Date: 29-09-2020 Show Exposure to harmful substances resulted in the deaths of 49 people back in 2015. If the handling of chemicals or hazardous materials is a regular part of your workplace it is important to ensure the necessary safety precautions are taken to help protect you and your colleagues. Let's take a closer look at 5 important safety measures to take when handling chemicals. 1. DocumentationBe sure to keep up to date information on any chemicals being used in the workplace. This should include the amounts being used and the risks associated with each chemical. A thorough risk assessment should be produced for each chemical. Once complete it is imperative that this information is distributed to all those who require it as part of their training in regards to handling chemicals. 2. PPEAlways use the correct PPE when handling chemicals. This should be inspected prior to each use to ensure that its safe to use. All PPE should be regularly inspected so that worn out and damaged PPE can be replaced immediately. PPE such as rubber gloves and maximum skin protection can help protect against chemical burns. Always ensure there is minimal risk of hazardous chemicals coming in to contact with naked skin. 3. StorageHow you store chemicals and other hazardous materials is not just a matter of safety, its also a legal requirement. If you hold over a certain amount of hazardous substances you may need a compliance certificate to certify that you’re keeping to correct storage protocol. You can use this hazardous substance calculator to work out whether or not you require a compliance certificate General rules for the storage of hazardous substances include:
4. Personal HygieneThere are a few personal hygiene rules that should always be adhered to when handling hazardous substances.
5. HousekeepingWork areas should always be kept tidy to minimize the risk of slips and spillages. First aid kits should be regularly checked and appropriately stocked, as well as making sure Spill kits are readily available at any sites where chemicals are present. Any chemical spills should be reported immediately and tended to by a trained employee. Safety First When Handling ChemicalsAccidental chemical exposure can result in death, so taking the necessary safety precautions when handling chemicals is a must. If you work with hazardous substances then be sure to adhere to these five safety measures to help reduce the risk of an incident. For more information regarding safety in the workplace don’t hesitate to contact Amare Safety specialists or take a look around our online store for safety items. Blog » Safety precautions when working with chemicals There are workers across industries that regularly work with chemicals at their job. Chemicals can pose both health and physical hazards that employers are responsible for identifying and mitigating to ensure employee safety. Exposure to chemicals can lead to short and long-term health effects. For a chemical to harm an employee’s health, it must come into contact or enter the body while having some sort of biological effect. The four major routes that a chemical enters the body are inhalation, skin or eye contact, swallowing, and injection. Exposure can happen at any point during the handling, storage, and transport of hazardous chemicals. Training employees to understand these hazards and how to respond to emergencies are vitally important. Additionally, employers must adhere to regulations to ensure the workplace is safe to work in. In this article, we will discuss applicable regulations, provide a list of rules for employees to handle chemicals safely, and point you towards a few free resources to strengthen your chemical safety program. Know the regulationsOne of the best-known regulations regarding the employer’s responsibility when hazardous chemicals are in the workplace is OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The HCS requires employers to develop and disseminate chemical safety information that is accessible and understandable by workers. This means that employers must keep a written Hazard Communication (Hazcom) plan and train employees on chemical labels, safety data sheets (SDSs), and how to handle chemicals appropriately. Hazcom training for employees is required to be conducted at worksites with hazardous chemicals. Responsibility does not end with training employees. Employers are also responsible for identifying and evaluating respiratory hazards in the workplace. There are multiple types of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) that have been established by various organizations. You can find many of these listed on OSHA’s Safety and Health webpage related to chemical hazards and toxic substances. OSHA maintains enforceable permissible exposure limits (PELs) which are limits based on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The TWA is also referred to as an action level where certain activities, such as exposure monitoring and medical surveillance, are required. The allowable airborne concentrations are under the action level and never reach the ceiling limit (the exposure limit a worker’s exposure must never exceed). The PELs regulations span across the general, maritime, and construction industries. Business owners may need to complete testing to assess the number of airborne concentrations of chemicals that employees are exposed to during their workday. The analysis will show if the first line of defense, engineering, and work practice controls, are or are not working and if respiratory protection will be required. Rules for handling chemicals safelyHere we have compiled a list of rules for employees to handle chemicals safely. The rules are not prioritized in any particular order and may not be exhaustive. It would be a good idea to get employees involved by presenting these rules during a safety briefing and have them add additional rules to the list. By involving employees in the rulemaking process, will create a sense of ownership and they will be more likely to follow them.
Additional resourcesThe International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC) is offered to a targeted audience of workers and safety and health professionals. The material is provided for free as a part of a joint effort between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). A couple of other great resources can be found from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are freely available: the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards and the Current Intelligence Bulletins which provide up to date information regarding a variety of safety topics and are released periodically. The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards is a convenient and informative guide that provides information regarding hundreds of chemicals. In the guide, you can find the exposure limits and chemical information such as exposure routes, PPE, and symptoms of exposure. Available formats are print, online (look for by CAS Numbers orby chemical name), PDF, and accessible via a mobile web app. What are 5 things you can do to ensure safe handling chemicals?5 tips for working safely around chemicals. 1 Learn the hazard communication standard. ... . 2 Train employees about chemical hazards. ... . 3 Provide safety data sheets (SDSs) ... . 4 Label all containers of hazardous chemicals. ... . 5 Create a written hazard communication program.. Why do we need to be careful when handling chemicals?Handling chemical substances without proper protection exposes the worker to the risk of absorbing harmful amounts of chemical through the skin. This usually happens when handling the chemical in liquid form. Dust may also be absorbed through the skin if it is wetted by, for instance, sweat.
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