Chemical User Codes for Schools
Codes for teachers and laboratory technicians should be assigned on the following basis in NSW Department of Education and Training schools. Other schools are encouraged to adopt the system of chemical user codes. Laboratory technicians with high qualifications in chemistry should have their codes approved by the principal.
| Code | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teaching Staff with tertiary qualifications in chemistry or a discipline with a major chemical component, e.g. biochemistry; staff approved as Code 1 users by the principal. |
| 2 | Teaching Staff with tertiary qualifications in science; appropriately trained and experienced School Administrative and Support Staff working in the Science Key Learning Area; staff approved as Code 2 users by the principal or nominee. |
| 3 | Teaching Staff with tertiary qualifications in Technical and Applied Studies; appropriately trained and experienced School Administrative and Support Staff working in the Technical and Applied Studies area; staff approved as Code 3 users by the principal or nominee. |
| 4 | Teaching Staff with tertiary qualifications in Visual Arts; appropriately trained and experienced School Administrative and Support Staff working in Visual Arts area; staff approved as Code 4 users by the principal or nominee. |
| 5 | Teaching and support staff approved by the principal or nominee to use a specific chemical for a particular purpose. |
| 6 | Teaching and support staff with a general understanding of and an occasional use of chemicals. |
Note
A principal may assign to a person a particular chemical user class on the basis of qualifications, experience or demonstrated abilities. The principal should be aware that this imposes a legal responsibility on the principal. A person who accepts a chemical user code should be aware that this imposes a legal responsibility on the person who accepts the chemical user code. A person should accept a chemical user code only if holding the reasonable belief that he/she is competent to carry out chemical operations at the particular level of competency. A principal may delegate responsibility for assignment of one or more user codes to another person, but should be aware that this imposes legal responsibilities on both the principal and the person to whom the responsibility is delegated.