A Complete Guide to GHS Pictograms

The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling (GHS) was created by the United Nations (UN) in 1992 as a way to standardise chemicals management across the world. The system…READ MORE

Western Australia to Implement GHS

Western Australia has now joined all other Australian jurisdictions (excluding Victoria) in the adoption of harmonised work health and safety (WHS) laws, effective as of 31 March 2022.  This WHS…READ MORE

What’s really inside your manicure?

Cosmetics are a part of billions of people’s daily lives, from makeup and skincare to hair dye and, of course, nail polish. But how much do you really know about…READ MORE

An Introduction to Occupational Exposure Limits

Occupational hazards are everywhere in the chemicals industry, however some substances pose more of a threat than others. Mitigating risk is key, and this is where exposure limits play their…READ MORE

Why are some solvents safer than others?

As chemicals have moved from the synthetic lab to mass production, many classical solvents have remained ingrained in the industrial status quo. A case of ‘why fix what isn't broken’?…READ MORE

What is the Hierarchy of Risk Controls?

When you want to know more about a substance, the very first place you should consult is the SDS. This 16-section document covers chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, and…READ MORE

An Introduction to Unique Formula Identifiers (Annex VIII to CLP)

Chemical products are generally considered to be safe when they are used in accordance with the prescribed instructions. Nevertheless, unintentional and unsafe exposure to chemicals can occur due to inappropriate…READ MORE

Phthalates: The Hidden Harm in Haircare

Did you know that common ingredients in your hair products could lead to breast cancer? Phthalates, often described as the ‘Everywhere Chemical’, are a family of chemicals used in all…READ MORE

A Complete Guide to Chemical Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are essential in chemicals management to minimise risk to human health. They are an evaluation of the possible ways a hazard may present itself to cause harm, and…READ MORE

Concrete Has a Carbon Problem.

We use more concrete today than steel, wood, plastic, and aluminium combined. As the most popular man-made material on Earth, it is the second most consumed substance after water—however, the…READ MORE

ECHA’s Poison Centres Notification Requirements

Poison centres notifications (PCNs) are put in place so that in the event of a poisoning incident, emergency response advice can be provided and the potential for further harm or…READ MORE

Weird Units of Measurement

All science is based around calculations and measurements. From the length of a covalent bond to the speed of light to the LD50 (median lethal dose) of a harmful substance—measurements…READ MORE

An Introduction to Harmonised Classification and Labelling (Annex VI to CLP)

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is the primary agency to oversee all things chemical management in the European Union. They deal with hazardous chemicals and mixtures sold on the EU…READ MORE

An Introduction to ECHA’s SCIP Database

Substances of very high concern are often overlooked once an engineered product has reached the end of its lifespan. ECHA’s Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) list endeavours to inform…READ MORE

What are Emergency Action Codes?

The National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC), together with the UK government, has developed a code of practice for responding to chemical emergencies that pose harm to people and the environment.…READ MORE

What does the Health and Safety Executive do for you?

Prior to Britain leaving the European Union, chemical regulation in the United Kingdom was handled by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Now that the Brexit transition period has ended, the…READ MORE

What is the UK’s Rolling Action Plan?

The management of dangerous goods is a serious business, and while SDS and risk assessment represent the final steps on the journey of safe handling, the evaluation data on which…READ MORE

What’s the deal with plastic waste?

The volume of plastics in our oceans—and throughout the wider natural environment—is immense and increasing every day. With awareness rapidly spreading and potential hazards and risks being discussed more openly…READ MORE

Is There Really a Doomsday Vault in the Arctic Circle? 

It’s not a bomb shelter, nor is it straight out of an episode of Doomsday Preppers. But yes, it’s true—just south of the 80th parallel on the Svalbard archipelago is…READ MORE

Ever wondered how insects can walk on water?

It’s not because they’re lighter or less dense than water, the answer is… surface tension! What is surface tension It is what causes bubbles to form, it’s how water can…READ MORE

How Environmental Stress is Hurting Your Body

We all understand that lifestyle factors such as a lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking can negatively impact our health, but few of us know exactly how. …READ MORE

How do you get your caffeine kick and does it matter? 

Just over a year ago, we investigated the origins of caffeine–primarily consumed in the form of coffee–and why it’s so popular. Since that time, it might surprise you to learn…READ MORE

Three Conditions Shown to Accelerate Ageing

The average teenager might feel and act as if they are immortal, but the research is not on their side, as was highlighted in a recent study published in JAMA…READ MORE

Everything you need to know about UN Numbers

What is a UN number? United Nations numbers – commonly referred to as UN numbers or UN IDs – are unique numerical identifiers assigned to hazardous goods by the United…READ MORE

Why Your Drink Bottle Might Be Killing You

While single-use plastic bottles have been rightfully shunned by consumers and reusable drink bottles have taken their place as the vessel du jour,  it’s important to remember we still don’t…READ MORE

Chemical Regulations, Standards, And Organisations – What’s Changed After Brexit?

