Preparation For Chemical Spills In The Workplace Must Be Made
In preparing to take on working with chemicals that are potentially hazardous, it is important to learn how best to respond and stay safe. Here we make a few suggestions for preparation, including knowing what species of chemical you're handling, how much protection you need and the right gear.
Prepare first: Know what species of chemical you're handling
One thing you should know is that while many chemicals encompass more than one type (such as chlorine bleach), the name will usually refer just to the primary ingredient. For example, "diluted bleach" would be a mixture of water and bleach; "chlorine bleach" is pure chlorine bleach itself. Other examples might be ammonia (a gas) versus ammonium nitrate (a solid). If a chemical is a liquid, it's usually best to assume that it's going to be pretty easy to splash or spill.
Earn your own protective gear (PPE)
By law, employers have to supply their employees with appropriate protective gear. However, this still makes sense as a preparation step since you know what type of environment you'll be working in. If you don't know if the area will be hot or cold and wet or dry, it may take some guesswork on your part until you get more experience in handling chemicals. If there are other workers nearby, ask them about their experiences as well so that you can judge what protection you might need.
Prepare safely: Know what type of chemical you're handling
Knowing your chemicals' specific hazards is a good way to prepare. Take some time to learn the common names and hazard classifications of all the chemicals you'll be working with, and together with your employer make a list of the most hazardous chemicals that you might use. Here is an example of what a chemical inventory might look like:
This list is not meant to be exhaustive; it's designed only to show one way that you could prepare. In this particular example, I'm expecting to work around chlorine bleach because if someone spilled it, I would try to collect it in a bucket or pail so that I could get rid of it safely.
Don't forget the hazard chart!
Some of the most commonly available charts you might use to inform yourself and others would be:
• The SDS (safety data sheet; discussed in more detail below)
• MSDS (material safety data sheet; this is the same as an SDS but is used on government sites)
• NDSL (national chemical hazard labeling list)
• GHS (globally harmonized system for classifying chemicals for regulatory purposes)
• NRTL (national recognized testing laboratory, which verifies that a particular product complies with standard codes or regulations). This company's stamp indicates that it's been accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.
These will give you a good idea of the hazards of chemicals and tell you if they're flammable, toxic or corrosive.
Know your PPE
Once you have this information, you'll know what protective gear to carry with you on a job or in your vehicle. It's worth going over it all with your employer at least once before taking on a new assignment. If working as an employee, make sure that the company is issuing appropriate clothing and equipment to meet OSHA standards.
Employers must provide their employees with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for exposure to chemicals under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA).