Could your company handle paying an $82 million fine?
Walmart had to do just that after failing to train employees on how to handle hazardous waste. By allowing employees to pour pesticides down the drain, Walmart was in violation of the Clean Water Act. The giant corporation’s reckless behavior jeopardized the safety of its employees, as well as the public’s health.
Thankfully, with the help of safety data sheets, you can avoid hefty fees and fines. However, avoiding fines isn’t the only thing these sheets can help with!
Read on to learn all about the necessity of safety data sheets.
The Necessity of Safety Data Sheets
You can protect employees, by using safety data sheets on all chemicals and substances. The datasheet provides the employee with the necessary information to handle the chemical safely.
The necessity of safety data sheets is something that affects your entire organization, not just the people handling the chemicals. Make sure you train every employee on how to read and understand the safety data sheets.
Without proper employee training, safety data sheets are virtually useless. Even if there’s only a small chance an employee will come into contact with a chemical, they still need to know the proper handling procedures.
Safety Data Sheets for OSHA
First, you’ll find information that identifies what substance the sheet is for. The identification portion will include the chemical properties and possible trade names.
Next, you’ll be able to find information about the substance’s ingredients, and the different ways the ingredients behave. You’ll also find the first aid measures to follow if someone exposes themselves to the substance.
Adjacent to the first aid measures, you’ll be able to find firefighting and accidental release measures as well. An example of an accidental release measure would be directions detailing how to clean up the substance or material.
Moving on, you’ll also be able to find information about proper handling and storage procedures. For instance, the safety data sheet will indicate whether or not you need to store the substance in a temperature-controlled area.
The storage procedures will also dictate whether or not the employee needs to use personal protective equipment. Finally, the safety data sheet will let you know how stable or reactive the substance is, as well as how it can affect humans.
Useful Nonmandatory Information
While it’s not mandatory, some safety data sheets will go on to explain the ecological impacts of the substance too. Another nonmandatory, but a helpful piece of information is disposal and transport information. Disposal considerations will let employees know whether or not it’s safe to dispose of the product in a landfill, or if incineration is an option.
Stay Safe
Now you know more about the necessity of safety data sheets in the workplace. Take the information you learned here today and share it with your work family.
The more knowledgable everyone is about the need for safety data sheets, the safer your work environment will be. For more ways to stay safe, check out the rest of this site.