Hazardous goods safety is backed by a myriad of regulatory bodies worldwide with the collective goal of optimising the wellbeing of individuals who work with chemicals every day. In Great…READ MORE

How Listening to Music Can Alter Your Genes

It’s no secret that music can have an impact on how our bodies operate. From releasing happy hormones and alleviating anxiety to boosting antibody levels in our immune system and…READ MORE

Rapid Antigen Tests, Demystified

Lateral flow immunochromatographic assays, more commonly known in Australia as Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), are a hot commodity. Alongside vaccines, they have been hailed as a saving grace in the…READ MORE

Safer Flood Cleanup

Sadly many areas in New South Wales and Queensland have experienced flooding in recent weeks. With clean up and repair operations now in full swing in many regions, there are…READ MORE

Carbon monoxide poisoning–the silent killer 

Gaseous compound carbon monoxide may be the simplest molecule of the oxocarbon family, but it can cause very complex issues including serious injury or death when misused, mishandled or in…READ MORE

Placarding Dangerous Goods For Transport

The packaging and transport of hazardous chemicals (hazchem) and dangerous goods comes with innate risk, so it's vitally important that these substances are stored and labelled in line with workplace…READ MORE

The Rubik’s Cube

For nearly fifty years it’s been a mainstay of pop culture, having kept fingers agile and brains frustrated with its simple yet challenging application. That’s right, the Rubik’s Cube remains…READ MORE

Forever (and ever) chemicals

PFAS, or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been the subject of a number of not-so-flattering documentaries, films, podcasts, and articles. But what exactly are these chemicals and why all the…READ MORE

Synaesthesia—troubling affliction or underrated superpower?

Syna-what-ia? Maybe you’ve heard of “synaesthesia”, but more than likely you haven’t. This complex neurological condition affects just 3–5% of Australians, so it isn’t commonly known or understood by the…READ MORE

Are cane toads the most disliked animal in the world?

Synonymous with the word ‘pest’, cane toads are often regarded with disgust and anger—especially by farmers and agricultural workers whose livelihoods they terrorise. But what is the real story behind…READ MORE

The wonderful world of weird birds

Feathery, talony, chirpy or squawky—birds are often a regular fixture of daily life. From the humble city pigeon and moody magpie to the seaside gull and high-flying falcon, there’s a…READ MORE

COVID Treatment Part 4: Treatments I Saw on the Internet

How did you prepare to battle COVID? Hoard toilet paper, stock up on groceries, and search treatments and preventatives on the ‘net until your fingers seized up from typing and…READ MORE

COVID Treatment Part 3: Antivirals for COVID treatment

How do antivirals work? Before we take a closer look at each of those compounds, just what are antivirals, and how do they work? You may be fairly familiar with…READ MORE

COVID Treatment Part 2: Disease-Modifying Treatments (DMTs)

In our last article, we looked at common current treatments/therapies and preventative measures for COVID-19. Disease-modifying therapies are one such medication in the arsenal against COVID-19, though they are usually…READ MORE

COVID Treatment – Part 1

It’s been the lead news story across the world for going on two years, and with the Delta and new Omicron variants continuing to wreak global havoc, the COVID-19 pandemic…READ MORE

Chemical regulations across the world: GHS

Before GHS Before the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling (GHS), each country—and jurisdiction in that country—would have their own legislation regarding chemicals management. This meant that trade across…READ MORE

Chemical contamination in food products

Chemicals and food rarely mix well together, and if you’re in the food supply industry, potential chemical contamination can pose a serious risk to not only your business but to…READ MORE

The Humble Orange

Sweet, delicious, and the globally accepted vitamin C mega source, oranges are rightly a very popular fruit, but do you really know your oranges from your apples (and the rest!)?…READ MORE

Calling all 90s kids! 

If you grew up in that wondrous decade (or the swinging 70s), chances are you were well acquainted with the teenage interior design statement du jour—the glowing, hypnotic lava lamp. …READ MORE

What is the the story of the peppered moth

A moth is a moth is a moth. Or is it?  When a moth changes colour based on its surroundings—like the peppered moth—there is perhaps something a little bit special…READ MORE

Notification of status as a GB-based downstream user or distributor under EU REACH

The Downstream User Import Notification (DUIN) process has been put into place to streamline compliance with chemical registration obligations under UK REACH, post Brexit. Complying with this notification allows companies…READ MORE

Guide on the classification and labelling of Titanium Dioxide

September 2021 Description Commission Regulation (EU) 2020-217, the 14th adaptation to technical progress (ATP) of the CLP introduced a new harmonised classification for certain forms of TiO2 as a category 2…READ MORE

The wonderful world of butterflies

It’s spring, the sun is shining and the butterflies are out.  Butterflies could well be the most universally enjoyed creature – colourful, harmless, floating from plant to plant, bringing life…READ MORE

How does honey come to be?

