Page 24 - OHS, June 2023

IH: CHEMICAL SAFETY It may also include reminders to bond and ground containers or to segregate containment areas to avoid unintended mixing of incompatible materials. Other specific requirements such as ventilation, shock sensitivity, light sensitivity and temperature limits are also included in this section. General hygiene advice (prohibitions on eating, drinking or smoking around the chemical) will also be noted. Adhering to the information found in this section and incorporating it into procedures helps to avoid container corrosion, air emissions, reactions, unintentional releases, fires, explosions and other hazards associated with improper hazardous material storage and handling. Hazard Identification (Section Two) Best known as the place to find pictograms, precautionary statements and many of the other elements required on product labeling, section two identifies a chemical’s health and physical hazards. The warnings that are given affect the safety of personnel who use the product, but they can also provide some initial storage and handling information that can be incorporated into procedures. For example, if the product is flammable, storage procedures should reflect the need to ground the container and keep it away from hot areas and open flames. Perhaps it even makes sense to have signage or floor markings that designate specific areas where flammables can (or cannot) be located. This may seem like common sense, but in the rush to get things done, it can be easy to overlook this potential hazard unless procedures are well established and communicated. Labeling elements from section two can also help to reduce the risk of inhalation and other health hazards. Procedures for closing containers are often established to meet environmental requirements, but they also help to prevent inhalation hazards from fugitive air emissions or reduce the risk of leaks and drips that could cause chemical burns or other health issues. Accidental Release Measures (Section Six) When everything in section seven works, worawit_j/Shutterstock.com Reviewing five sections of each chemical’s SDS and incorporating the information found in them can make chemical storage and handling procedures safer and more robust. 22 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2023 www.ohsonline.com section six shouldn’t be necessary. But, even with the most thorough storage and handling procedures, there is still always the potential for spills. Both OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency require facilities to be prepared for spills— and to train personnel on their role in responding to spills. For most personnel, responding to spills is a non-routine task, and at first glance, it may not seem like it is related to storage and handling. But many hazardous materials can present greater or different risks when they leave their containers, and it’s important for personnel who routinely handle hazardous chemicals to know how—and why—procedures for handling spills may vary from what they do on a regular basis. Review the spill response information in section six to determine if any special procedures may need to be included in response plans. Recommendations for planning elements such as PPE, ventilation, removal of ignition sources, evacuations and cleanup methods should align with information documented in facility spill response plans. Physical and Chemical Properties (Section Nine) The information in section nine gives planners a pretty good technical snapshot for developing and reviewing storage and handling procedures. Where other sections provide precautions and recommendations, section nine contains numeric data like flammability ranges and explosive limits, pH, melting and freezing points, vapor density and other specific chemical traits that influence how and where materials can be safely handled. Even though similar verbiage is found elsewhere, the information in section nine is quantified. For example, if section