Daily we
are handling different types of chemicals: process chemicals, laboratory
chemicals I will give short summary about safe chemical handling.
What are the Physical Hazards
l Flammable
liquids or solids
l Combustible
liquids
l Compressed
gases
l Unstable
materials
l Water
reactive materials
Principle modes of
chemical injury:
1. Chemical Burns (strong acids, strong bases)
2. Heat Burns (flammable materials)
3. Poisoning (many chemicals are damaging or fatal if taken
internally, whether by swallowing, injection, or leaching through skin)
4. Chronic illness (long-term exposure to even low doses of
certain chemical agents can lead to chronic health conditions)
Basic Rules of
Chemical Safety Handling
4 Be Aware!
4 Be Alert!
4 Be Alive!
Rule #1
Don’t store chemicals you do not need.
Rule #2
Store chemicals in their original container:
•
The original container was designed to hold the
chemical
Without degrading.
•
The original
container will have an accurate label.
•
Serious injury
can result when people try to identify
chemicals with missing or uncertain labels by smelling, tasting or touching.
Rule #3
Always wear appropriate safety PPE and work in a safe
environment.
Rule #4
Always dispose of chemicals safely as per procedure
Storage Issues That
Cause Chemical Injury
a.
Improper or non-existent labeling of
chemicals in storage.
b. Storage of chemicals beyond the recommended shelf life.
c. Degradation of chemical storage containers.
Right-to-Know and MSDS
•
Employees have a right to know what chemicals they may
encounter in their work, and they have the responsibility to follow all
appropriate safety precautions.
•
Provide training about safe handling practices and
emergency procedures.
•
Precautions and safe handling information are provided
on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that must be on file for every
chemical.
Action If Exposure
Occurs
l Inhalation –
move to fresh air
l Eye or skin
contact – flush with water for at least 15 minutes
l Swallowed
hazardous chemicals – seek immediate medical assistance
Other Ways to Protect
Yourself
l NEVER
– Eat, drink or
smoke when working with hazardous chemicals
– Wash or store
your PPE with family clothing
l ALWAYS
– Wash hands,
arms and face with soap and
water after use
water after use
– Check your
PPE for damage
– Perform self
examination:
l Foreign
particles in nose
l Rashes,
burns, watery eyes, irritated throat, headache or dizziness
Finally
Learn good habits
for working with chemicals from the beginning and practice these habits every
day.
Thank You
No comments:
Post a Comment