Chemical Safety & Hazard Communication & MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets

Every person who works with or around chemicals must understand the Labeling System and the Hazard Communication Plan for their Facility.  Chemical safety requires proper actions by both management and employees.

Safe use, storage and transportation of chemicals is essential for any facility.  Proper safe handling of chemicals by employees and safe chemical operations will prevent accidents, chemical exposures and chemical release to the environment.  The Safety Library contains a large volume of chemical safety information to assist you in all aspects of your programs from Process Safety Management to proper chemical storage and Material Safety Data Sheet use, as well as selection of the proper chemical personal protection equipment to protect your employees from chemical exposure. 

Free Sample Material

Chemical Storage Requirements

Glove Selection Chart    

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Supervisor Safety Brief   Chemical Safety   MSDS Contents Management Safety Brief   Hazard Communication   Contact Lens use in Chemical Environments Safety Session   Chemical Safety Pamphlet   MS Word Version   PDF Version Posters   Chemical Safety Safety Strip   Right to Know   Chemical Mixing Articles   MSDS: Using Analogies   Reading MSDS   Skin Chemical Exposure   Crossword Puzzle   Chemical Puzzle

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Compliance Evaluation   Hazardous Material & Chemical Storage White Papers   Chemical Hazard Evaluation   Screening Chemical Reactive Hazards Chemical Data & Tables   Guidelines for Chemical Hazards   Chemical IDLH Values   Hazardous Material & Chemical Storage Compliance   Chemical Toxicology   Chemical Carcinogens   Incompatible Chemicals   MSDS Information   Chemical Glove Selection   Evaluating Protective Clothing (PDF)   Highly Reactive Chemicals   Glossary of Terms   Chemical Specific Info   NFPA Label   HMIC/S Label Chemical Type Safety Guides   Chemical Safety Basics   Acids   Adhesives   Bases & Caustics   Cleaning Compounds   Compressed Gases   Corrosion Preventive    Detergents / Soaps   Fuels   Greases   Heavy Metals   Hydraulic Fluids   Inspection Penetrants   Lubricants & Oils   Oxidizers   Paint Materials   Polish & Wax   Solvents   Water Treatment

Chemical Glove Selection

The selection of the proper chemical-resistant glove begins with an evaluation of the job application. Factors that influence this selection are:

• the type of chemicals to be handled (or used)
• frequency and duration of chemical contact
• nature of contact (total immersion or splash only)
• concentration of chemicals
• temperature of chemicals
• abrasion/resistance requirements
• puncture-, snag-, tear-, and cut-resistance requirements
• length to be protected (hand only, forearm, arm)
• dexterity requirements
• grip requirements (dry grip, wet grip, oily)
• cuff edge (safety cuff, knit wrist, or gauntlet)
• color requirements (to show contamination)
• thermal protection (for example, when handling anhydrous ammonia)
• size and comfort requirements

.............. MORE IN MEMBERS AREA

Chemical Hazard Classifications

Health Hazards are those that can affect the immediate or long term health of an employee if exposed to a specific chemical.  Acute effects of exposure are those that present symptoms when exposure occurs, such as when skin is exposed to an acid.  Delayed or long term health effects can also occur from chemical exposure, such as cancer.  Health effects for any given chemical will depend on the toxicity, duration of exposure and amount of exposure.

Fire Hazard ratings range from non-flammable to highly flammable.  The NFPA ratings are based on the material flashpoint -  the temperature at which the chemical vapors will ignite.

Reactivity ratings describe the hazards of the material stability - some chemicals will explode or react violently if exposed to heat or shock

Other Hazards - special markings are required if the material is radioactive, an oxidizer,  acid or base or will react when exposed to other materials.

Hazard Controls include:

• Labeling of all chemicals

• Proper chemical storage containers & areas

• Segregation of incompatible chemicals

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Use of chemicals by training and authorized employees

• Use of minimum amount necessary

• Bonding & Grounding of flammable liquid containers

Chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors of hazardous chemicals are all required to provide the appropriate labels and material safety data sheets to the employers to which they ship the chemicals. The information is to be provided automatically. Every container of hazardous chemicals must be labeled, tagged, or marked with the required information.

Suppliers must provide end users a properly completed material safety data sheet (MSDS) at the time of the first shipment of the chemical, and with the next shipment after the MSDS is updated with new and significant information about the hazards.

Employers that use or store hazardous chemicals must have a program to ensure the information is provided to exposed employees.