Do your employees know how to handle chemicals safely to prevent exposures?

Although different types of chemicals require special handling procedures, a number of important safety rules apply to the handling of all chemicals. Here are 11 with which your employees should be familiar:

  1.  Follow all established procedures and adhere to all procedures related to chemical storage, handling and disposal.
  2.  Be cautious and plan ahead. Think about what could go wrong and pay close attention to what you’re doing while working with chemicals.
  3. Always use required personal protective equipment (PPE), and inspect your PPE carefully before each.
  4. Make sure that all containers are properly labeled. Don’t use any chemical not labeled properly.
  5. Read labels and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before using chemicals to make sure you understand potential hazards and appropriate protection.
  6. Use all materials solely for their intended purpose. Don’t, for example, use solvents to clean your hands, or gasoline to wipe down equipment.
  7. Never eat or drink while handling or in the area of chemicals, and if your hands are contaminated, don’t use cosmetics or handle contact lenses.
  8. If it is necessary to identify a chemical, do not taste or smell it. Read the label, refer to the SDS, or take a sample for analysis.
  9. Know your emergency procedures and equipment. Knowing emergency procedures means knowing evacuation procedures, emergency reporting procedures, and procedures for dealing with fires and spills. It also means knowing what to do in a medical emergency if a co-worker is injured or overcome by chemicals.
  10. Store all chemicals properly, separate incompatibles, and store in ventilated, dry, cool areas.
  11. Keep yourself and your work area clean. After handling a chemical, wash thoroughly with soap and water. Clean work surfaces at least once a shift so that contamination risks are minimized.

To prevent hazardous reactions with any of these substances:

  • Know how chemical reactions might be initiated, such as by heat, contamination, inadvertent mixing, impact, friction, electrical short, etc. Check SDSs for information.
  • Know how to recognize when an uncontrolled reaction is taking place when reactive chemicals are intentionally mixed in processes.
  • Understand the consequences of a reaction such as toxic gas release, fire, or explosion.
  • Identify safeguards to prevent uncontrolled reactions from taking place.
  • Know how to respond properly if an uncontrolled reaction takes place.
  • Know segregation rules for storing reactive chemicals so that they do not come in contact with any substance that could cause a reaction.

 

For more information or assistance with your Environmental and Health & Safety regulatory compliance needs, contact Ralph Carito at Total Environmental & safety, LLC (Total) at rcarito@TotalEnviron.com or 908-442-8599.