- \n
- Absorption<\/strong> \u2013 the chemical contacts the skin or eyes and causes immediate damage or is absorbed into the bloodstream<\/li>\n
- Inhalation<\/strong> \u2013 the chemical is breathed and enters the bloodstream through the lungs<\/li>\n
- Ingestion<\/strong> \u2013 the chemical is swallowed and enters the bloodstream through the gastro-intestinal track<\/li>\n
- Injection<\/strong> \u2013 the chemical enters a break in the skin from a new or previous injury<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How do I prevent chemicals from hurting me?<\/h2>\n
In general, employees working with chemicals are protected on three levels:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Administrative controls<\/strong> are polices, procedures, guidelines, rules, or trainings that reduce the duration, frequency, or severity of exposure to the chemical<\/li>\n
- Engineering controls<\/strong> are equipment or substitute products which reduce or eliminate the duration, frequency, or severity of exposure to the chemical<\/li>\n
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)<\/strong> is the clothing, safety glasses, gloves, and other equipment worn by a worker to protect the worker from the hazards of a chemical. PPE does not reduce or eliminate the hazard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Safety Data Sheets<\/h2>\n
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that SDSs are available to employees who work with potentially harmful substances. A SDS summarizes information about the material, including chemical components, hazard identification, first aid, spill, and fire fighting procedures, incompatibilities, safe handling and storage requirements, and disposal guidelines.<\/p>\n
Workers should review an SDS prior to working with a chemical. SDSs should also be readily available for quick response to spills, medical emergencies, and other situations involving the chemical. SDS should be kept as hard copies in the work areas. Digital copies are acceptable if there is a computer station in the work areas, to which all chemical users have access.<\/p>\n
Safety Data Sheets are available online from most manufacturers. The following are links to the SDS websites of common manufacturers of laboratory chemicals:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fisher Scientific<\/a><\/li>\n
- Sigma-Aldrich<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chemical GHS Labeling<\/strong>
\nStarting on June 1 2016, all secondary (non \u2013manufacturer) containers of hazardous chemicals MUST adhere to the Global Harmonizes System (GHS) format. All relevant information can be found in section 2 of the Safety Data Sheet, titled Hazard Identification. New GHS compliant label must include the following: Product Identifier, Signal Words, Hazard Statements, Precautionary Statements and Symbols (hazard pictograms).
\nEHS will assist the transition by providing labels. For future needs, contact FedEx\/Kinkos (as described in guidance document).<\/p>\n - Sigma-Aldrich<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Engineering controls<\/strong> are equipment or substitute products which reduce or eliminate the duration, frequency, or severity of exposure to the chemical<\/li>\n
- Inhalation<\/strong> \u2013 the chemical is breathed and enters the bloodstream through the lungs<\/li>\n
![\"GHS-Hazard-Pictograms\"](\"\/research\/files\/2016\/09\/GHS-Hazard-Pictograms-491x636.jpg\")
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