Chemical Handling PEP Talk

The general objective in the control of hazards relating to chemicals in the plants is to eliminate or reduce to the lowest possible level of the hazardous chemicals that can come into contact with the worker or the environment, or that can produce a fire or an explosion.

Chemicals in the work environment are commonplace and necessary for making our jobs easier and more productive. But these benefits are also accompanied by many hazards. Failure to understand the hazards of products can lead to their casual use and often leads to employee injuries, costly clean-up, or property losses. Use properly, most products can be both safe and effective.

So how can we protect workers required to use chemicals as part of their daily work? Here are some simple guidelines:

1. Identify the chemicals you use.

2. Take an inventory of all chemicals used in your plant. List the quantities on hand, where they are stored, and what they are stored in.

3. Request Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the companies that supply the chemicals you have identified on the inventory list. Keep a log of all MSDSs on hand. These will be needed for training of employees and for quick reference in the event of an emergency.

4. Label all containers with the following information:

• Name of the chemical.

• Concentration (strength) of the chemical.

• Information about hazards associated with the chemical (For example, skin irritant) and emergency information (“If chemical gets in eyes…”).

• The manufacturer’s name.

• The date of manufacture (chemicals can degrade over time and may be change into        poisonous).

5. Identify the safe uses of the chemicals in your workplace:

• Follow safe handling instructions and identify personal protective equipment to be used  while handling chemicals.

• Beware of instructions regarding the mixing of chemicals.

• Always wash yourself thoroughly after handling chemicals. If a chemical spills on you, wash it off at once. Emergency shower that you can use to get cleaned up quickly.

• Don’t eat, drink, or smoke when you’re handling chemicals. You could accidentally swallow some chemicals or accidentally ignite flammable chemicals if you’re smoking.

• Chemicals must always be stored in a safe place with similar-type chemicals. You should     never store chemicals with food items. Most chemicals will belong to a specific category, and   you need to make sure that only chemicals from the same category are stored together. If      you’re not sure what category a chemical belongs to, always check its label or refer to its  MSDS.

• USE ONLY CHEMICALS REQUIRED FOR A PARTICULAR PROCESS. DO NOT  SUBSTITUTE.

• Be prepared for emergencies and know what action to take. Assure that necessary supplies  and equipment are available for handling small spills.

• Know the location of safety equipment such as emergency shower, eyewash, fire  extinguisher, fire alarm, and emergency telephone numbers.

• DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF SAFETY AWARENESS

• Do not work alone if you are working with chemicals.

• When transporting chemicals, use precautions to avoid dropping or spilling chemicals. Use  bottle carriers for glass containers and use carts with edges to prevent containers from  falling off the cart and breaking.

• Never underestimate the potential hazard of any chemical or combination of chemicals.
• Consider any mixture or reaction product to be at least as hazardous as – if not more Hazardous than – it’s most hazardous component.

Chemical Storage

Avoid storing liquid chemicals above eye level.

Avoid storing chemicals in aisle ways.

Avoid over stocking shelves.

Avoid storing heavy containers above shoulder level.

Avoid storing chemicals in fume hoods or on counter tops.

Avoid storing chemicals near sources of heat or in direct sunshine.

Handling Chemical Emergencies

•     Know emergency phone numbers
•     Know how to control the spill
•     Know proper equipment shutdown procedure
•     Know proper evacuation routes and assembly areas