Addressing WH&SQ concerns – Part 5b
WH&S Update 14/16
Issue five: safe handling and storage of chemicals (Cont.)
In the previous edition we outlined six key rules to observe with handling chemicals and provided details for rules 1-2. Here are the next four rules.
Rule 3: safe transport
Chemicals will often need to be moved from one location to another, here are some guidelines to help you transport chemicals safely:
- Don’t transport hazardous substances with food, animal feed, or consumer goods.
- Don’t transport chemicals within the vehicle compartment.
- Always check the product label or Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for chemicals you are transporting.
- Don’t expose chemicals to moisture or heat during transportation.
- If you are carrying the chemicals on a wooden surface, cover the surface with plastic because timber can absorb spilled chemicals.
- Stack chemical containers carefully when you load them on or into the vehicle.
- Make sure all chemical packages and containers are fastened securely to prevent movement and spills.
- Put a sign on your vehicle’s front and rear that shows the appropriate hazard symbol for the chemicals you’re transporting.
- Have a suitable fire extinguisher in your vehicle.
- Carry suitable personal protective equipment in your vehicle in case you need to handle the chemical during the transportation process.
Rule 4: check MSDS before using
The MSDS provides you with information about the chemical, its properties and, most importantly, how it should be used and handled safely. Most MSDS will provide the following information about the chemical:
- The name of the chemical.
- Its product code.
- Its key ingredients.
- The physical description and properties of the chemical (for example: colour, odour).
- Hazard information about the chemical and its effects on humans.
- Safety equipment to use when handling the chemical.
- Safe methods to store and transport the chemical.
Rule 5: wear personal protective equipment
Many chemical substances can harm you if they get on your skin, or if you accidentally breathe in their fumes, or swallow them. For this reason, you should always put on protective gear when handling chemicals.
The types of protective gear used will depend on the type of chemical. You should always check the MSDS of the chemical to find out the types of hazards associated with the chemical and the safety equipment you should use when handling it.
Rule 6: don’t touch, taste or smell chemicals
Most chemicals are harmful and can cause damage and injury if they get on your bare skin or enter your body. It is important to:
- never try to sniff any chemical substance directly
- use a fume cupboard when handling chemicals, and if you are handling chemicals in a room, open all windows to allow air to move through the room
- always wear protective gear such as gloves or an apron when handling chemicals as some chemicals, such as pesticides, can be absorbed by your skin and make you very sick and other chemicals, such as formalin, can kill you in a few seconds if it gets on your skin.
When pipetting or transferring chemical fluids, use a pipette pump, not your mouth, to draw the liquid into the pipette always have your hand underneath the chemical container when you carry it, otherwise, it might drop and spill its contents over you.