Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System

Framework

(OSHAD-SF)

Code of Practice

CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials

Version 3.0

July 2016
 Table of Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3
2. Training and Competency..................................................................................................... 4
3. Requirements ....................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities ........................................................................................ 6
3.2 Employees Health and Safety ................................................................................. 11
3.3 Emergency Management and Notifications ............................................................. 12
4. References ......................................................................................................................... 14
5. Document Amendment Record .......................................................................................... 16

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 2 of 18
 1. Introduction
(a) This Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all duty holders within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that
import, store, transport, sell, or use hazardous materials.

(b) The purpose of this CoP is to reduce associated risks to the health and safety of employees,
and the community.

(c) This CoP is not a substitute for any other laws or regulations mandated by the Federal
Government or the Government of Abu Dhabi, or advisory guidance established by other
Abu Dhabi government authorities. It is the responsibility of the Employers to ensure that
this document is read and applied in conjunction with applicable laws, regulations and
guidance relevant to the entity. If requirements of this document conflict with requirements
set by another regulatory authority, employees are required to follow the more stringent
requirement.

(d) This CoP does not apply to radioactive sources (Class 7 of the United Nations Model
Regulations, which are not included in Federal Law No. 24 of 1999). Of the materials
classified as explosives (Class 1 in Regulations of the Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 and the
UN Model Regulations), this CoP shall only apply to chemical substances that have
explosive properties but are also used for other applications (eg. ammonium nitrate as
fertilizer).

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 3 of 18
 2. Training and Competency
(a) Employers shall ensure that EHS training complies with the requirements of:

(i) OSHAD-SF Element 5 Training, Awareness and Competency;

(ii) OSHAD-SF Mechanism 7 OSH Professional Entity Registration; and
(iii) OSHAD-SF Mechanism 8 OSH Practitioner Registration.
(b) Employers shall train all employees on the general awareness/familiarization of hazardous
materials prior to starting work.

(c) Employers that import, store, transport, sell, or use hazardous materials shall train all
employees and contractors that package, handle, store, or transport hazardous materials to
a level that is commensurate with their responsibilities. At a minimum, training shall include:

(i) use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (previously known as Material Safety Data Sheets,
MSDS) and/or profile sheets;
(ii) required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous materials;
(iii) properties of and risks associated with hazardous materials;
(iv) storage, handling and decanting requirements;
(v) appropriate disposal requirements;
(vi) actions to take to prevent accidental exposures or releases of hazardous materials;
(vii) incompatible materials and segregation requirements;
(viii) appropriate labeling of hazardous materials and hazardous waste;
(ix) meaning of signs and placards;
(x) specialized training for specific hazardous material management requirements
applicable to the responsibilities of their position; and
(xi) control measures to take if there is an incident involving hazardous materials.
(d) Employers that transport hazardous materials shall train employees transporting hazardous
materials on the following:

(i) all training listed in Section 2(c);

(ii) safe driving techniques;
(iii) correct loading and unloading techniques;
(iv) correct techniques for securing loads;
(v) actions to take in the event of an incident;
(vi) actions to take if there is a release/spill of hazardous materials during transport;
(vii) any applicable journey management, reporting and logbook requirements; and
(viii) any transport pathways pre-assigned by the authorities.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 4 of 18
 (e) Employers involved in classifying, labeling, packaging, preparation of transport documents
for hazardous materials, offering or accepting hazardous materials for transport, carrying or
handling hazardous materials in transport, marking / placarding / loading / unloading
packages of hazardous materials into or from transport vehicles / bulk packaging / freight
containers or are otherwise directly involved in the transport and handling of hazardous
materials shall train contractors and employees on the following:

(i) all training listed in Section 2(c);

(ii) requirements for labeling, marking, and placarding;
(iii) description of hazard classification criteria;
(iv) purpose and requirements for transport documentation; and
(v) use of emergency management documents.
(f) Employers shall at a minimum train their managers and supervisors on the following
elements of security awareness:

(i) nature and recognition of security risks;

(ii) control measures to reduce identified security risks;
(iii) actions to be taken in the event of security breaches; and
(iv) notification systems to alert management about new security risks.
(g) Training shall take into account literacy levels and be held in an appropriate language for the
employees.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 5 of 18
 3. Requirements
3.1 Roles and Responsibilities

3.1.1 All Employers that Handle Hazardous Materials

(a) Employers that handle hazardous materials shall perform a risk assessment in accordance
with OSHAD-SF Element 2 Risk Management. The assessment shall cover all activities,
products and services to identify all hazardous materials that are present, stored or being
handled at the worksite and the risks associated with them.

