Preparing and handling chemical solutions can be very dangerous, especially if you’re dealing with corrosive, toxic, flammable, or explosive substances. However, the following measures can minimise the risk and help to keep everyone safe:
- Provide hazard communication training
- Provide safety data sheets
- Include hazard labels
- Create a hazard communication plan
- Wear the correct PPE.
Read on to learn more about the risks of working with chemicals and how to prepare and handle hazardous substances safely.
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Why is working with chemicals high risk?
If you work with chemicals, you might be wondering “what is the best way to handle chemicals safely?” Well, the answer varies depending on the type of chemical you’re dealing with. For example, if you’re handling volatile and flammable chemicals, you should avoid exposing these substances to high temperatures or a direct flame.
Working with chemicals can be very risky if the substances you’re handling are hazardous in some way. Some chemicals are corrosive, flammable, explosive, toxic, or even carcinogenic. Others may be relatively safe when handled in isolation, but then become very dangerous when they’re mixed with other substances.
You should never mix bleach and ammonia, for example, as the chemical reaction between the two produces a deadly gas called chloramine.
To mitigate the risks when working with chemicals, you should always wear proper protective clothing and equipment. The minimum standard in a laboratory setting is to wear a lab gown or apron, rubber gloves, a facemask, and goggles. You should also avoid clutter and ensure chemicals are labelled and stored correctly.
The importance of PPE when handling chemicals
The type of PPE you should wear will depend on which chemicals you’re handling. When working with highly toxic, corrosive, and flammable chemicals, standard PPE may need to be worn in conjunction with additional protection.
For example, you might have to use breathing apparatus when handling a volatile toxic chemical. It’s essential to wear the correct level of PPE as this will help to prevent potential injuries, poisoning, or long-term illness.
The importance of safe handling & storage
Handling and storing chemicals safely is crucial if you want to avoid injuries, long-term illnesses, fatalities and property damage. To do this, you’ll need to wear appropriate PPE (see above), follow the relevant safety protocols and understand the hazards involved. You can read more about how to handle hazardous chemicals here.
When it comes to storage, chemicals should be labelled properly and kept in the correct bottles and cabinets. They should also be stored in the right environmental conditions, such as under a controlled temperature if required.
How to ensure the safe handling of chemicals
There are several precautionary measures and safety protocols you can implement to ensure hazardous chemicals are handled safely. Here are five examples:
1. Provide hazard communication training
Whether you’re dealing with chemicals in a school environment, a commercial laboratory or an industrial setting, everyone should be properly oriented. This means undertaking hazard communication training as part of regular seminars. Providing the appropriate training ensures everyone understands the hazards involved and learns how to handle chemicals safely.
2. Provide safety data sheets
To help keep everyone safe, comprehensive safety data sheets should be provided for every hazardous chemical. Available both in print and online, these data sheets contain essential information about a particular substance.
They include details such as the potential health effects of product exposure as well as any hazards relating to handling, storage or use. Companies should also have an inventory of all chemicals they’re using.
3. Include hazard labels
Affixing hazard labels to laboratory chemical containers is standard practice. In fact, manufacturers are required by law to include labels on the chemical products they produce.
These labels should clearly state the potential harm a chemical may cause, along with appropriate first aid instructions. Original hazard labels should never be removed, altered or defaced in any way.
4. Create a hazard communication program
A hazard communication program is a regular training scheme for both new and long-term employees in companies or organisations that handle chemicals. The training usually focuses on identifying chemicals, understanding their environmental impact, deciphering chemical symbols and labels, and learning how to perform first aid.
A hazard communication program should also help all employees (not just those directly involved) understand how the plant’s chemical processes work.
5. Wear the correct PPE
There are different levels of PPE you can wear depending on a chemical’s risk level. Level A is the highest level, and requires that protection be worn when the respiratory system, skin, eyes, and mucous membranes need maximum protection. This includes positive pressure, self-contained breathing equipment, and full chemical protective suits.
The proper disposal of chemical waste
Much of the chemical waste produced by industries is pretreated and not allowed to form part of the effluents. For example, industrial manufacturing plants might have tower scrubbers that remove toxic gases from the exhaust, while amine can be used to dissolve and remove carbon dioxide.
Liquid and solid chemical waste products can also be disposed of through chemical treatment processes. Corrosive solutions can be neutralised, for instance, while suspended or dissolved particles can be flocculated and separated from the solvents.
Highly toxic chemicals are either incinerated or sealed in special containers and then buried underground.
Importance of reading & following instructions on chemical labels
Chemical labels are designed to help us easily identify the contents of a chemical container. They also provide appropriate warnings and important information about the substance’s hazardous effects. In addition, labels must include first aid instructions and information about antidotes if the chemical is poisonous.
Reading and following the instructions on chemical labels allows you to identify and use the substance correctly. This is essential for preventing injuries and possible fatalities. Whether you’re working in a laboratory or simply using chemicals as part of your household chores, you should always read the labels.
Risk assessment for chemical handling
It’s essential to complete a risk assessment before handling any kind of chemical. A risk assessment should consider the way chemicals are stored, used, and transported, as well as the potential risks they pose to workers (or indeed anyone).
It’s important to note that not all chemicals are hazardous and, even those that are, come with varying degrees of risk. A risk assessment will take this into account and recommend the appropriate safety protocols and equipment accordingly.
Summary
There’s a high degree of risk involved when working with chemicals, particularly if they’re corrosive, flammable, toxic, or carcinogenic. It’s therefore essential to prepare and handle chemical solutions safely to minimise the risk of injury, long-term illness, death, or property damage. This means following the relevant safety protocols, such as wearing PPE, reading product labels and safety data sheets, and undertaking hazard communication training.
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