Honey is a common ingredient in baking and cooking. It can be spread on toast, or added to tea as a substitute for sugar. But what is honey really and…READ MORE

Things You Need to Know About Safety Data Sheet Authoring

What is a Safety Data Sheet? Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are essential 16-part documents with the sole purpose of conveying detailed information about hazardous chemicals. They assist with identifying and…READ MORE

Map your hazardous chemicals with Chemwatch’s Heat Mapping software

Our Heat Mapping solution will revolutionise the way you manage chemicals. Use our unique software to track how and where your chemicals are stored, what type of environment they are…READ MORE

The science behind the Mentos and Coke geyser

Creating a Mentos and Coke geyser is practically a right-of-passage for most kids. It’s explosive, messy, and great fun! But what is really going on when Mentos and Coke collide?…READ MORE

No more risky business! Minimise your risk with our Risk Assessment module

Use our quick and easy Risk Assessment module to determine the risks involved in any task and take steps to minimise it. What is risk assessment?  A risk assessment provides…READ MORE

Rainbows: What they are, how they are formed, and what do they have to do with pots of gold?

We all know that rainbows come after the rain, but what exactly are rainbows? How do they work and where did the story about the pot of gold at the…READ MORE

Have You Heard about the Chemwatch Bulletin?

What is the Chemwatch Bulletin? It’s our weekly bulletin that covers a wide range of science and chemical news. The bulletin emailed is out every Friday, and it can be…READ MORE

The Ultimate Chemicals Management Course

Looking for an Accredited Course in Chemicals Management? For those who need an in-depth knowledge of chemical safety and management, Chemwatch offers an Accredited Course in Chemicals Management.  Nationally Recognised…READ MORE

Smarter Suite: Your Pocket Guide to Chemical Safety

Wherever you are in the world, Chemwatch is here to help you! Our new mobile app puts the ultimate chemical safety pocket guide in your hands wherever and whenever you…READ MORE

Reading and understanding Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Safety Data Sheets or SDS provide hazard, transport and safety information on hazardous substances, including pure chemicals and chemical mixtures. You may come across the occasional reference to them by…READ MORE

Everything you need to know about CAS Numbers

What is a CAS number? CAS Registry Numbers® or CASRNs®, commonly referred to as CAS numbers, are unique numerical identifiers assigned to chemicals by the Chemicals Abstract Service (CAS: A…READ MORE

The Science Behind the Smell of Rain

Have you ever gone outside on a cloudy day and smelled that it was going to rain? Or, after a rainstorm, noticed that there was a certain smell in the…READ MORE

What is a SDS and why are they important?

What exactly is a SDS? Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are essential 16-part documents with the sole purpose of conveying detailed information about hazardous chemicals. They assist with identifying and managing…READ MORE

Chemical Acts, Regulatory Bodies, Codes and Standards: USA

The United States (US) has a variety of regulatory bodies, acts, standards, and pieces of legislation around chemical safety. These are largely concerned with the health and safety of the…READ MORE

SDS ARE USELESS!

Just kidding! What we meant to say is SDS by themselves are useless!  In fact, SDS are no longer the most important piece of the Chemicals Management System (CMS) puzzle.…READ MORE

Antibiotic resistance: What is it, how is it caused and what can we do about it?

Antibiotic resistance has been around since the discovery of the first antibiotic, and it’s prevalent today. Not all resistance is antibiotic-induced, but the over, and incorrect use, of antibiotics to…READ MORE

Will TBHQ in chips give you cancer?

TBHQ, or tert-butylhydroquinone, is a commonly used preservative in processed foods, particularly those containing fats or oils. However, the jury is still out on whether this preservative helps to preserve…READ MORE

Composting 101: What it is, how to do it, and why it’s important

In Australia, food waste is a major problem: it costs the economy about $20 billion each year. This equates to approximately 7.3 million tonnes of food being wasted, which is…READ MORE

Caffeine: Round off your breakfast with a side of psychoactive drugs

Have you had your dose of psychoactive drugs this morning? If you’ve had your morning cup of coffee, the answer is yes! In fact, caffeine is the most commonly consumed…READ MORE

Selecting Your Dream Stripper

Straight after walking through those hallowed doors, you can’t help but stare. After jostling through the crowds, all transfixed upon the objects of their desires, you finally make it to…READ MORE

What are the health effects of exposure to chemicals?

