Recognizing Chemical Hazards in the Workplace

There are nearly 13,000 workplace injuries a day. They range from slips and falls to chemical injuries.

Chemical injuries can result in fatalities because of burns and inhalation of chemicals. Even minor chemical burns turn into time away from work. That affects the employee’s pay and productivity.

It’s your responsibility to keep employees safe first and foremost. Uncovering chemical hazards in the workplace and mitigating them is the first step to creating a safe and productive work environment.

Read on to discover how to work with chemical hazards and keep your employees safe.

Identify Chemical Inventory

What are the workplace chemicals that cause injuries? They could be everyday cleaning products or industrial chemicals.

Your first step is to identify all workplace chemical hazards. Some of the most common ones are paints, pesticides, glues, acids, oils, gases, and cleaning products.

Don’t forget about biochemicals. Employees can get exposed to mold, bacteria, and viruses with little effort.

If you work in a lab that collects samples, there are additional biohazards to consider.

Check Chemical Storage Procedures

Managing chemical hazards in the workplace comes down to storage. The chemicals have to be stored in their appropriate containers.

Gas needed to get stored in gas containers, and flammable chemicals need containers designed to hold flammable chemicals.

Every container has to have labels that identify the chemical and potential chemical hazards.

There should be plenty of safety equipment nearby. That allows employees can easily prepare themselves to handle chemicals in the workplace.

Be sure to have emergency equipment in the area to manage leaks, spills, and injuries immediately.

Audit Past Incidents and Policies

A review of past employee incidents with chemical hazards gives you an overview of the management of workplace injuries.

If you go back far enough, you may see patterns such as similar injuries or issues with a certain type of chemical.

This lets you identify holes in the present policies and make improvements.

It’s also necessary to get employee feedback. Understand how the use and access the chemicals in the workplace.

Ask them what the main issues are and how they can get addressed. You’ll be able to tailor your policies and procedures accordingly.

Train Employees

Training employees is a critical step to mitigate chemical hazards. Put a plan in place to conduct regular training for handling chemical hazards.

HAZWOPER training is necessary for those involved in the initial response to a chemical emergency. Learn more about who should and shouldn’t receive this training.

You don’t want to only train new hires. Every employee needs consistent training to maintain a safe workplace.

Reduce Injuries by Managing Chemical Hazards in the Workplace

How can you increase employee morale, improve productivity, and minimize employee absenteeism? Manage chemical hazards in the workplace.

This article showed you how to work with chemical hazards. Identify them, make sure they’re stored, audit past issues, and train employees. You’ll have a safe and thriving workplace.

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