(b) Employers shall familiarize themselves with the requirements of all Federal and Abu Dhabi
Emirate laws and regulations applicable to the hazardous materials they handle, including
but not limited to:

(i) Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 concerning Protection and Development of the
Environment;
(ii) Federal Regulations for Handling Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes and
Medical Wastes, issued by Cabinet Decree No. 37 of 2001;
(iii) Environment Agency Abu Dhabi Standard Operating Procedures for Permitting of
Chemicals and Hazardous Materials in Abu Dhabi;
(iv) Environment Agency Abu Dhabi Guidelines for Storage of Chemical and Hazardous
Materials;
(v) current revised editions of international model regulations / codes of practice ratified by
the United Arab Emirate and came into force;
(vi) current revised editions of international model regulations prescribed by applicable
federal or local laws and regulations or by federal or local Competent Authorities;
(vii) requirements of relevant Competent Authorities and/or SRAs as identified through
codes of practice, guidelines, permit conditions, notices, information bulletins and
inspection and audit reports; and
(viii) Safety Data Sheets issued by manufacturers of hazardous materials.
(c) Employers shall familiarise themselves with the lists of hazardous materials that are banned
or restricted by applicable laws and regulations. Employers shall ensure they:

(i) do not import, produce, store, export or otherwise handle any banned materials;
(ii) obtain any import permits / approvals required by the relevant Competent Authorities
before proceeding to import any restricted materials; and
(iii) comply in the handling of each restricted material with the corresponding special
requirements and conditions set by the relevant Competent Authorities.
Note: For information on lists of banned and restricted hazardous materials and their relevant
Competent Authorities, visit www.hazmat.ae

(d) Employers shall ensure they have the permits, licenses, approvals, and other necessary
documentation required by the relevant Competent Authorities and/or SRAs to undertake
their activities.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 6 of 18
 (e) Employers shall appoint competent persons to oversee the storage, use and disposal of
hazardous materials within the workplace.

(f) Employers shall implement all reasonably practicable control measures to reduce the
harmful effects of hazardous materials on human health and the environment by preventing
and/or minimizing emissions, exposure and hazardous waste generation at source.

(g) Employers shall conduct routine inspections of hazardous materials in storage / use and
replace expired or damaged materials. Expired or damaged materials shall be handled in
accordance with applicable Federal and Local regulations. Unclear or damaged labels shall
be replaced.

(h) Employers shall ensure that expired and waste chemicals and hazardous materials are
disposed of through methods or contractors that are approved / permitted by the Center of
Waste Management Abu Dhabi, as per OSHAD-SF CoP 54.0 Waste Management.

(i) Employers shall implement appropriate programs for protecting safety and health of
employees working with or near hazardous materials.

(j) Employers shall develop an emergency response plan for incidents involving hazardous
materials. Refer to Section 3.3.

(k) Employers that handle the following classes of hazardous materials shall familiarize
themselves and comply with requirements of the corresponding Competent Authorities:

(i) precursors of narcotic drugs: Ministry of Health;

(ii) materials with explosive properties: Ministry of Interior;
(iii) materials, products and wastes related to the petroleum industry: Supreme Petroleum
Council;
(iv) precursors of chemicals weapons: National Committee for the Regulation and Control
of Chemical Weapons and Materials; and
(v) pesticides and fertilizers: Ministry of Environment and Water.
3.1.2 Manufacturers of Hazardous Materials

(a) Manufacturers of hazardous materials shall assess and classify materials by reference to
applicable international model regulations (e.g. UN: Global Harmonization System),
laboratory analysis, expert judgment, and/or weight of evidence to determine if materials
create a:

(i) physical hazard;

(ii) health hazard;
(iii) environmental hazard;
(iv) biological hazard; or
(v) other hazard.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 7 of 18
 (b) Manufacturers of hazardous materials shall:

(i) use the data obtained during the classification process to create a Safety Data Sheet
(SDS) in accordance with applicable international model regulations;
(ii) provide a copy of the SDS with any shipment of the hazardous material offsite;
(iii) as far as reasonably practicable, make an electronic copy of the SDS available to end
users;
(iv) maintain appropriate inventory records;
(v) review and update the SDS on an annual basis; and
(vi) ensure all individual containers or bulk packaging of hazardous materials are labelled
as required by applicable federal and local laws and regulations and / or applicable
international model regulations.
3.1.3 Importers and Distributors of Hazardous Materials

