Chemical Register Requirements Under CLASS Regulations 2013
Published 23 September 2026 · Regulatory Hub
The CLASS Regulations 2013 (Classification, Labelling, and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) require every Malaysian employer who uses hazardous chemicals to maintain a chemical register. This is separate from the CHRA, though the two are closely linked.
1. What Must Be in the Register?
Your chemical register must include:
- Chemical name (as it appears on the label and SDS)
- CAS number (Chemical Abstracts Service registry number)
- Quantity stored and used
- Storage location
- Hazard classification (flammable, toxic, corrosive, etc.)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — current, within 5 years
- Exposure control measures in place
2. Who Must Maintain It?
The employer is legally responsible. In practice, this is usually delegated to the safety officer or occupational health nurse — but the employer remains liable if the register is incomplete or outdated.
3. Where Must It Be Kept?
The register must be accessible to workers who handle the chemicals, not locked in a manager's office. Best practice: electronic register on a shared drive and a printed copy at the chemical storage point.
4. How Often Must It Be Updated?
Immediately when:
- A new chemical is introduced
- A chemical is discontinued
- Quantities change significantly
- The SDS is revised by the supplier
Minimum: Annual review.
5. What Happens If You Don't Have One?
Failure to maintain a chemical register is a breach of the CLASS Regulations 2013, enforced under the OSH Act 1994. Penalties include:
- Compound fines (spot fines issued by DOSH inspectors)
- Prosecution with fines up to RM50,000 (Section 29A)
- Stop-work orders until compliance
6. Link to CHRA
The chemical register feeds directly into the Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA). A DOSH-registered assessor will use your register as the starting point for the assessment. An incomplete register means an incomplete CHRA — and a failed inspection.
Need Help Setting Up Your Register?
Naja Safety provides chemical register compilation as part of our CHRA and compliance services. We work with your purchasing and store records to build a complete, inspection-ready register.