Categories of

Hazardous Chemicals
Safe Chemical Handling
Categories of
Hazardous Chemicals
Corrosive
Flammable
Toxic
Reactive
Biological (infectious)
Carcinogen (cancer-causing)
Radioactive
Physical States of
Hazardous Materials
Liquid
Solid
Gas
Vapor
How to Handle
Chemicals Properly

Use cautions
Always follow procedures
Read all labels
Keep yourself and the work area clean
Plan ahead
Routes of Exposure
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection
Symptoms of
Possible Overexposure
Eye discomfort
Breathing difficulty
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Skin irritation

Incompatible Chemicals
Flammables and oxidizers
Flammables and any ignition source
Acids and cyanides
Strong acids and strong alkalines
Concentrated acids and water
Organic solvents and corrosives
Corrosives and other reactive materials
Agencies That Regulate
Hazardous Chemical Storage
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Handling Flammable Chemicals
Keep containers closed when not in use
Keep away from ignition sources
Avoid contact with incompatible materials
Only transfer to approved containers
Bond all receiving containers
Clean up spills and dispose of waste properly
Proper Storage of
Flammable Chemicals
Ensure that storage areas meet regulatory
requirements
Replace all bung caps with drum vents after
receiving containers
Ground all drums properly
Store quantities in approved storage rooms
and cabinets
Store only in small quantities

General Safety Tips
Never eat, drink, or smoke while using
hazardous chemicals
Use personal protective equipment as
required
Make sure all chemical containers are properly
labeled
Always wash up after using chemicals

General Safety Tips (cont.)
Never smell or taste a chemical to identify it
Know all emergency procedures and equipment
Always read labels MSDSs prior to use
Store all hazardous chemicals properly
Always use hazardous chemicals as intended

Primary Container Labels
Identity of the hazardous chemical
Appropriate hazard warnings
Name and address of the manufacturer
or importer
Target organ effects