(a) To the extent required by applicable federal and local laws and regulations and /or
concerned federal or local Competent Authorities and / or SRAs, Importers and Distributors
of hazardous materials:

(i) shall not import any restricted material unless in possession of required import
permit(s) / approval(s);
(ii) shall not store, transport, dispense, sell, or dispose of any hazardous material unless it
is appropriately packaged and labelled and accompanied by a SDS or equivalent;
(iii) maintain appropriate inventory records; and
(iv) shall inform manufacturers or suppliers of hazardous materials of local relevant
requirements.
3.1.4 Transporters of Hazardous Materials

(a) Depending on the mode / modes of transport in use, transporters must comply with the
receipt, handling, packaging, labelling, documentation, transport and delivery of hazardous
materials shipments with the requirements stipulated by:

(i) applicable Federal and Local laws and regulations;

(ii) current revised editions of international model regulations / codes of practice ratified by
the United Arab Emirate and came into force;
(iii) current revised editions of international model regulations prescribed by applicable
federal or local laws and regulations or by federal or local Competent Authorities;
(iv) requirements of relevant Competent Authorities and/or SRAs as identified through
codes of practice, guidelines, permit conditions, notices, information bulletins and
inspection and audit reports;
(v) Safety Data Sheets issued by manufacturers of hazardous materials; and
(vi) any special instructions for handling any specified hazardous materials.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 8 of 18
 (b) To the extent required by the applicable laws and regulations and / or relevant Competent
Authorities and / or SRAs, transporters shall ensure that hazardous materials are
transported:

(i) in compatible and appropriately labelled containers, packages, vehicles or tankers;

(ii) in appropriate packages or containers that are secured (blocked and braced) in the
vehicle to prevent damage during transportation;
(iii) using vehicles constructed to an approved specification;
(iv) using vehicles equipped with appropriate fire extinguishers, flash lights and/ or other
emergency management equipment and information;
(v) using vehicles that are appropriately maintained and in good condition;
(vi) using vehicles equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices;
(vii) using appropriately permitted vehicles;
(viii) using a manifest based journey management system to document transport and
delivery operations;
(ix) by qualified drivers / persons;
(x) with appropriate escort; and
(xi) through roads pre-assigned for this purpose within the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
(c) Transporters shall develop an Emergency Response Plan for incidents during transportation
of hazardous materials. Refer Section 3.3.

3.1.5 Entities Using or Storing Hazardous Materials

(a) Employers that mix hazardous materials or produce hazardous waste shall:

(i) assess and classify the material / waste as described in clause 3.1.2(a);
(ii) use the data obtained during the classification process to create a profile sheet
equivalent to an SDS However, this document shall be identified as a Mixed Material
Profile or a Waste Material Profile and not as a SDS;
(iii) provide a copy of the Mixed Material Profile or Waste Material Profile with any
shipment of hazardous material / waste offsite;
(iv) as far as reasonably practicable, make an electronic copy of the Mixed Material
Profile or Waste Material Profile available to end users / handlers;
(v) review and update the Mixed Material Profile or Waste Material Profile on an annual
basis;
(vi) maintain appropriate inventory records; and
(vii) ensure all individual containers and bulk packaging of hazardous materials / wastes
are labelled as required by applicable federal and local laws and regulations and / or
applicable international model regulations.
(b) All hazardous materials shall be stored in an appropriate storage facility, ensuring
appropriate compatibility risk assessments have been undertaken, when not in operational
use.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 9 of 18
 (c) Hazardous wastes shall be identified, handled / stored on site, pre-treated, transported off
site, and disposed of according to the following and any subsequent guidelines issued by
the Centre for Waste Management Abu Dhabi:

(i) Technical Guideline No. 1 Requirements and Procedures for the Disposal of
Hazardous Wastes;
(ii) Technical Guideline No. 2 Annual Approvals for Hazardous Wastes Disposal; and
(iii) Technical Guideline No. 3 Requirements for the Transport of Hazardous Wastes.
(d) Prior to storing hazardous material / waste, storage facilities shall comply with location,
construction and design with requirements, specifications, guidelines and approval /
permitting requirements of applicable laws and regulations and / or relevant Competent
Authorities and / or SRAs; including at a minimum:

