Safe Chemical Handling

Copyright Progressive
Business Publications

1 of 13

Hazardous Chemicals Can Cause

Headaches,

rashes and burns

Respiratory

problems

Lung

and liver damage

Reproductive

damage

Cancer
Death

Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Physical Hazards You May Face

Flammable

liquids or solids

Combustible

liquids

Compressed

gases

Explosive
Unstable

materials
materials

Water

reactive
materials
Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Ways Chemicals Enter Your Body

Breathe

mouth

Make

them in through your nose or

contact with your skin or eyes

Swallow

drinking

chemicals when eating or

Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Protect Yourself
Follow

all steps

Read

all labels

Read

the Material Safety Data Sheets

Wear

the proper Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE)

Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Labels
Check
Treat
Do

unlabeled containers as dangerous

not remove labels

Look

labels prior to use for hazard warnings

for NFPA labels:

Blue is toxic
Red is flammable
Yellow is reactive
Numbers 3 and 4 are
very hazardous
Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Material Safety Data Sheets

(MSDS)
Use MSDS to get information about:
Chemical name
Physical characteristics
Fire and explosion data
Dangerous properties
Precautions for safe handling
Reactivity data
Copyright Progressive
Business Publications

Safety

glasses, goggles and face shields

Personal Protective Equipment

Gloves
(PPE)
Respirators
Head
Foot

and dust masks

protection

protection

Aprons

or full body suits

Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Other Ways to Protect Yourself

NEVER

Eat, drink or smoke when working with

hazardous chemicals
Wash or store your PPE with family clothing
ALWAYS

Wash hands, arms and face with soap and

water after use
Check your PPE for damage
Perform self examinations

Copyright Progressive Business Publications

Signs You are Being Exposed to

Hazardous Chemicals
Foul

odor

Metallic

taste

Foreign

particles in nose

Rashes,

burns, watery eyes, irritated

throat, headache or dizziness

Copyright Progressive
Business Publications

If Exposure Occurs
Inhalation

move to fresh air

Eye

or skin contact flush with water for

at least 15 minutes

Swallowed

hazardous chemicals seek

immediate medical assistance
Copyright Progressive
Business Publications

Warn

others

Turn

off machines and evacuate

Stay

upwind

Dont

attempt to rescue unless trained

If There is a Spill or Leak

Copyright Progressive
Business Publications

Risks

of working with chemicals

Ways

chemicals enter your body

Read

all labels

Read

all Material Safety Data Sheets

Wear

the proper personal protective

equipment

Be

prepared to respond to chemical exposures

Summary

Copyright Progressive
Business Publications

Transport "Pictograms"

Flammable Liquid Flammable Gas

Flammable Aerosol

Flammable solid Self-Reactive

Substances

Pyrophorics (Spontaneously
Combustible) Self-Heating
Substances

Substances, which in contact with

water, emit flammable gases
(Dangerous When Wet)

Oxidizing Gases Oxidizing Liquids

Oxidizing Solids

Explosive Divisions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

Explosive Division 1.4

Explosive Division 1.5

Compressed Gases

Acute Toxicity (Poison): Oral,

Dermal, Inhalation

Marine Pollutant

Explosive Division 1.6

Corrosive

Organic Peroxides

Labels: Pictograms Health

Hazards

Acute toxicity (Severe) Acute toxicity (Less Severe):

Irritant
Dermal sensitizer
Acute toxicity (harmful)
Acute = short-term effect Narcotic effects
Respiratory tract irritation

Labels: Pictograms Health Hazards

(continued)

Skin corrosion
Serious eye damage/
Eye irritation

Carcinogen
Respiratory sensitizer
Reproductive toxicity
Target organ toxicity
Mutagenicity
Aspiration Hazard

Labels: Pictograms Physical

Hazards

Explosives
Selfreactives
Organicperoxides

Flammables
Self reactives
Pyrophorics
Self heating
Emits flammable gas
Organic peroxides

Labels: Pictograms Physical

Hazards
(continued)

Oxidizer
Corrosive to
Metals
Gases under Pressure

Labels: Signal Word

These are words used to indicate the severity
of the hazard and alert employees to the
potential hazard.
Only 2 signal words will appear:
DANGER(more severe hazard)

WARNING (less severe hazard)

Not all labels will have a signal word. Some

chemicals are not hazardous enough to
require that a signal word appear on the
label.

Labels: Hazard Statement

There are specific hazard statements that
must appear on the label based on the
chemical hazard classification.
Examples:
Flammable liquid and vapor
Causes skin irritation
May cause cancer