Chemical Safety
Don’t Overlook Chemical Hazards in the Workplace
Chemical hazards often go unnoticed—especially when they involve everyday products. Even chemicals that seem safe because you use them at home can pose serious risks in the workplace. It’s essential to assess how your employees may be exposed to every chemical on your worksite.
Follow these steps to identify and control chemical hazards:
Inventory all chemicals used in your workplace.
Chemicals can take many forms: solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. Create a list that include pesticides, cleaning agents, maintenance products, and any other substances workers might encounter.Develop a written chemical safety policy.
Clearly identify who is responsible for managing safety data sheets (SDS), labeling, training, and compliance.Create a list of hazardous products.
Based on your inventory, identify and document all products that pose potential hazards.Obtain a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each product.
These documents are essential for understanding the risks and handling requirements of each chemical.Evaluate exposure risks.
Use the information from product labels and SDSs to assess how each chemical may impact employee health and safety. Then follow the hierarchy of controls to mitigate the hazards.Train employees.
Ensure workers know:Where to find SDSs and how to read them
The hazards of each chemical they work with
Safe handling, usage, and storage practices
How to protect themselves through proper procedures and controls
Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed.
Remember, PPE is the last line of defense. Always aim to eliminate, substitute, or engineer out hazards before relying on PPE.Review and improve your chemical safety practices.
Regularly evaluate your policy and procedures, and make adjustments when gaps or deficiencies are found.