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Curtin University
Health & Safety

Managing Hazardous Materials at Curtin

Hazardous materials have the potential to harm people, property or the environment. 

This includes:

  • Materials such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs), radioactive materials, nuclear materials, pathogenic microorganisms, imported biosecurity materials, genetically modified organisms (GMO), pharmaceuticals, poisons, chemicals (both hazardous and non-hazardous), and dangerous goods.

  • Equipment presenting one or more hazards such as irradiating apparatus, lasers and pressure vessels.

  • Equipment which is critical to the safety of handling or storage of a hazardous material such as chemical storage  cabinet, biosafety cabinet, re-circulating fume cupboard, cryogenic dewars, controlled environments.

    • Curtin is committed to ensuring that all its use of hazardous materials and equipment fulfils legislative requirements and ensures the safety of staff, students, the wider community and the surrounding environment.

    Follow the links on the left of this page to find out how to manage the various types of hazardous materials and equipment.

    Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

    Before conducting research or teaching activities at Curtin, you must identify the hazards inherent in your work, document your safety protocols in a written risk assessment, and seek any approvals you need from Curtin or Government regulatory bodies.

  • Identify hazards using a Research Initiation Guide (RIG)

  • Assess risk in CHARM or our Generic Risk Assessment Form or your local areas form

    • Join the Hazardous Materials User Forum

    If you are interested in hazardous materials management and want to be consulted about improvement projects, please feel free to join the Hazardous Materials User Forum by emailing HazardousMaterials@curtin.edu.au . 

    Information Sheets and Frequently Asked Questions


    Information sheets relevant to specific Hazardous Materials are available at Health and Safety’s Policies & Procedures webpage under the heading Hazardous Materials.
    Answers to frequently asked questions concerning hazardous materials and chemicals can be found at our FAQs page.