CHEMICAL HAZARD COMMUNICATION
Many workers are unaware of chemicals that create potential hazards in their work environment, making them more vulnerable to exposure and injury.
Potential Hazards
- Skin Irritations – Can be caused by allergies associated with soaps and chemicals.
- Infections – Broken skin can become infected or burned from chemicals.
- Burns – Caustic chemicals found in oven and drain cleaners, if misused, can cause burns to the face and eyes.
- Respiratory Harm – Chlorine and ammonia can cause respiratory, skin and eye irritations and even death if mixed together.
- Latex Allergies – Latex gloves, often worn to protect the skin, can cause an allergic reaction in some workers.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – Used to put “fizz” into fountain drinks, is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause death, if inhaled. Early warning signs include headache, confusion and lethargy.
Protect Yourself
- Read all labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on the chemicals you are using for proper handling information.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as goggles, gloves, and splash aprons to protect your body from splashes and spills.
- Dilute chemicals to recommended concentrations.
- Label all cleaning bottles to avoid risk of inadvertently combining chemicals.
- Store non-compatible chemicals separately.
- Use lower shelves to store chemicals to avoid the risk of spills/splashes to the eyes.
- Report any damage of carbon dioxide (CO2) tanks to your Supervisor.
Contact the RPS Regency loss control team for more information:
Nathan Tipton | Risk Control Consultant | 517.664.2743 o | 248.579.9784 c | nathan_tipton@rpsins.com