(i) Federal Regulations for Handling Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes and
Medical Wastes, issued by Cabinet Decree No. 37 of 2001;
(ii) Environment Agency Abu Dhabi Guidelines for Storage of Chemical and Hazardous
Materials;
(iii) Requirements of the Supreme Petroleum Council with regards to materials, products
and wastes related to the petroleum industry; and
(iv) requirements of the Directorate General of Civil Defence (including UAE Fire and Life
Safety Code 2011).
(e) Employers using hazardous materials, generating hazardous waste, and / or storing
hazardous materials or waste shall have a hazardous materials / waste management
system that includes, at a minimum:

(i) a schematic / plan of any store showing locations of the hazardous materials / wastes
stored, locations of emergency and fire-fighting equipment, and access and escape
routes;
(ii) appropriate storage compatibility risk assessments undertaken;
(iii) limitations on quantities of the materials / wastes stored;
(iv) storage conditions / procedures to be implemented;
(v) an updated and accurate inventory of the materials / wastes stored, including the
following:
1. name of the hazardous material / waste;
2. manufacturer of the hazardous material;
3. location of the hazardous material / waste;
4. quantity of the hazardous material / waste onsite (can be an average); and
5. if applicable, expiration date of the hazardous material.
(vi) copies of current SDSs / profile sheets for all hazardous materials / wastes stored,
such that the SDS / profile sheets are available:
1. in hardcopy or electronic copy for access by employees and emergency
responders; and
2. in language/s understood by the workforce.
OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice
st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 10 of 18
 (vii) an emergency response plan for any store of hazardous materials / wastes (see 3.3).
3.2 Employees Health and Safety

(a) Employers shall ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that employees and other persons
are not exposed to the health and safety risks from hazardous materials.

(b) Employer shall implement the Occupational Health and Safety Hierarchy of Controls when
developing and implementing hazardous material control measures, as per OSHAD-SF
Element 2 Risk Management.

(c) Employees in areas where hazardous materials are being used or stored must be protected
through effective programs for:

(i) prevention of overexposure to hazardous substances - refer OSHAD-SF

Occupational Standards and Guideline Values;
(ii) personal protection refer OSHAD-SF CoP 2.0 Personal Protective Equipment;
(iii) First aid and medical facilities refer OSHAD-SF CoP 4.0 First Aid and Medical
Treatment;
(iv) vaccination or prophylaxis; and
(v) medical surveillance refer OSHAD-SF CoP 5.0 Medical Surveillance.
(d) Appropriate Personal Protection Equipment shall be available, including but not limited to:

(i) protective helmets and or caps;

(ii) safety spectacles, goggles, face shields;
(iii) respiratory protection;
(iv) gloves;
(v) rubber or plastic aprons for handling materials;
(vi) coveralls; and
(vii) safety boots.
(e) Eating or changing of clothes shall not be allowed within areas where hazardous materials
are being stored or used. Eating and changing facilities shall be segregated by at least 10m
away from the storage / use areas.

(f) To protect their health and safety, employees in areas where hazardous materials are being
used or stored must, at a minimum:

(i) never use smell, taste or touch as means for material identification;
(ii) refrain from smoking;
(iii) refrain from any practice that is risky or incompatible with the hazardous materials, eg,
welding or use of lighters in areas where flammable materials are being stored;
(iv) avoid mixing of unknown or incompatible materials;
(v) always use compatible and appropriately identified portable containers for transporting
even small quantities of hazardous materials;

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 11 of 18
 (vi) use colors, tags or both to identify at least the following when using equipment
including liquid hazardous materials:
1. tanks, control valves, and pumps;
2. fill and discharge openings; and
3. content and direction of flow in pipelines.
(vii) clean and decontaminate any used PPE after use; and
(viii) observe all precautions stated in safety data sheets of the relevant materials.
3.3 Emergency Management and Notifications

(a) Employers / facilities importing, exporting, producing, storing, or managing chemicals or

hazardous materials shall comply with any inventory / record keeping, notification and
incident planning requirements prescribed by applicable laws and regulations and / or
relevant Competent Authorities and / or SRAs.

