How To Safely Handle Hazardous Materials at Work

Many businesses handle hazardous materials, including waste and chemicals, and everyone in the workplace should know how to safely handle them. Aside from keeping workers safe, developing comprehensive measures to reduce risks and prevent workplace accidents is also a big part of keeping costs down. Here’s how to safely handle hazardous materials at work, with practical strategies to prevent accidents that can interfere with daily tasks.

Understand the Risks

Begin by listing all the hazardous materials handled by your company, and note their inherent risks. Look for chemicals, biological agents, and other substances that pose significant health and safety threats. From chemical burns to fires to contamination of the ecosystem, understanding such risks allows safety personnel to implement appropriate strategies and precautions.

Use Proper Equipment and Tools

Ensure that all hazardous materials are stored in the right containers properly labeled, and separated from other reactive substances. Employ those measures and back them up with alarm systems, working ventilation systems, and other protective measures. Purchase and provide hazmat tools such as spill kits, containment barriers, wearable personal protective equipment (PPE), and absorbent materials in nearby, easy-to-access lockers.

Provide Comprehensive Training

Employee training is vital with hazmat storage because smart and informed employees are safe employees who can keep both the workplace and fellow workers safer. Schedule and offer comprehensive training. It will empower your team to wisely manage materials, comply with industry regulations, and prevent downtime.

Focus training on the following:

• Employees must know proper handling procedures. Provide training on how to store, transport, and dispose of hazardous materials to avoid accidents or spills.
• Workers should be versed in emergency response protocols and prepared to handle incidents through containment, emergency evacuation, and communication during an event.
• Employees should understand when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, respirators, and other tools to minimize exposure risks. Perform hands-on drills that test how employees handle setting up the PPE.
• Employees should be able to recognize and classify different types of hazardous materials. Familiarize them with proper labeling and segregation practices.

Conduct Routine Inspections and Audits

Regular audits and inspections help to reveal weaknesses in your storage and containment systems and identify areas for improvement. Maintain records and safety checklists to ensure OSHA and other regulations are followed—and pay attention to any updates to those rules.

That’s a quick breakdown of how to safely handle hazardous materials at work. Prioritize safety and vigilance in your workplace in addition to health and compliance. Working together, you and your employees can ensure a safer environment inside and outside of your facility.