Safety Signs for Hazardous Chemicals
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Health and safety is of tremendous importance in your place of business where insurance policies are often priced depending on the health and safety practices in place. Incidents which could be avoided with basic but visible signage can have a bad effect on these insurance costs and in cases where, as is all too common in this day and age, the business is already struggling financially, can have disastrous effects.
We all use hazardous substances in our day to day lives for a number of reasons, be it at the workplace or in the home. Handling any chemicals but especially industrial chemicals demands a knowledge that can to a large extent be imparted by good labelling and signage. It is imperative that we understand the dangers when using even the simplest of household bleaches. We need to be aware of the damage it can have do to your skin, mouth and eyes. We need to be prepared in the event of it all going pear shaped and we also should to be aware of its proper usage so as not to misuse what is effectively a hazardous substance.
The value of prominent signage can never be underestimated. When a problem occurs that requires the emergency services to be called, good safety signage can and will make their jobs easier and ultimately save lives. Safety Data Sheets are one of the key tools in hazard communication. A good Safety Data Sheet provides members of staff with the knowledge they need to carry out a suitable risk assessment for their particular function. One of the main aims of the Chemical Hazards Communication Society is to promote high quality Safety Data Sheets. Many studies, including one carried out by the Chemical Hazards Communication Society, have demonstrated a high level of inaccuracies in Safety Data Sheets. This is of major concern to the health and safety authorities, such as the UK Health and Safety Executive.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires all companies to control exposure to hazardous substances to minimise any ill effects. The Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) publication 'COSHH a brief guide to the regulations' outlines the main points of the regulations and introduces the seven step guide to making your business compliant. The health and safety regulations are further supplemented by the COSHH Essentials system which gives guidance on controlling the use of hazardous chemicals for many everyday tasks. COSHH does not, however, cover asbestos or lead.
In the household any bottles or packages marked with the dreaded hazard symbol must be kept well out of the reach of young children and pets. Many domestic products could, in exceptional cases, cause death or serious injury if guidelines are ignored. If you think about the caustic effect of bleach on lime scale, just imagine what it could do to one of your children or pets. Be aware and be prepared!
