Transitional period to GHS 7 ending soon - Safe Work Australia

Transitional Period to GHS 7 Ending Soon

Safe Work Australia is reminding businesses that Australia will adopt the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 7 (GHS 7) in January 2023.

The federal safety agency says Australia is approaching the final phase of a two-year transition period, and urges organisations that handle hazardous chemicals to prepare their chemical management practices for GHS 7 now, rather than waiting until the deadline arrives.

What Changes From 1 January 2023?

"From 1 January 2023, only GHS 7 can be used to classify chemicals and prepare labels and safety data sheets (SDS) for newly manufactured and imported hazardous chemicals in Australia (unless otherwise advised by your work health and safety regulator)," Safe Work Australia said.

The agency added that SDS documentation for existing chemicals must also comply fully with GHS 7 requirements once this transition period ends. Businesses should treat this compliance shift as a priority within their broader safety management systems, particularly where chemical storage, labelling, and handling procedures intersect.

Why This Matters for Chemical Management

For teams responsible for chemical management across construction, manufacturing, and healthcare settings, this transition affects several critical documents:

• Safety data sheets for hazardous substances
• Labelling requirements for chemical storage and transport
• Classification systems used in risk assessments
• Health and safety training materials referencing chemical hazards

Getting these updated before the deadline reduces the risk of non-compliance and keeps your safety management framework audit ready. Businesses should also review their Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) to confirm chemical handling procedures align with the updated classification system.

Practical Steps for Businesses

Safety professionals managing hazardous chemical inventories should consider the following actions before the deadline:

• Audit current SDS documentation against GHS 7 classification criteria
• Update chemical storage labels to reflect new hazard pictograms and signal words
• Brief relevant staff on changes affecting health and safety obligations
• Confirm with your work health and safety regulator whether any transitional arrangements apply

Organisations relying on outdated SDS information risk falling out of step with current safety data requirements, which could expose them to compliance gaps during inspections or audits.

For teams updating procedures involving specific equipment or tasks, resources such as the Rigging Safe Work Procedure, Jigsaw Safe Work Method Statement, and Linisher Safe Work Method Statement demonstrate how safety documentation should be structured to remain compliant with evolving standards.

Staying Informed

Safe Work Australia continues publishing updates on chemical management reforms and broader work health developments. Reviewing announcements such as the Safe Work Australia's November News Update helps businesses stay ahead of regulatory changes affecting safety compliance.

Companies wanting a deeper look at earlier guidance can also revisit prior coverage, including Safe Work Australia's GHS 7 reminder as deadline looms and the earlier reminder about the GHS 7 transition, both of which outline what safe chemical management looks like under revised classification rules.

Safety leaders participating in initiatives like National Safe Work Month 2023 may find this an ideal opportunity to reinforce safe handling practices alongside GHS 7 compliance efforts.

Source: Safe Work Australia website