When you think of chemical safety, you probably conjure up images in your head of guys in protective suits and gas masks in nuclear plants or scientists in a chemistry lab. While it’s true that some jobs may involve regular, even daily exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals, chemical safety awareness is important for everyone, wherever they work or live. In fact, more chemical accidents happen in the household than in the workplace, simply because people who don’t work regularly with chemicals are less aware of the hazards that they pose, and may be unfamiliar with proper storage, handling, and disposal methods.

Unless you have small children at home, you may not have spent much time thinking about the best way to store chemicals, particularly caustic (capable of causing burns or eating away skin or other surfaces it may come into contact with). You may not have paid much attention to the recommended manner in which a particular chemical should be handled. After all, you may have reasoned, if they sell it over the counter it must be fairly safe. However, it is vital to take the time to read the labels on each and every chemical you buy, including household cleaners, fuels (such as kerosene, propane, gasoline), and other non-food liquids you use at home.

The product labels contain important information that, if ignored, may lead to danger. It may help to familiarize yourself with the various symbols used to indicate a chemical’s potential for danger, particularly the ones you may see regularly on household chemical labels, such as corrosive, flammable, and poisonous. Beware of the dangers associated with these symbols. Always follow the instructions on the label regarding safe storage. Here are a few more chemical safety tips:

• Never store chemicals in any container other than the one it came in. Otherwise, you risk injuries, like chemical burns, during the process of transfer. Also, the information on the label will be lost if you remove it from its original container. You may also experience dangerous reactions between the chemical and its new container.

• Never mix chemicals. Even two seemingly harmless cleaning products may, when mixed, create compounds that produce harmful fumes or the capability to burn through containers, skin, etc.

• Use proper protection when dealing with chemicals. Follow the protective measures recommended on the label. Wear gloves, goggles, masks, or other protective gear.

• Keep chemicals out of reach of children and pets. It seems like an elementary concept, but you really need to think like a child (or a cat or dog) to do this. It’s best to keep caustic chemicals under lock and key.

• Educate other family members about chemical safety. Even children too young to read can be taught to recognize symbols on chemicals and what they mean, so that if they do come across a potentially dangerous chemical they will recognize it.

• Never assume “organic” means safer. Chemicals are chemicals, whether organic or synthetic, and all have the potential to cause injury. All should be handled equally carefully.

Dealing with chemicals at work also requires caution, though the onus is usually on the employer to educate its workforce on chemical safety. Most industrialized countries have a regulatory board whose responsibility it is to govern and oversee workplace safety, including chemical safety. In the U.S., workplace safety standards are enforced by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA provides a wealth of information on the fundamentals of chemical safety in the workplace, and has media available to employers, such as videos, charts, posters, signs, brochures, and “Quick Cards”, to help you communicate chemical safety measures to your employees. On an international level, the World Health Organization (WHO) also provides resources to professionals and the public alike through its International Program on Chemical Safety.

Chemical safety has applications for everyone, whether in the laboratory, or at school, work, or home. Even if you are unfamiliar with a specific chemical, by educating yourself, your family, or your employees about the proper and safe handling of all chemicals, you can help avoid injury and disaster wherever you are.

No related posts.