Gas Leak or Chemical Spill
At St Joseph's School, the board ensures that the school is a physically and emotionally safe place where risks to health and safety (both physical and mental) are eliminated or minimised (Health and Safety at Work Act 2015; Education and Training Act 2020). As gases and chemicals are hazardous substances which could pose a health and safety risk to our school community, we store hazardous substances safely, plan for the possibility of a gas leak or chemical spill, and have procedures to follow if any spill or leak occurs (Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017). This information is part of our emergency management plan and kept with our printed emergency plans and procedures.
Prevention and planning for a gas leak or chemical spill
To prevent a gas leak or chemical spill, we:
- maintain our property to ensure our buildings and utilities (e.g. gas appliances) are safe – see Property Management
- store and dispose of all hazardous substances safely – see Hazardous Substances
- train anyone who handles hazardous substances.
As part of our emergency management planning, we:
- have procedures to manage any spill or leak of hazardous substances that may occur
- communicate these procedures to everyone that might be involved in managing hazardous substances
- train staff in how to recognise and manage a leak or spill
- have appropriate equipment for managing a leak or spill
- document any utilities, appliances, and shut-off valves in case of emergency
- keep an inventory of hazardous substances on site
- have up to date
safety data sheets kept in our inventory.A safety data sheet (SDS) provides comprehensive information about the properties of a hazardous substance, how it affects health and safety in the workplace and how to manage these risks.
See Safety data sheets 
(WorkSafe)
Responding to a gas leak or chemical spill
We have procedures to manage a gas leak or chemical spill.
Gas leak
If a gas leak is suspected at the school (e.g. smell, blowing, hissing noise) or in the vicinity of the school, we:
- notify appropriate staff and evacuate the affected area, taking wind direction into account
- warn others in the immediate area and consider activating our full school evacuation, shelter in place, and/or emergency closure procedures
- if it is safe:
- rescue any person in immediate danger
- open windows and doors to ventilate the area (if the leak is inside)
- turn off the main valve
- do not turn on or off any electrical switches, use a mobile phone or landline in the area, or allow anyone to smoke or vape in the area
- contact emergency services and/or the school gas provider, if necessary, and follow their advice
- monitor staff and students for signs of gas inhalation, and give appropriate first aid if necessary.
Symptoms of gas inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning can include:
- headaches
- nausea
- dizziness
- tiredness and vomiting.
Prolonged exposure or inhalation of high carbon monoxide levels can lead to collapse, unconsciousness, or death.
Chemical spill
All chemical spills are treated as toxic and dangerous, whether they are known or unknown chemicals. Our safety data sheets and inventory of hazardous substances are readily accessible to staff and emergency services.
A safety data sheet (SDS) provides comprehensive information about the properties of a hazardous substance, how it affects health and safety in the workplace and how to manage these risks.
See Safety data sheets (WorkSafe)
In the event of a chemical spill, we:
- notify appropriate staff and move people away from the area
- consider activating our evacuation, shelter in place, and/or emergency closure procedures
- remind everyone not to use mobile phones around the spill
- contact emergency services and/or a certified handler, if needed, and follow their advice
- administer first aid, if needed
- follow our safety data sheets, if appropriate
- contain the spill, if it is safe to do so
- protect storm water drains and other public waterways and advise our local authority (e.g. council) if the spill is likely to enter a waterway
- report the spill to WorkSafe, if necessary
- dispose of any spilled substance safely and according to the safety data sheet or any other safety documentation.
We do not re-enter any affected areas until cleared by authorised personnel.
Related policies
Legislation
- Education and Training Act 2020
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017
Resources
: Term 4 2025, Term 2 2022
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