Secondary Container Labels
Identity of the
hazardous chemical
Hazard warning
information
Handling Chemical Emergencies
Know emergency phone numbers
Know how to control the spill
Know proper equipment shutdown
procedure
Know proper evacuation routes
and assembly areas
What Emergency
Personnel Should Know
Emergency cleanup and disposal measures
Required protective equipment
Use of cleanup equipment
Firefighting and other emergency measures
(i.e., first aid)
Use of other emergency equipment
First Aid for
Chemicals in the Eyes
Dont rub the eyes
Hold eyelids open and flush with water for
15 minutes
Be careful not to contaminate the other eye
Seek additional medical attention
First Aid for
Chemicals on the Skin
Flush area with lukewarm water for
15 minutes
Remove clothing and jewelry from
burn area
Seek additional medical attention
First Aid for
Chemical Inhalation
Move victim
to fresh air
Get immediate
help
First Aid for
Chemical Ingestion
Induce vomiting only if told to do so.
Get immediate medical attention
23
Physical Hazard ..
Hazards due to physical characteristics of a
chemical
Flammable - catches fire easily and burns rapidly
Combustible - will burn under most conditions
Explosive - will explode / detonate releasing hot gases
Oxidizer - yields oxygen to enhance combustion, may cause ignition of
combustibles with no external source
Organic peroxide - uniquely hazardous, potentially explosive
Unstable - tends to decompose during normal handling and storage
Water reactive - reacts with water to release flammable gas, causes fire
or presents a health hazard
24
Health Hazard
Produces acute or chronic effects in exposed
workers
Carcinogen - cause cancer or suspected to cause cancer
Toxic Agent - poisonous / cause acute or chronic effects
Reproductive toxin (teratogen) - could have harmful effect on
male or female reproductive system or on developing fetus
Irritant - can cause inflammation of skin or eyes
Corrosive - cause irreversible damage to living tissue
Sensitizer - cause exposed person to develop allergies to the
substance
Target organ-specific agents - hazardous to specific organs in body
(e.g., lungs, liver, blood, kidneys, nervous system)
25
Working Safely with Chemicals
Chemical Safety Concepts
26
Chemical Safety
TOXICITY -- the ability of a chemical
substance to cause harm
HAZARD -- likelihood a material will
cause harm under the conditions of use
With proper handling, even highly toxic
chemicals can be used safely
Less toxic chemicals can be extremely
hazardous if handled improperly.
27
Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
Exposure to toxic agents can have severe
consequences, including death
These injuries can occur in any area
where toxic chemicals are handled
Most chemical injuries could have been
avoided
If these people had had the proper equipment, if they had
been using the proper techniques and if they had had
adequate knowledge, such as exposures probably would not
have occurred.
28
Chemical Safety
Keep workers exposure below the
Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
PELs are regulatory limits set by OSHA on the amount or concentration of a
substance in the air.
Plan in advance for potential hazards
Designate a person to manage chemical
safety
Train and inform workers
Label ALL chemical containers
Keep file of MSDS for all chemicals used
(EHS)
29
Have a Plan that includes:
Standard operating procedures (SOP)
Exposure control measures
Fume hood & personal protective equipment
Information & Training
Chemicals that require prior planning &
approval
Working with Particularly hazardous
substances
Emergencies
30
Key to Working Safely ..
Understand the Hazards!
Know and prepare for hazards in advance
Review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Physical and Health Hazards
Exposure signs and symptoms
Protective measures
Emergency procedures
Read all labels
Know your protocol / procedures
Remember, some chemicals may have
delayed toxic effects on the body
31
Physical Hazard ..
Hazards due to physical characteristics of a
chemical
Flammable - catches fire easily and burns rapidly
Combustible - will burn under most conditions
Explosive - will explode / detonate releasing hot gases
Oxidizer - yields oxygen to enhance combustion, may cause ignition of
combustibles with no external source
Organic peroxide - uniquely hazardous, potentially explosive
Unstable - tends to decompose during normal handling and storage
Water reactive - reacts with water to release flammable gas, causes fire
or presents a health hazard
32
Health Hazard
Produces acute or chronic effects in exposed
workers
Carcinogen - cause cancer or suspected to cause cancer
Toxic Agent - poisonous / cause acute or chronic effects
Reproductive toxin (teratogen) - could have harmful effect on
male or female reproductive system or on developing fetus
Irritant - can cause inflammation of skin or eyes
Corrosive - cause irreversible damage to living tissue
Sensitizer - cause exposed person to develop allergies to the
substance
Target organ-specific agents - hazardous to specific organs in
body (e.g., lungs, liver, blood, kidneys, nervous system)
33
Route of Entry.
For a chemical to have an effect on a worker, s/he
must be exposed to it and some of it must get into
his/her system
Inhalation / breathing - most common route, gases / vapors can pass
to blood, solid particles inhaled into lungs
Absorption through the skin - many solids, liquids, vapors and gases can
be absorbed through the skin
Ingestion / swallowing - while not intentional, failure to wash hands,
eating in contaminated lab, etc.
Injection - accidents handling glass, sharps, etc.
Eye Contact - either physical damage or absorption
The route of entry dictates selection of
protective equipment
34
Signs & Symptoms .
How will you know if you have been exposed?
Dose - Amount of chemical absorbed depends upon chemical strength /
concentration, exposure duration, frequency of exposure
In general, the greater the dose, the more severe the health effects
Acute effects - occurs rapidly following brief exposure (e.g., acid burn)
Chronic effect - develops/recurs slowly, over long period following
repeated, long-term, low-level exposure (e.g., benzidine linked to
bladder cancer)
Individual variability - not all people exhibit the same signs and
symptoms (especially to chronic effects)
35
Working Safely with Chemicals
Chemical Safety Concepts
Safe Use and Storage
Disposal of Chemicals
Emergencies
Radiation Safety
36
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
Always wear PPE:
Good lab practice
Eye protection for workers
Wear enclosed goggles or face shield over safety glasses if chance of
splashing or shattering
Shoes, lab coat, long pants (gives protection from falling objects and
spills/splatters)
Plastic/rubber apron for caustics/corrosives
Correct gloves for chemical
Never reach into liquids, use tongs for retrieval
37
(Chemical) Fume Hood
Ventilated enclosure that protects you
from being exposed to chemical fumes,
gases and aerosols generated within the
hood
Room air drawn into the hood is vented
out the stack
Hood should always be ON during use
Lower sash to marked (< sash level >)
position
Quiz
1. Two primary routes of exposure to hazardous chemicals
are ___________________ and ___________________.
2. Gas, liquids, and aerosols are the three
states of hazardous materials. True or False
3. The Department of Transportation
does not regulate hazardous chemicals. True or False
4. Two dangerous incompatible materials are
__________________________________ and cyanides.
11006115 Copyright Business and Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz (cont.)
5. Flammables and oxidizers should never
be stored together. True or False
6. Secondary container labels should include
______________________________________ and
hazard warning information.
7. Three symptoms of overexposure
to hazardous chemicals are
____________, ____________, and ____________.
8. Carcinogens are chemicals that cause
birth defects in unborn children. True or False
11006115 Copyright Business and Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz (cont.)
9. Flammables should always be used away from
sources of ________________________________.
10. If a chemical has been used by a
company before, the containers do
not have to be labeled. True or False
11006115 Copyright Business and Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz Answers
1. The primary routes of exposure to hazardous chemicals
are inhalation, ingestion, absorption, and injection.
2. False. Liquids, solids, gases, and vapors are the
four states of hazardous materials.
3. False. The Department of Transportation does regulate
hazardous chemicals.
4. Two dangerous incompatible materials are acids
and cyanides.
5. True. Flammables and oxidizers are incompatible and
should never be stored together.
11006115 Copyright Business and Legal Reports, Inc.
Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. Secondary container labels should include the identity
of the material and hazard warning information.
7. Three symptoms of overexposure to hazardous
chemicals are eye discomfort, breathing difficulty,
dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and skin irritation.
8. False. Carcinogens are chemicals that can cause cancer.
9. Flammables should always be used away from sources
of ignition.
10. False. Even if a chemical has been used before, it must
always be labeled if it is hazardous.
11006115 Copyright Business and Legal Reports, Inc.