When handling or working with hazardous or non-hazardous chemicals, there is always the risk of exposure, whether via breathing, swallowing, or skin or eye contact. In some cases, exposure may…READ MORE

Why modern medicine needs the horseshoe crab

Remaining virtually unchanged since they first crawled the earth over 450 million years ago, these ancient creatures (sometimes referred to as living fossils) have outlived almost every other species—mostly thanks…READ MORE

Thalidomide: From wonder drug to medical disaster.

The tragic story of thalidomide is one of the most infamous cases of an apparent wonder drug turned medical disaster, the devastating consequences of which are still present today. Where…READ MORE

Exploring home food preservation by drying or dehydrating

Ever wondered about food preservation? Where did it all start? Why do we do it? And what are the best methods for drying food at home?  The origins of food…READ MORE

The Bad Side of BP-3

If you’ve never heard of oxybenzone, BP-3 or benzophenone-3, you’re not alone! Until recently, it’s been one of those hard-to-pronounce, but common ingredients in many sunscreens, lotions and cosmetics.  Lately…READ MORE

What is MSG and is it bad for you?

MSG is somewhat of a mysterious chemical compound. There has been a lot of hype about this common food additive, but exactly what is it and is it really bad…READ MORE

The science of souffle

Science is everywhere in cooking, but nowhere more so than in the majestic souffle.  The word ‘souffle’ comes from the French verb souffler, which means ‘to blow’. This is a…READ MORE

What are parabens and sulphates, and why should you avoid them?

Modern haircare is a minefield. The plethora of shampoos, conditioners and other products available, all promising shiny and healthy hair, make it very hard to know what’s actually good for…READ MORE

The chemistry of baking a biscuit

We’ve all heard that baking is a science, as much as it is an art. You can’t just throw ingredients into the bowl and expect everything to turn out well.…READ MORE

What Should You Do with E-waste?

E-waste and its toxic components are contaminating landfills and communities worldwide Now more than ever, we are all aware of the negative environmental impacts brought on by our modern lifestyles.…READ MORE

Acids in the kitchen? We look at four acids found in food

Acids are often thought of as highly destructive chemicals that cause corrosion, but they can also be found in everyday life where they perform incredibly useful functions such as unblocking…READ MORE

Interpreting commonly used regulatory and chemical initialisms

What is the STEL for that vPvB SVHC? To the layperson that sentence probably looks unintelligible. Perhaps there are a few vowels missing? In the world of chemical regulations, however,…READ MORE

What is dexamethasone and how does it treat COVID-19?

You might have seen this potent drug mentioned in the news quite a bit lately, especially as a COVID-19 treatment of choice for Donald Trump. In this article, we take…READ MORE

Part 3 – The truth about COVID-19 vaccines

I want COVID-19 to go away too, but you’re going to be injecting me with what?! You may have seen news articles regarding a number of vaccine candidates that have…READ MORE

Part 2 – The truth about vaccine production

I want COVID-19 to go away too, but you’re going to be injecting me with what?! If you were asked to describe 2020 in just a few words, ‘COVID-19’ and…READ MORE

Part 1 The truth about vaccines – I want COVID-19 to go away too, but you’re going to be injecting me with what?!

COVID-19 has certainly left its mark on 2020, and the race is on to create a vaccine that will see borders reopen, economies flourish, and most importantly, allow us all…READ MORE

Top five tips for designing an effective laboratory

When it comes to creating a safe, functional and effective space for scientists to carry out their research, there is a lot to consider. Lab design and planning requires a…READ MORE

Chemical safety equipment: what it is, why your lab needs it, and what to do with it

To ensure the safety of everyone working in your laboratory, it is imperative to have the appropriate chemical safety equipment. Like all equipment in the lab, chemical safety equipment should…READ MORE

Elastic Search

Lightning Fast Search Chemwatch has adopted new search technologies to improve your experience – you now have some of the fastest and most accurate chemical search tools available. The improvements…READ MORE

How to use chemical safety signs, pictograms and charts for hazard identification in your lab

While labelling is important, a picture really does speak a thousand words when it comes to identifying and communicating hazards in the laboratory and workspace. Aside from being easily recognisable…READ MORE

How to implement chemical safety and compliance in your workplace

Safety is paramount when working with chemicals—not only for compliance with government regulations, but also to prevent the devastating effects that chemical-related accidents can have on workers and on the…READ MORE

How to select suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) for working with chemicals

Safety first is the golden rule when it comes to choosing your wardrobe for working with chemicals, but how do you choose the right personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing…READ MORE

Top 20 chemical safety tips for your workplace

The effects of chemical-related accidents can be devastating for workers and their families, as injuries may lead to loss of life, loss of career, pain, suffering and overwhelming medical costs.…READ MORE