Safe Use Of Cleaning Chemicals

As a supervisor it is vital that all workers be trained in dealing with chemicals regardless of how safe they may seem. They should be informed of their right to know what is in the products they are exposed to on a daily basis. This is the law both at federal and state level in every case I know of. Although one time exposure to a seemingly innocuous product may be OK, long term exposure may never have been studied. Workers should:

1. Understand the labels and SDS information for every product they use or could be exposed to. 

2. Be advised of any operations (carpet cleaning, stripping/recoating) in their area that could expose them to products that they do not normally use.

3. Be trained in how to deal with spills and possible exposure of chemicals to others so that appropriate steps are taken to protect the health of all involved. 

4. All communications and training should be to verify they actually understand the chemicals, safe use and terminology including “hazardous” and “SDS” (formerly MSDS).

a. Hazardous meant to what degree there is the potential for injury or harm from exposure to the chemical in question.

b. SDS (Safety Data Sheet) or MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) provides specific information regarding the hazards, characteristics, recommended protection, safe handling and other precautions. 

Remember that all employees are different and may have differing sensitivities to chemicals. This can include eye and skin irritation, breathing difficulties and illnesses including kidney damage or even cancer. Please note the preceding is suggestive only since regulations will vary by government entity. It is highly recommended that reader consult with local SME (subject matter experts) on any safety related topic and use the preceding as a starting point. 

Go to www.osha.gov for more information or use a search engine for local and state regulations. 

Your comments and questions are always welcome. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean…..

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678.314.2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.