Handling chemicals

Safe practices for storing and handling chemicals

You will be handling many different chemicals in your workplace to carry out such tasks as:

• controlling weeds
• treating pests and diseases
• maintaining equipment.

Chemicals can be nasty things to deal with. They come in different forms: solids, liquids and gases.

If chemicals are handled carefully and according to the manufacturer's directions they become great savers in time and labour. Imagine how long it would take to weed a large area of land by physical means, such as by hand, if there was no such thing as an herbicide?

However, you must keep in mind that all the chemicals you will use can affect your health. Some can kill within seconds while others can burn your skin, destroy your lungs, give you cancer, affect your digestive system, poison you, and even make you sterile.

Other chemicals are volatile and can burn or explode if not handled correctly.

Ways to avoid hazards and reduce safety risks

To avoid hazards and reduce safety risks, you need to know how to handle chemicals in a safe way. When dealing with chemicals, you need to observe the following main rules:

1. Chemicals must always be clearly labelled and kept in their original container.
2. Chemicals must always be stored in the right place.
3. Always follow the correct safety procedures when transporting chemicals.
4. Always check a chemical's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) before using it.
5. Always wear protective gear when dealing with chemicals.
6. Never touch, taste or smell chemicals.
7. Check with your supervisor before using any chemicals.
8. Don't drink, eat or smoke while using chemicals.

Other helpful suggestions

• Use a fume cupboard when handling chemicals. The cupboard will ventilate any harmful fumes given off by the chemical. If your workplace does not have a fume cupboard, then handle chemicals in a well-ventilated area. If you are handling chemicals in a room, open all windows to allow air to move through the room.
• When pipetting or transferring chemical fluids, use a pipette pump, not your mouth, to draw the liquid into the pipette.
• Always have your hand underneath the chemical container when you carry it. Otherwise, it might drop and spill its contents over you.
• Always wash yourself thoroughly after handling chemicals.
• If chemical spills over you, wash it off at once. Some workplaces have a chemical shower that you can use to get cleaned up quickly.
• Don't eat, drink or smoke when you're handling chemicals. You could accidentally swallow some chemicals, or accidentally ignite flammable chemicals if you're smoking.