Hazardous Chemical Signs & Placards Australia
Hazardous-chemical signage in Australia sits at the intersection of GHS Rev. 7 labelling, the model WHS Regulations (Chapter 7), the ADG Code for transport, and state/territory enforcement. This guide explains the three overlapping duties — label, placard, and transport — in plain English.
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Three overlapping duties
When you store, use or move a hazardous chemical in Australia, three distinct signage duties can apply — and they often apply at the same time. Understanding which one you’re addressing is the first step in getting your signage right.
- GHS container labels — applied to the individual container of the chemical. Governed by GHS Revision 7 under the model WHS Regulations. Mandatory for hazardous chemicals supplied to Australian workplaces from 1 January 2023.
- WHS Schedule 11 placards — outer-warning signs installed at the site or storage area when the aggregate quantity of a hazardous chemical exceeds the threshold set in Schedule 11 of the model WHS Regulations. Not every hazardous chemical triggers a placard — thresholds vary by hazard class.
- ADG Code dangerous-goods labels and placards — Class 1–9 diamond labels on packages and Emergency Information Panels (EIPs) on vehicles, required when chemicals are transported by road or rail. Governed by ADG Code Edition 7.9.
Storing and dispensing chemicals on site? You’re looking at duties 1 and 2. Loading them onto a truck? Duty 3 also applies. A chemical store next to a loading dock may need all three.
Duty 1 — GHS 7 container labelling
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is the international system Australia adopted via the model WHS Regulations. From 1 January 2023, newly manufactured or imported hazardous chemicals supplied to an Australian workplace must be classified and labelled using GHS Revision 7.
A compliant GHS container label must include:
- Product identifier (chemical name or trade name)
- Applicable GHS pictograms (red diamond border, black pictogram on white)
- Signal word — Danger or Warning
- Hazard statement(s) (H-codes)
- Precautionary statement(s) (P-codes)
- Supplier identification (name, ANZ address, phone)
The nine GHS pictograms
Flame
Flammable gases, aerosols, liquids, solids, self-reactive substances, pyrophorics, self-heating, water-reactive, organic peroxides.
Exploding bomb
Explosives, self-reactive substances (Type A/B), organic peroxides (Type A/B).
Flame over circle
Oxidising gases, liquids and solids.
Gas cylinder
Gases under pressure (compressed, liquefied, refrigerated, dissolved).
Corrosion
Corrosive to metals; skin corrosion / serious eye damage.
Skull and crossbones
Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation) — fatal or toxic.
Exclamation mark
Acute toxicity (harmful), skin / eye irritation, skin sensitisation, specific target organ toxicity (single exposure, Cat 3), aspiration hazard.
Health hazard
Respiratory sensitiser, mutagen, carcinogen, reproductive toxin, specific target organ toxicity (Cat 1 / 2).
Environment
Hazardous to the aquatic environment (acute Cat 1, chronic Cat 1 / 2). Not mandatory under WHS Reg but still used.
The unicode symbols above are schematic only. Actual GHS labels use the standardised red-diamond pictograms set out in the GHS publication — never substitute emoji or clip-art for compliance-grade artwork.
Duty 2 — WHS Schedule 11 placards
Schedule 11 of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations sets the placard quantity and manifest quantity thresholds for each GHS hazard class. When the aggregate quantity of a hazardous chemical at a workplace exceeds the placard quantity, the PCBU must install outer-warning placards at each entry to the site or storage area.
Typical placard-threshold examples (check Schedule 11 for the current values that apply to you):
- Flammable liquid Cat 1 — placard quantity applies at relatively low volumes; manifest quantity at a higher threshold
- Oxidising liquid Cat 1 — similar tiered threshold
- Acute toxicity Cat 1 / 2 — placard threshold applies from small quantities
- Gas under pressure — different rules apply for compressed / liquefied / refrigerated
Schedule 11 also sets out the specific outer-warning placard format (the HAZCHEM sign with product information, Class label replicas, and emergency contact details). Many sites pair the Schedule 11 placard with AS 1319 prohibition and mandatory signs addressing ignition control, PPE, and access restrictions.
Duty 3 — ADG Code Class 1–9 labels and transport placards
The Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code) is maintained by the National Transport Commission. Edition 7.9 is the current edition, usable from 1 October 2024 and mandatory from 1 October 2025, with commencement variations by state.
The ADG Code governs:
- Class 1–9 diamond labels — applied to packages, drums, IBCs and small containers being transported (Class 1 Explosives, Class 2 Gases, Class 3 Flammable Liquids, Class 4 Flammable Solids, Class 5 Oxidisers, Class 6 Toxic / Infectious, Class 7 Radioactive, Class 8 Corrosive, Class 9 Miscellaneous).
- Emergency Information Panels (EIPs) — rectangular panels on vehicles and transport units showing the UN number, proper shipping name, Class label, HAZCHEM emergency action code, and emergency contact details.
- Placard-load markings — when a vehicle is carrying a placard-load quantity of dangerous goods.
Product ranges we manufacture
Hazardous Chemicals Signs
General hazardous-substance signage for chemical stores, labs and workshops.
