How to Stay Compliant with Government Chemical Safety Standards
Chemical compliance is a tremendously necessary burden for most industries. The breadth of compliance stretches beyond just the handling of chemicals, though. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem is here to lead you through many of the safety standards to ensure your company recognizes how to keep your employees safe.
The effects of chemicals
Learning how chemicals react in different situations, such as being in the presence of other chemicals, in water, to light, et cetera, is imperative in handling those chemicals. Another factor to consider is the type of reaction: will the chemical explode pyrotechnically or simply overflow the beaker if handled incorrectly? Will it cause a severe burn or a shock? The handling of chemicals is extremely important for each of your employees to understand.
Every chemical has its own guidelines; if your industry focuses on specific chemicals, know those guidelines thoroughly. All guidelines are sent with every chemical and are kept on site in the lab or facility where the chemicals are stored and used. Guidelines are also explained online by looking up the Material Safety Data Sheet for each chemical.
Government safety standards
The Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) focuses on safety and healthful working conditions for all workers. OSHA offers worker education, training, hazardous chemical standards, and more. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) creates and publishes guidelines for those who manufacture, produce, import, export, and handle chemicals.
Training is an essential key for this process at every stage of a chemical’s journey. Bell Chem’s employees and its warehouses meet or exceed all OSHA and other stringent government standards, ensuring the chemical you receive is specifically what you requested and is sent in the safest manner possible.
Occupational exposure
Some chemicals must be handled with personal protective wear, which varies from one chemical to the next. While gloves may be the only PPE for one chemical, another may require a respirator and a vent hood. Even with these precautions, the amount of time spent in the presence of a chemical may affect workers. Ensure your workforce meets all occupational exposure guidelines to keep your employees healthy. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lists Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) to aid in determining the ultimate amount of time your workers can be safely exposed to chemicals.
OSHA believes engineering and work practice controls are the primary factors in reducing toxic chemical exposure. Knowing your chemicals are safe when they enter your facility is the foundation for the remainder of your safety criteria. Rest assured, industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem will only send chemicals that meet or exceed all government regulations.
Bell Chem is your industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.