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Under Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace · made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Overview and legal status of the Code

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FEDERAL · Hazardous Chemicals Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace > Overview § Foreword / s 274 WHS Act
The obligation
The Code is an approved Code of Practice under s 274 of the WHS Act, providing practical guidance to PCBUs on managing health and safety risks of hazardous chemicals.
Approved under s 274 of the model Work Health and Safety Act and adopted by each harmonised jurisdiction. Applies to any PCBU that uses, handles, generates or stores hazardous chemicals in the workplace. While not directly enforceable as law, compliance with the Code is evidence of meeting the general duty under the WHS Act; a PCBU choosing another approach must demonstrate it achieves the same or better standard.
What
The Code is an approved Code of Practice under s 274 of the WHS Act, providing practical guidance to PCBUs on managing health and safety risks of hazardous chemicals.
Source
safeworkaustralia.gov.au

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What's happened with this Topic

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7 Aug 2026 · New
1 update tracked. This law has changed and been enforced.

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code-of-practice WHS hazardous-chemicals PCBU
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Frequently asked questions

Which WHS law does this come from?

Overview and legal status of the Code is a WHS requirement set out in Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace (FEDERAL). It is made under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (FEDERAL). The relevant provision is Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace > Overview § Foreword / s 274 WHS Act.

What does this WHS obligation require?

Overview and legal status of the Code is a WHS obligation under Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace (FEDERAL). In short, The Code is an approved Code of Practice under s 274 of the WHS Act, providing practical guidance to PCBUs on managing health and safety risks of hazardous chemicals.

What changed recently?

Overview and legal status of the Code was last updated on 26 August 2026.

Where this sits

Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Federal Australia

About this Topic

Updates tracked1
Monitoring detail
First seenAug 2026