Whether you are handling cleaning products with chemicals at home or working with chemicals in a school chemistry lab, being aware of chemical safety tips helps to keep you safe from possible danger.

Ways to Stay Safe Around Chemicals

Regardless of where you work with chemicals or products containing chemicals, it is important to remember that these types of products have the potential of being extremely harmful and dangerous if they are used incorrectly, or incorrectly mixed with one another. Being aware of the following safety tips regarding chemicals, and products containing chemicals, will help protect you from a possible accident and injury.

Keep the telephone number of the Poison Control Center near every telephone.

General Safety Tips for Chemicals

• Never combine any products that contain ammonia and chlorine bleach. When these common household substances are combined, they form a gas that is highly toxic and can result in serious breathing difficulties or death.
• Always take the time to read the warning label on any chemical product you use. The label provides safe guidelines for using that specific product. In addition to the information on safe usage, the label also generally provides information on safe storage and gives instructions on how to protect yourself properly when using the product such as the need for protective gloves, eyewear or ventilation. The label also includes the contact information for the manufacturer of the product.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations when using any chemicals, products that contain them or any other substances that are hazardous.

When used properly, both conventional and green cleaning chemicals are relatively safe. However, these products are not always properly handled and accidents do happen.

This is one reason why the U.S. Department of Labor continues to list cleaning and custodial work as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, mainly because of the many accidents involving chemicals that occur each year. To cut down on such accidents, Enviro-Solutions encourages cleaning professionals to develop a Cleaning Chemical Safety Program.

Key components of a Cleaning Chemical Safety Program include the following:

• A complete list of all cleaning chemicals used in the facility; this documentation should include details such as how many gallons (and multiple-gallon containers) are stored, where they are stored, and the potential hazards of and necessary precautions for each specific chemical (for instance, whether or not a chemical needs to be kept away from direct sunlight).

• Safety Data Sheets (formerly referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets) for each chemical used or stored.

• Keeping all cleaning chemicals in their original containers and never mixing chemicals, even if they are the same “type” of chemical.

• Storing chemicals in well-ventilated areas away from HVAC intake vents; this helps prevent any fumes from spreading to other areas of the facility.

• Installing safety signage in multiple languages (or, even better, using images and no words) that quickly conveys possible dangers and precautions related to the chemicals. This signage and training must follow new requirements outlined in OSHA’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

• Making sure all cleaning workers know exactly what the following “signal words” mean:
• Caution: the product should be used carefully but is relatively safe.
• Warning: the product is moderately toxic.
• Danger: the product is highly toxic and may cause permanent damage to skin and eyes.

“Cleaning Chemical Safety Programs should also include getting rid of chemicals that have not been used for a prolonged period of time,” says Jennifer Meek, Director of Marketing and Customer Relations for Enviro-Solutions. “A good rule of thumb is to consider disposing of any chemical product that has not been used for six months, and disposing of any product that has not been used for a year.”