Chemical Safety on the Job

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 We use many chemicals…
• We want you to know how to use them
safely.
• You will learn about…
The Hazards of Chemicals
How Chemicals are Labeled
Safe Use of Chemicals
Material Safety Data Sheets

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 Hazards of Chemicals…
• There are 2 basic types of chemical
hazards
Physical Hazards
Health Hazards
• The first rule of Chemical safety is…
"Know what you are working with and how
to protect yourself and others“

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 Physical Hazards…
• Chemicals are classified as having
Physical Hazards if they are
 Explosive
 Compressed Gas
 Combustible Liquids
 Flammable
 Unstable
 Water Reactive
 Oxidizers
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 Chemicals with Physical
Hazards…
• Used only by trained employees

• Stored in a safe manner

• Never mixed with other chemicals unless

by an approved procedure

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 Health Hazards
Chemicals are classified as being a health hazard if they:
• Can cause cancer.
• Are poisonous (toxic).
• Cause harm to your skin, internal organs, or nervous
system.
• Are corrosive - such as acids.
• Cause allergic reactions after repeated exposure.

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 Chemicals can enter the
body through:
• your lungs if you breath fumes, mists or dust.
• your skin if liquid or dust touches or spills on
you or splashes in your eyes
• your mouth if you eat after handling chemicals
• accidental swallowing of a chemical

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 Health Effects…

Some chemicals affect specific

organs such as:
– Kidneys,
– Liver,
– Reproductive, or
– Nervous system.

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 Labeling of Chemicals…
• Chemical Labels provide information on
Identity, Hazards and Safe Use
• All chemical containers are labeled by the
manufacturer
• We may place additional labels on the
containers.
• If chemicals are placed in another
container, this new container must have a
label placed on it.
• All containers must be properly labeled.

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 3 Basic “Uniform Labels”
• HMIS - Hazardous Material Identification System.

• NFPA - National Fire protection Association.

• RTK - Right to Know.

All types must identify the chemical name and hazards.

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 Uniform Labels…

• Pictures may be used to identify hazards

and required protection

• This Information may also be on the

Manufacturer’s label

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 HMIS & NFPA labels are
very similar
• Both use colored boxes to identify specific hazards.

• Numbers or codes in the boxes tell you the hazard

value.

• Higher number = Higher hazard

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 NFPA & HMIS Label Colors

• Red – Fire Hazard.

• Blue - Health Hazard.
• Yellow - Reactivity Hazard - explosive,
unstable.
• White - Special Hazards - corrosive,
radioactive, water reactive, acid.

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 NFPA Label..

The purpose of the NFPA 704

labeling system is to provide a
way of quickly identifying the
various fire related hazardous
associated with a particular
material.

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 NFPA Flammability Codes

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Liquids with a flashpoint below 73ºF and a
boiling point below 100ºF.
Materials that will rapidly or completely vaporize at
atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature, or
that are readily dispersed in air and that will burn readily.

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 NFPA Flammability Codes

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Liquids and solid that can be ignited under
almost all ambient temperature conditions.
Liquids with a flashpoint below 73ºF and a boiling point
above 100ºF or liquids with a flashpoint above 73ºF
but not exceeding 100ºF and a boiling point below
100ºF.
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 NFPA Flammability Codes

2
Materials that must be moderately heated or
exposed to relatively high ambient temperatures
before ignition can occur.
Liquids with flashpoint above 100ºF but not exceeding
200ºF.

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 NFPA Flammability Codes

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Materials that must be preheated before ignition
can occur. Liquids that have a flashpoint above
200ºF.

0
Materials that will not burn.

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 NFPA Health Hazard Codes
4
Materials that on very short
exposure could cause
death or major residual
injury.

3
Materials that on short
exposure could cause
serious temporary or
residual injury.

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 NFPA Health Hazard Codes

2
Materials that on intense
or continued, but not
chronic exposure could
cause incapacitation or
possible residual injury.

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 NFPA Health Hazard Codes
1
Materials that on exposure would
cause irritation but only minor
residual injury.

0
Materials that on exposure under
fire conditions would offer no
hazard beyond that of ordinary
combustible material.
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 NFPA Reactivity Hazard Codes

4
Materials that in themselves
are readily capable of
detonation or of explosive
decomposition or reaction at
normal temperatures and
pressures.

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 NFPA Reactivity Hazard Codes

3
Materials that in themselves are
capable of detonation or explosive
decomposition or reaction but
require a strong initiating source
or which must be heated under
confinement before initiation or
which react explosively with
water.

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 NFPA Reactivity Hazard Codes

2
Materials that readily undergo
violent chemical change at elevated
temperatures and pressures or
which react violently with water or
which may form explosive mixtures
with water.

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 NFPA Reactivity Codes

1
Materials that in themselves are
normally stable, but which can
become unstable at elevated
temperatures and pressures.

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 NFPA Reactivity Codes

0
Materials that in themselves
are normally stable, even
under fire exposure
conditions, and which are
not reactive with water.

