Hazardous Chemical Substances in the Workplace: SA Regulations & Training Requirements

The Growing Chemical Risk in SA Workplaces

South Africa's industrial sector uses thousands of hazardous chemical substances daily — from solvents and acids in manufacturing to pesticides in agriculture and cleaning chemicals in commercial buildings. The Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations (HCS Regulations) under the OHS Act establish clear employer duties.

Non-compliance leads to occupational diseases, DEL enforcement action, and substantial civil liability. Understanding and implementing these regulations is not optional.

Overview of the HCS Regulations

The Regulations apply to every workplace where employees may be exposed to hazardous chemical substances. Key requirements include:

1. Assessment of Exposure (Regulation 3)

• Conduct an assessment by a competent person (Approved Inspection Authority or occupational hygienist)
• Determine the nature and extent of exposure
• Compare against Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) in Table 1 of the Regulations
• Reassess every 2 years or after significant changes

2. Control Measures (Regulation 4)

Apply the hierarchy of controls:

• Substitution — Replace with less hazardous alternatives
• Engineering controls — Ventilation, enclosure, extraction
• Administrative controls — Procedures, rotation, restricted access
• PPE — Respiratory protection, chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection (last resort)

3. Monitoring (Regulation 5)

• Conduct workplace monitoring where exposure exceeds the Action Level (50% of OEL)
• Use accredited laboratories for sample analysis
• Record results and make available to employees and inspectors
• Implement additional controls if OELs are exceeded

4. Medical Surveillance (Regulation 6)

• Mandatory medical surveillance for employees exposed to listed substances
• Pre-employment, periodic (annual or biennial), and exit medical examinations
• Conducted by an occupational medical practitioner
• Records retained for 40 years after last exposure

5. Information, Instruction & Training (Regulation 7)

Employers must provide training on:

• Properties and hazards of chemicals used
• Meaning of OELs and monitoring results
• Correct use of control measures and PPE
• Emergency procedures for spills and exposure
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and labelling systems (GHS)

GHS Classification & Labelling

South Africa adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classification and labelling. All hazardous chemicals must display:

• Product identifier (chemical name and UN number)
• Signal word (Danger or Warning)
• Hazard pictograms (skull, flame, corrosion, etc.)
• Hazard statements (H-codes describing the hazard)
• Precautionary statements (P-codes for prevention, response, storage, disposal)

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Every hazardous substance must have a 16-section SDS available in the workplace:

1. Identification
2. Hazard identification
3. Composition
4. First aid measures
5. Fire-fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and storage
8. Exposure controls / PPE
9. Physical/chemical properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport information
15. Regulatory information
16. Other information

Training Requirements by Role

OHS Compliance Group's Chemical Safety Training

Our chemical safety programme addresses real South African workplace challenges:

• Hazardous Chemical Substances Course — Full coverage of HCS Regulations
• GHS Classification & Labelling — Practical workshop on the Globally Harmonized System
• SDS Management — Creating, maintaining, and communicating Safety Data Sheets
• NEBOSH IGC — Comprehensive health hazards module including chemical safety
• NEBOSH Environmental Certificate — Environmental management of chemical substances
• Corporate Chemical Audits — Compliance assessment for your chemical inventory

Our facilitators have managed chemical safety programmes for manufacturing plants, chemical storage facilities, and laboratories across South Africa.

Book chemical safety training or view all courses.