW?
Chemical management in NSW is governed by multiple frameworks, including:
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017
NSW Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Regulation 2022
Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act 1985
Australian Standards like AS 1940 (flammables), AS 3780 (corrosives), and AS/NZS 4452 (toxic substances)
We help you identify which apply to your operations — and how to comply without overcomplicating things.
Q: Do I need a chemical risk assessment if I store only small amounts?
Yes. Even small quantities of hazardous chemicals must be risk-assessed under WHS law — especially if they're flammable, corrosive, or toxic. Risk assessments must consider:
How the chemical is used or stored
Who may be exposed (e.g. workers, contractors)
Whether controls (like bunding, ventilation, or PPE) are adequate
We provide practical, risk-based assessments — not just paperwork — for businesses of all sizes.
Q: Can you help with chemical compliance for development applications (DAs)?
Yes. If your proposed development involves chemical storage, waste processing, workshops, or transport hubs, councils or planning authorities may request a chemical storage plan, risk assessment, or dangerous goods review. We provide documentation suitable for:
DA lodgements
Planning referrals
Industrial, retail, and infrastructure projects
EPA licence considerations
We also liaise directly with planners and regulators to streamline the process.