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 NFPA Special Hazard Codes

• ACID = Acid Products

• ALK = Alkali or Bases
• COR = Corrosive Products
• OX = Oxidizer
• W = Reacts with water
• = Radioactive

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 NFPA LABELS

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 NFPA LABELS

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 NFPA LABELS

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 HMIS SYSTEM

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 HMIS LABELS

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 HMIS LABELS

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 RIGHT TO KNOW SYSTEM

• RTK labels offer an easy

– to – understand,
complete labeling
system.
• Personal Protection
pictorials can be added to
RTK system for additional
worker awareness.

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 RTK LABELS

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 Warning Labels

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 What do I do…
• if there is no label or I cannot read the label?
• STOP - do not use the chemical
• TELL your supervisor
• READ the MSDS and have another label put
on the container

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 Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
• Show chemical safety information
• Each chemical has a separate MSDS
• MSDS is written by the chemical
manufacturer
• MSDS are kept in the workplace for your use
• If you can't find an MSDS, ask your
supervisor
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 Material Safety Data Sheets
• Supplier must provide
• Accessible to ALL
workers in the
workplace
• Must be kept up to date
• Must be made available
to doctor in the event of
exposure

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 Each MSDS tells you…

• Section 1. Chemical Product and Company

Identification.
• Section 2. Composition, Information or Ingredients.
• Section 3. Hazard Identification.
• Section 4. First Aid Measures.
• Section 5. Fire-Fighting Measures.

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 MSDS…
• Section 6. Accidental Release Measures.
• Section 7. Handling and Storage.
• Section 8. Exposure Controls and Personal
Protection.
• Section 9. Physical and Chemical Properties
• Section 10. Stability and Reactivity
• Section 11. Toxicological Information.

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 MSDS…

• Section 12. Ecological Information.

• Section 13. Disposal Considerations.
• Section 14. Transport Information.
• Section 15. Regulatory Information.
• Section 16. Other Information.

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 MSDS Fire & Explosion
Information

• Material Flash Point, auto-ignition temperature

and upper/lower flammability limits
• Fire extinguishing agents to be used
• Fire fighting techniques
• Any unusual fire or explosive hazards

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 MSDS Reaction Information
• Stability of Chemical..

• Conditions and other materials which can cause

reactions with the chemical

• Dangerous substances that can be produced

when the chemical reacts

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 MSDS Control Measures

• Engineering Controls required for safe product

use
• Personal protective equipment required for use
of product
• Safe storage requirements and guidelines
• Safe handling procedures

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 MSDS Health Hazards
• Permissible Exposure and Threshold Limits (PEL
& TLV)
• Symptoms of exposure
• Routes of entry into the body
• Medical conditions that can be made worse by
exposure
• Cancer causing properties
• Emergency & First Aid Procedures

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 MSDS Spill & Leak Procedures
• Clean up techniques

• Personal Protective Equipment to be used during

cleanup

• Disposal of waste & cleanup material

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 Chemicals can be safely used if…

• you know the hazards and how to protect

yourself

• they are used only for approved purposes

• they are stored properly

you use the correct personal protective
equipment

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 Chemicals can be safely used if…

• you do not eat in areas where chemicals are

used

• you wash immediately if you come in contact

with chemicals

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 Chemical Disposal…

• Each chemical and container must be

disposed of properly

• No container is truly "empty" unless properly

cleaned

• Follow MSDS requirements for container

disposal

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 Chemical Disposal…
• Recycle unused chemicals

• Do not place hazardous

chemicals in normal trash
receptacles.

• Do not pour chemicals into

sinks, onto the ground or in
storm drains
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 Safe Storage…

• Store incompatible chemicals in separate areas

• Limit the amount of flammable material to the

minimum needed

• Store flammable liquids in approved flammable

storage lockers

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 Safe Storage…

• Store acids in separate acid storage lockers

• Do not store chemicals in a refrigerator used for

food storage

• Do not store food in refrigerators used for

chemical storage

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 In case of an emergency…

• Implement the proper Emergency Action Plan

• Evacuate people from the area
• Isolate the area- keep other from entering
• Turn off ignition and heat sources
• Only trained employees are permitted to clean
up spills

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 Protecting Yourself…

• Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE) may be needed to protect
yourself from chemical hazards
• Use the PPE our Company has
required for each chemical
• Check the PPE before use to
make sure it is not damaged

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 Protecting Yourself…

• Use face shield and Goggles if there is a splash

hazard

• Use the proper respirator for dusts, mists and

fumes

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 Protecting Yourself…

• Use the right gloves when handling chemicals

• Properly clean and store your PPE after use

• Don't take PPE home - why risk exposing your

family?

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 Stay safe when using chemicals…

• Know what you are working with

• Know where MSDS are located and how to use

them

• Ask your supervisor if you have questions

• Only trained employees may use chemicals

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 Stay Safe…
• Make sure all containers are properly labeled
• Use the proper protective equipment
• Store chemicals only in approved areas
• Immediately report leaks and spills
• Dispose of used chemicals and containers
properly

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