NT WorkSafe issues GHS 7 implementation reminder

NT WorkSafe Issues GHS 7 Implementation Reminder

NT WorkSafe reminds businesses that manufacture or import hazardous chemicals that the two-year transition period from the 3rd revised edition of the GHS (GHS 3) to the 7th revised edition (GHS 7) is coming to an end. Companies handling chemicals across the Northern Territory need to act now to avoid compliance gaps once the deadline passes.

Key Transition Dates

The two-year transition to GHS 7 began on 1 January 2021 and ends on 31 December 2022. This transition period gave businesses time to update classification systems, safety data sheets (SDS), and labelling practices for chemical products supplied or used within workplaces.

What Changes From 1 January 2023?

Beginning 1 January 2023, NT businesses must use GHS 7 to classify hazardous chemicals and prepare labels and SDS for those substances. Suppliers will no longer accept stock failing to meet GHS 7 labelling and classification requirements, so accurate documentation becomes essential for continued supply chain access.

• Hazardous chemicals must be classified under GHS 7 criteria
• Labels must reflect updated GHS 7 pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements
• SDS must align with GHS 7 formatting and content requirements
• Chemical storage practices should reflect any revised hazard classifications

Why This Matters for Health and Safety

Consistent chemical classification protects worker health by ensuring hazard information remains clear and accurate wherever hazardous chemicals are stored, handled, or transported. Correct labelling also supports safer storage arrangements, reducing risks associated with incompatible substances or inadequate hazard warnings.

Businesses managing chemical storage facilities should review their inventory now, cross-checking each product's classification against GHS 7 criteria well ahead of the deadline. For organisations seeking broader safety guidance, our article on WorkSafe's mobile plant safety reminder outlines similar compliance obligations relevant to workplace equipment.

Next Steps for Compliance

Additional information is available here. NT WorkSafe encourages businesses to consult this resource promptly, as suppliers across the Territory will enforce GHS 7 standards from the new year onward.

For related updates on regulatory reminders affecting workplace health, see our coverage of WorkSafe's reminder about engineered stone prohibition and Safe Work Australia's GHS 7 reminder as deadline looms, which discuss comparable transition requirements nationally.