Chemical Safety made easy for SHO

CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTED BY SHO

Difficulty in decicion making due to lack of knowledge

Can be too technical sometimes

Documentation problems

IN MANAGING CHEMICAL SAFETY

“I was not a science student before, so

I don’t know about chemicals.

So I’ll just ignore the hazard”

“ If we are not familiar with the hazard,

we should consider the worst case

scenario. We should use ALL the PPE even

though it may not be necessary”

“ My company only uses retail chemicals

so they are not hazardous.

So I don’t have to consider chemical

hazard in my industry”

THE RESULTS…

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

Don’t be discouraged by the bombastic words in label and safety data sheet

Just identify the chemical CLASSIFICATION Toxic, Harmful, Corrosive, Irritant Explosive, Oxidising, Flammable

Just identify the route of entry Inhalation, Skin/eye absorption, Ingestion

PICTOGRAM AND HAZARD STATEMENT :-

CLASSIFICATION

ROUTE OF ENTRY

- Level of severity

- Point of protection

CLASSIFICATION : SEVERITY = FORM A

CHRA REPORT

ROUTE OF ENTRY : PROTECTION = FORM F

SELECTION OF CONTROL MEASURES PPE : Select correct PPE accurately, get the

specifications (eg: supplier’s catalogues)

TRAINING : Select topics according to workers’ needs

VENTILATION : Select types and location after study and observation has been made

AVAILABILITY OF SDS

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS (raw material)

• Request from supplier

RETAIL CHEMICALS (workshop, housekeeping, pest control, etc)

•Download from manufacturers’ web or get similar SDS.

INTERPRET SAFETY DATA SHEET

To name a few….

FIRST AID MEASURES

• Eye Contact - Flush eyes with running water for 15 minutes.

Means….. To prepare an emergency wash

STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

• Incompatible material – Water, Metal, etc

Means…. To separate them in storage or process

CHEMICAL REGISTER

DUTY OF PROCESS OWNER

•SHO – Provide correct format and compile for all areas.

•USER – Issuance of register and updating.

FOCAL DOCUMENT

• For hazard profiling, monitoring of exposure, CHRA, medical

surveillance and training material.

CHRA REPORT

IT IS A ONE-STOP SOLUTION OF USECHH REGULATIONS

•Specific custom made control measures for a specific workplace.

MAKE FULL USE OF ASSESSOR

•Make sure assessor has made you understand the report