31 Aug 2016
Many businesses, especially those involved in manufacturing, have chemicals that can pose health risks to employees. There are a few different types of chemicals that you should be aware of, so you can keep your employees safe.
Some chemicals are brought into the workplace for various uses. Cleaning agents, paint, solvents, and glues are a few examples of these types of chemicals. Other types are a by products of the types of work that would occur in a manufacturing or other types of facilities. Fumes from welding or cleaning supplies fall into this category. Dust from woodworking falls into this category as well. The third category is hazards that are waste or residue. This includes exhaust from machinery, dust, and fumes from welding. Many chemical hazards actually fall into two and sometimes all three of these categories. Employers are responsible for making sure there employees are as safe as possible when working with these chemical hazards.
All hazardous materials that are brought into your facility should be properly labelled, and you should have a Safety Data sheet as well. The hazards from work processes and waste can be harder to identify than those that you bring into the facility, and this can make it difficult to make sure your employees are properly protected.