Do your employees realize that not all hazardous chemicals are liquids or vapors, or that some otherwise harmless chemicals like nitrogen can become very hazardous indeed under certain conditions? Make sure your workers grasp the full range of possibilities that the term “hazardous chemicals” encompasses.
Background on chemical safety
Who needs to be trained? OSHA’s Hazard Communication (HCS or HazCom) standard requires you to train employees to work safely with the hazardous chemicals in their work area when they are initially assigned to that area and whenever a new hazard is introduced.
Why train workers in chemical safety? Workers need to know how to handle hazardous chemicals without exposing themselves or others to those hazards.
The most effective and cost-efficient way to provide safety training to your workforce—Try a demo of BLR’s remarkable TrainingToday at no cost or obligation.
Hazardous chemical basics
Instructions to Trainer: This training session is compliant with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS); the definitions and descriptions below are consistent with the new GHS standard.
What is a hazardous chemical? Is it the degreaser in the dip tank or dust that accumulates on the rafters? Where are hazardous chemicals found? Are they only in the flammables cabinet, or do they run through those pipes along the ceiling?
It’s important to understand what makes a chemical hazardous, where you might encounter a hazardous chemical, and what constitutes exposure to a hazardous chemical. Knowing these things better equips you to protect yourself.
So, again, what is a hazardous chemical? A chemical is considered hazardous if it poses:
- A physical hazard. Chemicals that are flammable, explosive, reactive, or corrosive to metals fall into this category—they have the potential to cause physical damage to people and property. This category also includes chemicals that are hazardous only because of the form in which they are found. For example, nitrogen is not ordinarily a physical hazard, but if it is packaged as a compressed gas, it poses an explosion hazard.
- A health hazard. Chemicals are considered health hazards if they:
—Can cause adverse health effects immediately, after a long delay, or over an extended exposure period (that is, if they are acutely or chronically toxic);
—Are irritating or corrosive to the skin;
—Can cause skin or respiratory sensitization or allergies, mutations or cancer, or reproductive toxicity;
—Are toxic to specific organs or organ systems; or
—Are toxic by aspiration.
In addition to physical and health hazards, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas are considered hazardous chemicals under the HazCom rule.
Practice Tip
Remember that a chemical is not always something in a container with a label; the greatest hazard may be a chemical that is neither.
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In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll talk about where hazardous chemicals can be found—and we’ll examine a comprehensive online library of ready-to-use training courses on dozens of key safety topics.