(b) Hazardous materials storage and handling facilities must perform a risk based identification
of potential emergency scenarios and develop corresponding emergency management
programs and response plans in consultation with emergency management authorities and
other stakeholders. At a minimum, the program and plans thus developed must comply with
requirements of:

(i) OSHAD-SF Element 6 Emergency Management;

(ii) National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority;
(iii) The Directorate General of Civil Defence; and
(iv) Local emergency services, including Abu Dhabi Police and Health Authority Abu
Dhabi;
(c) In particular, the emergency management program and plans thus developed must identify
and ensure provision of the following, as required:

(i) arrangements to prevent build-up of static electricity, occurrence of sparks, and

consequent potential for fire or explosion, e.g., near the outlet of a fill pipe or opening
of a liquid container where flammable materials may be present in air;
(ii) arrangements for grounding or bonding of flammable material containers;
(iii) alarms, detectors or tests, e.g. for presence of flammable or toxic mixtures in air;
(iv) arrangements for informing employees of parties to be contacted in case of emergency
(names, telephone numbers, etc.);
(v) emergency response kits, e.g. adsorbent materials and PPE;
(vi) arrangements for containment of spilled materials, and for preventing them from
reaching groundwater, sewerage network or storm-water pipes;
(vii) arrangements for site decontamination and for disposal of waste and contaminated
materials;
(viii) types and numbers of fire extinguishers, sprinklers, fire hose reels, fire hydrants, fire
pumps and other control measures; and
(ix) inspection and surveillance requirements.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 12 of 18
 (d) Incidents of hazardous materials at entities or during transport shall be reported to the
relevant emergency services, Competent Authorities and/or SRAs in accordance with the
reporting requirements of OSHAD-SF Element 7 Monitoring, Investigation and
Reporting.

(e) Employers shall disclose the ingredients of hazardous materials on request by emergency
responders responding to an incident, licensed medical practitioners treating patients
exposed to the hazardous material, enforcement agencies, and authorized members of the
Competent Authorities and / or SRAs.

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 13 of 18
 4. References
OSHAD-SF Element 1 Roles, Responsibilities and Self-Regulation

OSHAD-SF Element 2 Risk Management

OSHAD-SF Element 5 Training and Competency

OSHAD-SF Element 6 Emergency Management

OSHAD-SF Element 7 Monitoring, Investigation and Reporting

OSHAD-SF Element 8 Audit and Inspection

OSHAD-SF Occupational Standards and Guideline Values

OSHAD-SF CoP 2.0 Personal Protective Equipment

OSHAD-SF CoP 4.0 First Aid and Medical Treatment

OSHAD-SF CoP 5.0 Medical Surveillance

OSHAD-SF CoP 17.0 Safety Signage and Signals

OSHAD-SF CoP 54.0 Waste Management

Centre for Waste Management Abu Dhabi, Technical Guideline No. 1 Requirements and
Procedures for the Disposal of Hazardous Wastes

Centre for Waste Management Abu Dhabi, Technical Guideline No. 2 Annual Approvals
for Hazardous Wastes Disposal

Centre for Waste Management Abu Dhabi, Technical Guideline No. 3 Requirements for
the Transport of Hazardous Wastes

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Standard Operating Procedures for Permitting of

Chemicals and Hazardous Materials in Abu Dhabi, April 2010

Federal law No. 39 of 1992 Concerning Production, Import and Handling of Fertilizers

Federal law No. 41 of 1992 Concerning Regulation of Pesticides and Fertilizers

Federal law No. 24 of 1999 Concerning Development and Protection of the Environment
UAE, as amended

Federal Law No. 40 of 2006 Concerning Prohibition of the Synthesis, Production, Storage
and Use of Chemical Weapons, as amended by Federal Law No. 12 of 2009

Federal Law No. 13 of 2007 Concerning Goods Subject to Import and Export Control

Federal Law No. 3 of 2009 Concerning Arms, Ammunition and Explosives

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 14 of 18
 Federal Regulation for Handling Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes and Medical
Wastes, issued by Cabinet Decree No. 37 of 2001

Law No. 21 of 2005 Concerning Waste Management in Abu Dhabi Emirate

Ministerial Decision No. 554 of 2009 Concerning Banned and Restricted Pesticides in the
United Arab Emirates

UAE Fire and Life Safety Code 2011

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 15 of 18
 5. Document Amendment Record
Revision Page/s
Version Description of Amendment
Date Affected
Change of Logo All
Change from AD EHS Center to OSHAD throughout
Change of document title: AD EHSMS RF to OSHAD-
1st July Throughout
3.0 SF
2016
Acknowledgements deleted 2/3

Preface Deleted 4
EHS changes to OSH throughout

OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice

st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 16 of 18
OSHAD-SF Codes of Practice
st
CoP 1.0 Hazardous Materials - Version 3.0 1 July 2016 Page 17 of 18
 OSHAD 2016
This document was developed by OSHAD and shall remain its property. The document may only be used for the
purposes for which it was intended. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this document is prohibited.