17 Sep Chemical Handling Basics

From the fuel we put in our vehicles, to the food we eat, chemicals are a part of our daily lives.

However, while in day-to-day life many chemicals don’t pose significant danger, in certain workplaces where they are in present in concentrated conditions, chemicals can cause great harm if not handled with proper respect and care.

To better protect and prepare employees working with or around chemicals, Creation World Safety offers a safety training course in chemical handling.

Know The Chemicals You Work With

When working with chemicals the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the chemicals you are working with. While the labels on the chemical are a good quick reference, the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is the best resource to utilize. The MSDS will contain a summary of the chemical’s hazards, a list of proper personal protection equipment (PPE) that should be worn while handling the chemical, instructions for how to use, store, and handle the chemical, and directions for what to do if an emergency arises with the chemical.

Know How To Read Chemical Container Hazard Labels

Chemicals should always be labeled with their name, the name and contact information of the manufacturer that produced them, and the hazards they present.

In the United States, there are two labeling systems in use. The first is from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT uses diamond-shaped, color-coded labels that indicate the type of chemical hazard. Some examples include:

• Flammable Gas
• Flammable Liquid
• Flammable Solid
• Poisons
• Inflammable Liquid
• Inflammable Solid
• Inflammable Gas
• Radioactive Materials
• Infectious Substances

The other labeling system used is the U.S. is the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) labeling system. Similar to the DOT’s labeling system, the NFPA also uses a diamond, but one that is divided into four sections. Starting from the top and working clockwise these sections are as follows:

• The top red section represents the chemical’s flammability
• The right yellow section shows the chemical’s instability
• The white bottom section indicates special hazards associated with the chemical when involved in a fire
• The blue left section shows the health hazards of the chemical

Each of these sections (except for the white one) uses a scale to represent the severity of each property. The scale ranks chemicals on a scale of zero through four with four being the most severe.

Chemical Handling Training

To receive a comprehensive chemical training for your employees, contact Creation World Safety today. We also provide safety courses in a range of other subjects to help your company become as safe a place to work as possible.