10 Chemical Safety Rules that Every Chemical User Should Know
1. Know and understand the chemicals you use, their health hazards, their labels and how to properly control them should an accident happen.
2. Every chemical in the workplace should be labelled clearly and correctly and be disposed of in the correct manner. Inclusive of any and all chemicals, solutions and waste products.
3. Always wear the correct protective equipment dictated by your assessment taken for specific work areas.
4. Where there are volatiles or hazardous chemicals in a workplace, proper control and ventilation must be in place. If there is no control measure, then work must cease and a report made to the proper safety personnel.
5. Store chemicals in safety cabinets in their designated areas and remove only the amount needed for the current work process and no more.
6. Do not work with hazardous substances alone and ensure that everyone present is able to act with competence if an accident does happen.
7. Clear and free access to exits, showers, cleansing stations and emergency escapes must always be available. Knowledge of emergency procedures must be taught to employees, and building evacuation plans should always be on display in an accessible area.
8. All trip hazards must be removed. All work areas and their stations must be kept clean. All ventilation systems, or other hazard control systems, must be regularly cleaned and maintained.
9. Always clean yourself down on leaving the workplace. If chemicals come into contact with the skin then immediate action must be taken. All workplaces must include emergency wash stations.
10. Under no circumstance should you eat, drink, smoke, or perform any other such distracting activity when working with hazardous chemicals.