NCSA:Technology Feature: Safe Handling of Chemicals

Technology Feature - Safe Handling of Chemicals

HOW TO USE CLEANING PRODUCTS SAFELY
by: Greg Whiteley, Whiteley Industries pty ltd

Chemical cleaning products remove residues, contaminants and soils deposited on or attached to substrate surfaces. Historically there are four types of cleaning compounds:

Soaps
Solvents
Synthetic Solvents
Aqueous Cleaners

The severity of health affects depends on the nature of the chemical substance and the extent of exposure. The major routes of exposure are:

Direct physical contact (skin contact)
Inhalation (breathing)
Ingestion (drinking, swallowing or eating)

All chemical cleaning products have the potential to adversely affect certain individuals. There is no way of predicting an individual’s response to chemical cleaning products without extensive dermatological testing. It is advisable to treat chemical agents with caution at all times. Effects from chemicals can include, but aren’t limited
to:

Poisoning
Irritation
Chemical burns
Allergic responses, skin, respiratory and gut
Sensitisation, usually skin related but also respiratory (asthma)
Rarely but possibly Cancer (not generally a worry if you don’t smoke and don’t contact asbestos)

Within Australia all product must be properly labelled and have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Both the labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must comply with the Code of Practice for the Labelling of Workplace Substances, Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons, Australian Dangerous Goods Code, Hazardous Substances Information System and the National Code of Practice for the Preparation of MSDS. Chemical Product manufacturers have strict obligations to ensure that the information provided is both accurate, legally correct and up to date. If you have any doubts about a matter on a label or MSDS contact the manufacturer. if you are still not satisfied then contact NICNAS Australia on 1800 638 528

TO USE A CLEANING PRODUCT SAFELY FIRST READ THE LABEL AND THE MSDS.

Reading the label is the first step in finding health and safety information on the chemical products that you use in your work as a cleaner.

For scheduled poisons, hazardous substances and dangerous goods the label contains a lot of information. It is important to be familiar with the phrases and symbols on labels.

Signal words are located on the first line or lines of the main label. They are written in bold-face capital letters. Signal words identify which schedule the poison belongs to. Cleaning chemicals can belong to three schedules 5 (CAUTION), 6 (POISON) and 7 (DANGEROUS POISON). The most common signal words in cleaning chemicals are CAUTION and POISON. Under the signal word certain chemicals have cautionary statements. These can include KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN, BURNS SKIN AND THROAT and READ SAFETY DIRECTIONS. The chemicals responsible for the product’s classification as a scheduled poison must be listed on the label along with its concentration (e.g. CONTAINS: Sodium Hydroxide 300g/L).

Warning statements and risk phrases provide the user with a brief summary of potential hazards associated with the product’s general use. Safety phrases provide information on storage, safe handling and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used. First aid instructions provide brief instructions for first aid in case of inhalation,
direct contact or ingestion.

Dangerous Goods are easily distinguishable from hazardous substances and scheduled poisons because they have a coloured class diamond (e.g. Flammable - red - class 3), UN number, Packing Group number and Hazchem code. All information is specific for each type of dangerous good (e.g. Flammable Liquid N.O.S, Corrosive Liquid N.O.S) and is a mandatory requirement.

The directions for use on the label must always be followed. Chemical cleaning products should only be used as directed by the manufacturer. The manufacturer intimately knows the product’s formulation and its intended uses and as such are the only ones who can identify how to use the product safely. MSDS give detailed information on health and safety on chemical products.

THE MSDS FOR EACH CLEANING PRODUCT USED MUST STORED IN THE SAME LOCATION WHERE THE CLEANING PRODUCT IS STORED OR USED.
Reading an MSDS is the second step in understanding the chemicals you are working with. A MSDS is written by the manufacturer of the product and must be supplied to users of the chemical when requested. An MSDS will indicate the hazardous ingredients of the product, the likely adverse health effects where someone is affected by a cleaning product, the first aid instructions, any precautions for using the product, safe handling and storage information. It is important to make all MSDS available to all employees working with chemicals. MSDS should not be more than five years old and up to date copies must be maintained by employer.

When reading a MSDS particular attention should be paid to the type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when using the product. PPE includes items such as gloves, eye/face protection, protective clothing and respirators. PPE should be appropriate for the work being performed, give enough protection to the user, be easy to use, comfortable, fit properly and comply with any pertinent Australian Standards. PPE should be used and stored in conjunction with manufactures instructions. PPE should be checked on a regular basis, both before and after each use. Damaged or defective PPE should be immediately thrown out and replaced.

Manual handling should also be considered when working with cleaning chemicals. Due to the chemical make up of some cleaning products they are much heavier than they look. For example, a 15L bottle of a product with 300g/L of sodium hydroxide can weight up to 20kg. If the user isn’t aware of the weight and they attempt to lift it primarily using their lower back and not there legs a back injury can easily occur.

All cleaning chemicals have the potential to adversely affect health if used incorrectly. To avoid any health problems it’s important to follow instructions given by the product’s manufacturer which can be found on the product label and MSDS. If you think that you are being affected by using a particular cleaning product you should discontinue use and report the matter to your employer immediately and seek further advice on safe use and practice.

Printable Version