Chemical Management Requirements for Specific Chemicals: Drugs, Poisons & Controlled Substances
On this page:
- What are controlled substances?
- Compliance Requirements for controlled substances in the workplace
- More information
What are controlled substances?
Controlled substances are substances that are controlled by particular legislation, and include:
- prescription medicines;
- pharmacy-only medicines;
- drugs of dependence; and
- many household, industrial and agricultural chemicals.
Controlled substances are classified into Schedules 1-9, which each have different restrictions associated with them. The broad definition of these schedules appears in Appendix X of the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].
The list of controlled substances that fall into each schedule is a combination of the Poisons Code (Vic)* and the Standard for the uniform scheduling of drugs and poisons(Cth)**
* Please check the Victorian Department of Human Services website at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ to confirm you are referring to the most current edition of this document.
** Please check the Commonwealth Therapeutic Goods Administration website at http://www.tga.gov.au/ to confirm you are referring to the most current edition of this document.
Compliance requirements for controlled substances in the workplace
To use or store controlled substances in a workplace, you must meet the following requirements:
- All general requirements, as described in Chemical Management Key Topics.
- A further set of requirements specific to controlled substances, as described below.
Poisons Permit
In order to purchase and use drugs, poisons and controlled substances for industrial, educational, advisory or research purposes, Faculties/Departments are required to hold an Industrial and Educational Permit ("Poisons Permit"). Steps to obtain a Poisons Permit are below.
Application for an Industrial and Educational Permit
Complete the application form available from the Department of Human Services website at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu/downloads/ip_permit.doc
Application to nominate a Responsible Person
You must nominate a Responsible Person for the poisons. This person must have certain qualifications, detailed in section 5.4.2 Application to Nominate a Responsible Person in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].
Complete the nomination/application form available from the Department of Human Services website at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu/downloads/nom_appform.doc
Poisons Control Plan
Faculties/Departments must develop a Poisons Control Plan to apply for a Poisons Permit, and must maintain the Poisons Control Plan in order to continue to comply with existing Poisons Permits. Further information is available in section 5.4.3 Maintain a Poisons Control Plan in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].
Poisons Controls Plan Part 1
Part 1 is required for all applicants and permit holders.
- Complete the Poisons Control Plan Part 1 template available from the Department of Human Services website at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu/downloads/ip_part1.doc
- You may refer to the University's example completed Poisons Control Plan Part 1 [.doc].
Poisons Controls Plan Part 2
Part 2 is required for applicants and permit holders for Schedule 8 and 9 poisons only.
- Complete the Poisons Control Plan Part 2 template available from the Department of Human Services website at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu/downloads/ip_part2.doc
- You may refer to the University's example completed Poisons Control Plan Part 2 [.doc].
Detailed Advice
Refer to section 5.4 Poisons Permit in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf] for more detailed advice.
Labelling
All controlled substances should display their Poison Schedule on their label.
This is in addition to general labelling requirements set out in section 1.11 Labelling in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].
Access
Access to Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances that require an Industrial and Educational Permit should be restricted to persons who:
- work directly with the scheduled poison;
- have received chemical training;
- have been fully briefed on the chemical risk assessment; and
- are the nominated responsible person, or are staff/students directly under the control of the nominated responsible person.
Records
Transaction records must be kept for Schedule 4, 8 and 9 poisons. For requirements for the content of these records, refer to section 5.6.1, Records in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].
Records can be kept by either hard copy (eg logbook) or computer provided that they meet the requirements and cannot be altered, obliterated, deleted or removed without detection.
More information
- Further detailed information is available in section 5, Drugs, Poisons and Dangerous Goods in the Chemical Management Guidelines [.pdf].
- For advice and assistance, please contact your EHS Adviser or Manager in the EHS Unit.
- For advice about the chemical management systems that are in use in your workplace, please consult your laboratory manager, EHS Coordinator or supervisor.