Storing farm chemicals and fuel in a shed

First, whose rules

Safe Work Australia maintains the model work health and safety laws, and says they have been implemented in every jurisdiction except Victoria, some with variations. It also notes that states and territories can have different rules on storing chemicals, and points to your state’s regulator for them.

Victoria has its own occupational health and safety laws, and WorkSafe Victoria’s guidance speaks of dangerous goods. WorkSafe Victoria’s code of practice on the storage and handling of dangerous goods gives guidance under those laws. WorkSafe says Parliament has passed changes to Victoria’s dangerous goods laws, with a planned start in April 2028; until they begin, the Dangerous Goods Act 1985 and its regulations still apply. Its dangerous goods page also has a calculator for working out responsibilities and reporting.

Not in the hay shed

CFA and NSW Department of Primary Industries both put fuel and chemicals somewhere other than the hay shed. CFA’s list of things to avoid includes keeping hay near fuel, kerosene or other chemicals, and keeping vehicles, machinery or equipment in the hay shed. NSW Department of Primary Industries’ fact sheet keeps flammable liquids, pesticides and fertilisers out of hay sheds altogether, and warns that in intense heat some fertilisers can explode or release dangerous gases. Sheet 04 covers the hay itself.

Keeping flammable liquids apart

Safe Work Australia’s guide to storing flammable liquids, which names fuels, solvents and thinners among the common ones, gives practical steps under three headings that suit a shed.

Away from people and traffic

Store chemicals away from normal work areas: not where vehicles operate, not in thoroughfares or near exits, and not with food or personal belongings.

Away from ignition

Choose a spot away from ignition sources that cannot easily be removed, such as pilot lights; remove ignition sources near the store, for example with non-sparking lights; keep hot work such as grinding, heating and welding away from it; and use a flammable liquids cabinet where practicable.

Away from incompatible chemicals

Separate incompatible chemicals within one store or keep them in separate stores. As a general guide, the guide recommends at least three metres between flammable liquids and chemicals such as gases under pressure and corrosives, at least five metres for other fire-risk chemicals such as oxidisers, and complete isolation for the most reactive, such as organic peroxides and explosives. Barriers such as flame-proof cabinets can also separate them. The safety data sheet for each chemical gives its storage requirements; the manufacturer, importer or supplier can provide it.

Spills, air and sparks

Bunding. Bunding and spill trays should be in place. Incompatible chemicals should never share the same bunding or drainage, and liquids should not be stored above solids.
Ventilation. Design the store with enough natural ventilation that mechanical ventilation is not needed, or consider mechanical ventilation to extract vapours.
Electrical equipment. Where flammable vapour may be present, only intrinsically safe equipment, which cannot produce a spark capable of starting a fire, should be used, including lights and fittings.

Containers, quantities and old tanks

Safe Work Australia says a container for stored chemicals must be in sound condition, safely contain the chemical and be compatible with it, and must not be mistakable for food or drink. Above certain quantities you must keep a manifest and use placards, and containers over 500 L or 500 kg count as bulk storage. An underground tank no longer in use must be emptied and removed; one used for flammable gases or liquids that has been empty for 2 years is considered abandoned, and the regulator must be told. Those duties are written for workplaces under the model laws; Victoria’s equivalents are in WorkSafe Victoria’s guidance.

SafeWork NSW’s page on chemicals on farms adds everyday habits: read the safety and product labels on the chemicals you work with and store them safely, keep informed about banned products, and make sure there is adequate ventilation.

Planning has a say too. In NSW bush fire prone areas, Planning for Bush Fire Protection sets an objective, for Class 5 to 8 buildings, of storing hazardous materials away from the hazard wherever possible. Sheet 03 explains where that applies.

Other sheets

On asbestos, the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency’s advice for householders says it is “not recommended that you handle or remove asbestos yourself”, and in some places the law goes further: in the Australian Capital Territory any removal needs a licensed removalist, unless it is part of minor routine maintenance or other minor work, and in Queensland a home owner must be trained before taking out more than 10 square metres of non-friable material, and only a removalist holding a Class A licence may remove friable material. The agency adds that getting a professional to do the job is easier, safer and often cheaper. It also says that all asbestos waste must go to a landfill licensed to accept it, and that you could be fined for putting asbestos waste in a household rubbish bin.