Just like fish, birds and other animals, human beings are reliant on their environment for healthy physical functioning. When people are exposed to chemicals and hazardous wastes, they can become very sick and even die.
If your industry involves producing, storing or handling hazardous wastes, it’s essential that you take steps to protect your employees from unhealthy exposure. Working with hazardous materials can be safe if you have the proper employee training and safety procedures in place.
Dangers of Handling Hazardous Materials
When employees are exposed to a poisonous or reactive substance, they can experience serious side effects:
- Cancer
- Genetic mutations
- Reproductive damage
- Chronic illness
- Death
Hazardous waste materials are essentially poisonous, so exposure can cause serious illness. If hazardous materials ignite or explode, they can cause physical harm or death. Employees can be exposed to hazardous materials by breathing polluted air or coming into physical contact with toxins.
There are two kinds of hazardous waste exposure — acute and chronic. Acute exposure happens once, while chronic exposure happens over a period of time. Both types of exposure can be extremely serious, causing injury and even death for people who are exposed.
How to Protect Employees From Hazardous Materials in the Workplace
In some industries, hazardous chemicals cannot be avoided in the workplace. Implementing safety protocols and teaching employees how to handle hazardous materials is essential for company productivity and employee safety.
Proper Labeling
All chemicals and other hazardous materials must be clearly labeled so it’s easy for employees to identify them. Hazardous waste signage follows regulatory requirements from the following groups:
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
When hazardous materials are being transported, they must be clearly labeled according to DOT requirements. Hazardous materials in the workplace use OSHA labels to keep employees safe during their workflow. When it’s time to dispose of hazardous waste materials, employers must follow EPA guidelines.
Proper labeling can protect your employees at the workplace and ensure hazardous materials are disposed of properly so they don’t negatively impact the environment. Labeling is a small but impactful step you can take to safely handle dangerous materials.
Employee Training
Employee training is key to ensuring safety while using toxic chemicals, explosive substances and other dangerous materials. Your employees should be trained to understand what a hazardous substance is, how to interact with it safely and what to do if they’re accidentally exposed to it.
A broad definition of hazardous materials includes any substance that could cause harm to people, animals or the environment. However, the EPA lists four particular characteristics of hazardous materials:
- Ignitability
- Corrosivity
- Reactivity
- Toxicity
Although some substances don’t reflect these characteristics on their own, they become hazardous when mixed with other substances. When employees are exposed to a dangerous substance, the type of hazardous material, length of exposure and their level of personal protective equipment (PPE) affect how it impacts their health.
Not every type of toxin requires the same kind of PPE. While some employees might need respirators and hazmat suits, others may be fully protected with safety glasses and gloves. It’s your responsibility as an employer to ensure your staff has the training and PPE they need for a safe working environment.
Careful Storage
Accidents can happen if hazardous materials are improperly stored. Safe storage is key to protecting your employees from harm until hazardous waste can be disposed of safely. One important part of safe storage is proper labeling.
Another important consideration is the type of storage containers you use. Ignitable hazardous waste should be stored in flame-proof cabinets or containers. Toxins that could be released into the air should be stored in airtight containers that prevent contamination.
When you store hazardous materials, you should always note the date you started storing them. Some materials can only be stored legally for a certain period before you’re required to dispose of them properly.
Emergency Preparedness
Even with proper safety precautions for hazardous materials, accidents can happen. If you are prepared, potential accidents won’t be as serious or widespread. There are a few things you can do to prepare for a hazardous waste accident in your facility:
- Set up eyewash stations
- Store absorbent rolls and pads
- Create an emergency evacuation plan
The right steps to take depend on your industry and the materials your employees work with. Emergency washing stations are necessary if a chemical could get into an employee’s eye or onto their skin.
Absorbent rolls and pads can help employees quickly mop up a hazardous waste spill before it causes more damage. It’s also always good practice to have an emergency evacuation plan to get your employees out of an unsafe situation. Your facility should practice the plan to ensure it’s effective before you need it.
Waste Management Plan
In addition to proper storage, you should have a plan for safe disposal of all hazardous waste materials. Reducing hazardous waste in the workplace will make this plan simpler. It’s important to follow all official regulations for waste disposal to protect the environment.
If hazardous materials are improperly disposed of in a regular landfill, they can eventually seep into the water and air, causing pollution. These chemicals can devastate local ecosystems, harm wildlife, and make their way into our food and water supplies.
An official waste management plan ensures your employees understand and follow all safety requirements regarding the disposal of toxic materials. Proper disposal keeps everyone safe and reduces accident risk by regularly removing hazardous materials from your facility.
Contact Chem Klean Corporation for Hazardous Waste Removal
At Chem Klean Corporation, we offer professional hazardous and non-hazardous waste removal services in Florida. Our primary service areas include Miami, Palm Beach, Broward and Monroe, but we serve the entire state. We offer scheduled and emergency clean-up services.
We work hard to ensure our service turn-around times are 24 to 48 hours so businesses get the support they need as quickly as possible. Our cost-effective solutions follow all local, state and federal waste removal regulations.
Chem Klean Corporation is dedicated to keeping the environment clean and people healthy through safe waste removal. We make hazardous waste removal simple and convenient for your business. Contact us today to learn how we can support you with waste removal services!
