OSHA Chemical Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, provides guidelines for the safe use of chemicals in the workplace. These regulations prevent accidents and injuries; they also educate workers on appropriate chemical use and storage.

Communication

• OSHA requires that employers provide employees with training on the dangers and proper use of workplace chemicals. They must also provide material safety data sheets and clearly label containers that hold dangerous materials.

Material Safety Data Sheets

• Employers must label dangerous chemicals according to OSHA regulations.

  Material safety data sheets, or MSDS, provide pertinent information regarding a chemical's composition, storage requirements and related information. Employers must provide these to workers if a chemical poses a health risk.

Breathing Protection

• Employers must provide respirators that can produce toxic fumes.

  Employers must provide employees with respirators if chemical fumes can harm them. The business must conduct an assessment of the work area to define the hazard and then determine the appropriate form of protection.

Other Personal Protective Equipment

• Some fields, such as woodworking, require additional protection when finishing wood. Items such as boots, gloves, aprons or other protective clothing protect employees from chemicals that may spill on them.

Other Considerations

• Some chemicals can be extremely flammable, calling for special safety precautions.

  Employers, as recommended by OSHA, should make employees aware of the fire hazards involved with chemicals. OSHA requires use of proper ventilation, exhaust hoods and appropriate filtering systems to reduce the risk of fire.