Why is chemical safety important? It’s because chemical exposure can lead to deaths!

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 297 fatalities due to exposure to chemicals from 2011 to 2017. These workers died on the job after only a single inhalation episode.

That’s how dangerous exposure to chemical and toxic hazards can be.

These substances present a wide range of health hazards such as irritation and burns in the short term and carcinogenicity in the long term. Some of these chemicals are also flammable or can explode violently.

If you’re working with chemicals, it’s important to know how to shield yourself from their harmful effects. Here are three chemical safety tips that everyone should practice at work.

1. Know Your Enemy

As Sun Tzu once said, “know your enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you’ll never be in mortal danger.” The first and most crucial tip about chemical safety is to understand the identities and risks of what you’re dealing with.

All employees should read and comprehend the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of each chemical. OSHA requires all chemical manufacturers, importers, or distributors to provide this information.

By reading the SDS, you can learn the properties of the chemicals as well as the hazards that they come with. The document should also tell you the measures and precautions for proper handling, storing, and transport of the chemical.

2. Why Is Chemical Safety Important? If You Don't Have Protection, You Might Die

The workplace is a warzone, especially if you’re around things that could potentially kill you!

One of the reasons for learning the SDS is to equip yourself for battle appropriately. With that knowledge, you can don the necessary PPE. PPE, of course, stands for personnel protective equipment.

This is your armor that protects your vulnerable areas from chemicals. It includes safeguards for your eyes, airways, skin, and sometimes the whole body.

Some examples of PPE are:

• different types of protective gloves
• eyewear
• airway protection such as face masks, respirators, and hoods
• full-body protection when facing toxic vapors or gases
• eyewash stations, safety showers, and first aid stations in case of exposure

3. Contain the Enemy

The last tip for chemistry safety is proper storage and organization. There should always be an up-to-date inventory for every chemical we use in the lab and other work settings. The quantities, location, and storage method should be included.

The SDS should guide you on how to store the chemicals safely. Some chemicals can react violently when near other substances or when exposed to heat. These reactions can lead to explosions, fires, or the release of harmful gases.

Proper labeling of the containers in storage is also important. The label should have the name of the chemical, the manufacturing and expiry date, and the concentration. It should also list the potential hazards of the chemical inside the container.

Safety First!

In the workplace, we should always engage in safety strategies when dealing with chemicals. The question, “why is chemical safety important?”, shouldn’t even come up. It should already be understood that the health and welfare of the workers should always come first.

Another important aspect of workplace safety is staff training. Click here to learn more about our safety training programs for workers.