Chemicals, when used properly and according to manufacturer safety precautions, pose little harm. Yet many workers are unaware of, or don’t properly follow, the safe-use requirements and create hazards in their work environment. The health effects of these hazards, both long- and short-term, depend on the chemicals involved and the circumstances of the exposure. That's why it's important to recognize chemicals and their hazards, follow recommended safety precautions and safe handling guidelines, and do your part to create a safe work environment for you and your co-workers.

There are three types of chemical hazards in the workplace.

• Physical hazards are associated with a physical event, like a fire or explosion.

• Health hazards cause detrimental effects on a person's health

• Environmental hazards have the potential to cause damage to the ecosystem and wildlife, notably the aquatic environment

Exposure Risk Conditions

These conditions can increase your risk of chemical exposure:

• Improperly labeled containers

• Unsafe handling, transporting, and disposal of chemicals

• Odors, smoke or mist emanating from a chemical mixture

• Chemical spills resulting from accidental spills or broken containers.

• Improper use of administrative and engineering controls, including personal protective equipment

If you experience ill health effects like burning eyes, headache, nausea, or labored breathing. symptoms like these, get to fresh air immediately and consider seeking medical attention.

Routes of Exposure

Chemicals can enter your body through these four routes:

• Inhalation – breathing contaminated air

• Ingestion – inadvertent eating or drinking of chemicals

• Absorption – through contact with the skin

• Injection – through a sharp object puncturing the skin

Exposure Influences

The factors that may influence the effects of chemical exposure include the toxicity, or level of harm posed by a chemical. A seemingly small exposure to certain chemicals can be extremely toxic, and even deadly. The amount of time and frequence of exposure also impacts the severity of adverse health effects.

Hazard Communication Program

Your company's written hazard communication program must include the following elements:

• Chemical standard operating procedures (SOPs) that identify chemical hazards, list safe handling and use, recommended PPE usage, and chemical exposure response

• Chemical inventory with a list of the chemicals in your facility or instructions for accessing the inventory

• Labels, markings and warnings that include the product name and manufacturer, signal words, hazards, precautionary statements, and hazard pictograms required by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals

• Safety Data Sheets that contain the physical and health hazards of all hazardous chemicals

• Chemical storage, transportation, and disposal guidelines

• Precautions and emergency response procedures for your facility, including required PPE, the location of emergency eyewash and shower stations, your facility's evacuation plan, and exit locations.

• Training on hazardous workplace chemicals and standard operating procedures for handling chemicals, reading labels and Safety Data Sheets; storage, disposal, and transportation, and emergency response procedures.

Controlling Exposure

Controlling exposures to chemical hazards and toxic substances is the fundamental method of protecting you and your co-workers. One way to accomplish this is by using a hierarchy of controls, which orders controls from most to least preferred based on their effectiveness.

• Elimination physically removes a chemical hazard before it can occur.

• Substitution replaces the hazardous chemical with a safer alternative.

• Engineering controls are a mechanical means of controlling a hazard at its source to isolate you from hazards.

• Administrative controls are implemented if a hazard cannot be eliminated using engineering controls to limit or prevent exposure to the hazards.

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required if engineering and administrative controls are not possible, or fully effective

Chemical Storage

Proper storage and handling can reduce or eliminate hazards. Typical storage considerations may include temperature, ignition control, ventilation, segregation and identification.

Make sure all hazardous chemical containers are properly labeled and marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) and appropriate hazard warnings.

Do not store frequently used chemical containers higher than eye level and never store them on the top shelf of a storage unit. Never store chemicals on the floor, even temporarily. Always segregate incompatible chemicals to ensure proper storage by chemical hazard class, and align all chemical storage requirements with local fire ordinances or building codes.