Chemical safety aims to prevent accidents by identifying hazardous chemicals, using clear labeling systems, and having protocols in place for handling them. Material Safety Data Sheets and chemical labeling systems are innovations in the field. Chemical safety is important in any setting where chemicals are used, and guidelines are usually posted. The goal is to avoid accidents and efficiently deal with incidents such as spills. Compliance with guidelines is imperative for personal and others’ safety.
Chemical safety is a branch of occupational health concerned with maximizing safety in environments where chemicals are involved. Many governments have agencies that make chemical safety recommendations and enforce laws related to chemical safety, and professional associations of chemists also tend to have advisory bodies that discuss safety issues. Many people are introduced to chemical safety at a young age, as their parents counsel them about substances in the home that are dangerous to handle.
Chemicals can be extremely useful for a wide variety of applications, but they can also be quite dangerous at times, especially when improperly handled and processed. Chemical safety practice is designed to identify hazardous chemicals, to use clear marking systems to label hazardous chemicals, and to have protocols in place for handling those chemicals with the goal of preventing accidents. Occupational health and safety laws often deal specifically with chemicals and how they should be handled, stored and destroyed.
An innovation in the field of chemical safety is the development of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), information sheets that clearly describe various chemicals, their effects on the human body, ways they should be handled, and unique risks, such as exposure to heat which could cause the spontaneous combustion of some chemicals. Chemical labeling systems, such as the distinctive diamond labels used on chemical containers, are also a form of chemical safety designed to clearly convey pertinent safety information.
Chemical safety is applicable anywhere from a high school chemical lab where students must learn to work with chemicals safely to a chemical plant where chemicals are manufactured on a large scale. It’s also a concern in any setting where people use chemicals, from cleaning chemicals used in hospitals to chemicals used in the manufacturing of various consumer goods. Guidelines are usually clearly posted in environments where chemicals are used, and people new to the space may get guidance from a safety supervisor or consultant before they can work.
The goal of chemical safety is to identify potential hazards so that chemical accidents can be avoided, and to develop protocols to efficiently and properly deal with incidents such as spills. Many companies dealing with chemicals have their own safety protocols and guidelines in place, with these documents being formulated in response to recommendations from professional organizations and government. It is imperative that people comply with guidelines for their own safety and that of others.
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