If your job requires you to handle, work with, or work around any chemicals or other hazardous materials, you must receive training. This training is required at the time of your initial assignment, and whenever a new hazard is introduced into your work area. Your supervisor will provide information about chemical hazards in your area.
Chemicals can enter your body through any of the following common routes.
- Inhalation - breathing in chemicals, dusts, vapors or mists.
- Absorption - through skin contact or glove permeation.
- Ingestion - of contaminated items or chemicals substances.
- Injection - splinters, punctures, wounds.
They are informative documents that detail many important characteristics of the chemical and detailed information including: safe handling instructions, precautions for storage and use, and emergency procedures.
The only thing that they do not detail is how to specifically use the chemical; therefore, your supervisor will describe the hazards of the chemicals with which you will be working and provide you with additional training. On-line training is also available and is linked off our web page.
If a chemical is taken out of its original container, it must be put into
a chemically compatible container and labeled with its name and the hazards
associated with it.
The hazardous chemical label (shown left) is required whenever a hazardous material is transferred from one container to a secondary container, unless it will be immediately used.
All containers must be labeled to identify their contents. Labels must include the name of the substance, hazards posed, and level of hazard. The scale is from 0-4, 0 being non-hazardous and 4 posing a serious risk.
Food containers are not suitable for hazardous materials storage.
When working with chemicals, it's important to recognize the signs of a chemical emergency. Also, it is important to review your Area Specific Emergency Action Plan.
Before using a chemical, make yourself aware of the location of the emergency eyewash and shower, as well as how to use them before you need them.
Never attempt to clean up any chemical spill unless you have the proper training and PPE.
Some jobs on campus require the use of PPE. This is for your own protection. Examples of PPE include steel-toe boots, hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, eye protection and respirators (use of a respirator requires a medical evaluation and fit testing prior to use).
Supervisors are required to conduct and document a PPE assessment for any task that requires the use of PPE. If you are a supervisor, and you need assistance in conducting your PPE assessments, please feel free to contact our office at 581-4055.
Also, employees that are required to wear PPE must be trained on the limitations of PPE, when PPE is necessary, what PPE is required, and how to use and maintain it. Don't forget to ensure that this training is also documented.