GHS 7 Labels
GHS Rev. 7 pictogram labels for containers up to manifest and placard thresholds.
Dangerous Goods Class Labels
ADG Code Class 1-9 diamond labels for transport and storage.
Signs commonly used at hazardous-chemical sites
- Outer-warning HAZCHEM placards (Schedule 11 format) — installed at site and storage-area entrances where placard thresholds are exceeded.
- GHS container labels — on every container of hazardous chemical supplied to or decanted at the workplace.
- ADG Class diamonds — on packages being dispatched for road / rail transport.
- Prohibition signs (AS 1319) — No Smoking, No Naked Flames, No Mobile Phones near flammable-liquid areas.
- Mandatory signs (AS 1319) — Wear Eye Protection, Wear Safety Boots, Wear Gloves, Wash Hands Before Leaving.
- Emergency-information signs (AS 1319) — Eyewash Station, Emergency Shower, Spill Kit, First Aid.
- Warning signs (AS 1319) — Corrosive Substance, Toxic Substance, Flammable Liquid.
- Bunded / chemical storage signs — identifying bunded zones, spill-containment bunds, drainage isolation.
- Manifest / emergency-contact boards — at site entrances for fire-and-rescue access.
State / territory variations
The WHS Regulations are a model developed by Safe Work Australia. They become legally binding only when a state or territory adopts them. All states and territories except Victoria have adopted the model WHS laws in substantially similar form. Victoria runs its own regime under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the OHS Regulations 2017 — which cover similar ground but use different terminology and thresholds in places. If you’re operating in Victoria, verify your obligations under the Victorian legislation rather than relying on Safe Work Australia’s model.
Official references
- Safe Work Australia — Hazardous Chemicals topic page
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (including Schedule 11)
- Safe Work Australia — GHS labelling
- National Transport Commission — ADG Code Edition 7.9
- WorkSafe Victoria — Hazardous substances and dangerous goods
Frequently asked questions
Is GHS 7 mandatory in Australia?
Safe Work Australia advises that GHS Revision 7 must be used to classify and label hazardous chemicals supplied to a workplace in Australia from 1 January 2023. Suppliers must ensure newly manufactured or imported hazardous chemicals supplied to a workplace after that date are classified and labelled in accordance with GHS Rev. 7. Enforcement of the requirement sits with each state/territory regulator under the local adoption of the model WHS Regulations — check your state regulator for transitional and state-specific details.
What is the difference between a GHS label and a HAZCHEM placard?
A GHS label is applied to the individual container of a hazardous chemical — it identifies the product, its GHS pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, and the supplier. A HAZCHEM placard is a large outer-building or storage-area sign required when the aggregate quantity of hazardous chemicals stored at a site exceeds the placard threshold quantities set out in Schedule 11 of the model WHS Regulations. Labelling and placarding are separate duties. A site can be compliant with labelling and still need to install placards, or vice versa.
When do I need a HAZCHEM placard?
Under the model WHS Regulations (Chapter 7, Hazardous Chemicals), a PCBU must install outer-warning placards when the quantity of a hazardous chemical at the workplace exceeds the placard threshold quantity set out in Schedule 11. The threshold varies by hazard class — for example, flammable liquid Category 2/3 and oxidising liquid Category 1 both have placard thresholds. A manifest is also required once a higher 'manifest quantity' threshold is reached. Because thresholds depend on the chemical's GHS classification, start by checking the SDS and then cross-reference Schedule 11, or speak to your WHS advisor or state regulator.
What is the ADG Code and does it apply to signage?
The Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code) governs the transport of dangerous goods. ADG Code Edition 7.9 was published by the National Transport Commission and became mandatory from 1 October 2025 (usable from 1 October 2024) — although state commencement dates can vary. The ADG Code requires Class 1-9 dangerous-goods diamond labels on packages, and EIP (Emergency Information Panel) placards on vehicles and transport units. If you only store and use chemicals on-site, WHS Schedule 11 placards apply. If you transport chemicals, ADG labels and placards apply instead.
Does a HAZCHEM placard replace a GHS label?
No. A placard is about warning emergency responders and workers approaching a site or storage area. A GHS label is about informing the person using the individual container. A compliant chemical store typically has both: outer-warning placards at site / storage-area entrances plus GHS labels on every container.
Do I need a separate sign for 'No Smoking' or 'No Naked Flames' near flammable liquids?
The model WHS Regulations require PCBUs handling flammable or combustible chemicals to control ignition sources. While the Regulations do not specify the exact sign artwork, installing AS 1319-styled 'No Smoking' and 'No Naked Flames' prohibition signs at the entrance to flammable-liquid storage is standard practice and is commonly treated by inspectors as evidence of discharging the ignition-control duty. Use prohibition-class signs (red circle with diagonal slash on white).
Chemical-site sign packs
We manufacture GHS pictogram labels, outer-warning HAZCHEM placards, ADG Class diamonds and the AS 1319 prohibition / mandatory / emergency-information signs that pair with them. Custom artwork (product name, UN number, emergency contact) available.
Planning signage for a specific site? These interactive checklists bring together the sign families covered above alongside the rest of what the workplace typically needs.