Cleaning products, paints, glues, solvents, fuels and oils are chemical substances. They can burn, poison, cause an allergy or start a fire. The label and the safety data sheet tell you how to work with them safely.
Regulations
- Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) sets out the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.
- Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) requires a safety data sheet for hazardous substances and mixtures.
- The regulation of the Minister of Health on occupational health and safety related to chemical agents at the workplace sets out the employer's duties. Among other things, it provides that the employer assesses the risk, limits exposure and makes safety data sheets available to employees.
The CLP label
On the packaging of a hazardous substance you will find:
- the product name,
- pictograms (a red diamond-shaped frame),
- a signal word: “Danger” (more serious hazards) or “Warning” (less serious ones),
- H statements, which describe the hazard,
- P statements, which give precautionary measures,
- details of the supplier.
The most important pictograms
- Flame: flammable substance.
- Flame over circle: oxidising substance, feeds a fire.
- Gas cylinder: gas under pressure, may explode if heated.
- Corrosion: causes skin burns and eye damage, may corrode metals.
- Skull and crossbones: toxic, even a small amount can kill or seriously poison.
- Exclamation mark: irritating or harmful, may cause an allergic reaction.
- Health hazard (a figure with a star): carcinogenic, damages organs, harmful to the unborn child or causes respiratory sensitisation.
- Environment: harmful to aquatic organisms.
The safety data sheet
For hazardous substances the supplier provides a safety data sheet. It has 16 sections. Important for the worker:
- section 4: first-aid measures,
- section 5: what to do in case of fire,
- section 6: what to do in case of a spill,
- section 7: handling and storage,
- section 8: exposure controls and personal protective equipment.
The employer must make available to you the data sheets of the substances you work with.
Rules for working with chemicals
- Read the label before use. If it is missing or illegible, do not use the product.
- Do not decant into drink bottles or other unmarked containers. Mistakes are easy to make.
- Do not mix products unless the instructions allow it. For example, a chlorine product mixed with an acid releases a toxic gas.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke where you work with chemicals. Wash your hands after work.
- Work with working ventilation and use the PPE indicated in the data sheet.
- Close containers and keep them in the designated place. Do not store oxidising substances next to flammable ones.
A spill and contact with a substance
- Notify your supervisor and warn others.
- If it is safe, stop the leak and cover it with an absorbent, and do not wash it down the drain.
- Use the PPE indicated in the data sheet (sections 6 and 8).
- After contact with skin or eyes, rinse with plenty of water and use the data sheet (section 4). If symptoms do not go away, call for medical help.
Key points
- On the label look for pictograms, the signal word and the H and P statements.
- The safety data sheet contains first aid, storage and PPE.
- Do not decant substances into unmarked containers.