The first step in chemical safety is to understand the hazards associated with the chemicals you are using. Chemicals can pose various hazards include health effects, such as irritation, target organ toxicity and carcinogenicity, and physical effects, such as flammability and corrosion.
The importance of a comprehensive understanding of hazards of each chemical that laboratory personnel work with is because they can control their exposure to the hazards coming from those chemicals.
Hazardous chemical means any chemical which is classified as a physical hazard or a health hazard, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified.
It’s important to clarify that hazardous chemicals are only one group of hazards usually present in laboratories. Exists other hazards such as biological hazards, ionizing and nonionizing radiation hazards, laser hazards or robotic/automatization hazards just to mention some possible laboratory hazards.
There are two main chemical hazard groups, physical and health hazards.
Health hazard means a chemical which is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects:
- acute toxicity (any route of exposure);
- skin corrosion or irritation;
- serious eye damage or eye irritation;
- respiratory or skin sensitization;
- specific target organ toxicity (single or repeated exposure);
Physical hazard means a chemical that is classified as posing one of the following hazardous effects:
- flammable (gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids);
- oxidizer (liquid, solid or gas);
- pyrophoric (liquid or solid);
- in contact with water emits flammable gas.
A safety data sheets (SDS) is an important document to make easily available critical information about hazards from chemicals to users. With an updated SDS, you will understand how to properly use and store the substance, mitigate risks, produce safety training or SOP’s, and, of course comply with OSHA. An acceptable SDS needs to be adapted to the Globalized Harmonized System (GHS).
All sections provide valuable information, but the most critical sections are Section 2: Hazard identification, Section 4: First aid measures, Section 7: Handling and storage, Section 8: Exposure controls/personal protection and Section 10: Stability & Reactivity.
Each chemical’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides detailed information on its properties, hazards, and safety precautions. Familiarize yourself with the SDS for each chemical in your lab to understand the specific risks and necessary precautions.
Ultimately, the goal of the SDS is to provide information to reduce the likelihood of illness and injury related to chemical exposure.
The University of Miami has a digital service for quick access to safety data sheets. If you want to access an SDS , click or scan:
eBinder | Chemical Management (ehs.com)
