Hazardous chemicals

- I think health issues in construction don't get as much attention as safety issues because many times the way things work in construction, our exposure tends to not be as constant as it would be, for instance, in a manufacturing plant where something like exposure to a hazardous chemical may be constant throughout every day's shift. The result is that many times, again, not always, but many times, the health hazard is not immediate. The sickness that can result from exposure to hazardous chemicals may build up over time, maybe even over a long period of time. And the resulting illness may occur far enough in the future that it's not even immediately associated with the construction work that we did in the past. This doesn't, or shouldn't, make health issues any less of a concern and we need to pay attention to things like exposure to hazardous chemicals on our construction sites. In the US, we have regulations that are commonly referred to as right to know regulations that dictate how chemicals are marked and labeled so that we can see and understand the hazards of the material that we're working with or even the materials being used by others that are working next to us on a construction site. Substances like paint, solvents, glues, epoxies, coatings, and cleaning agents will all come with what's commonly referred to as a safety data sheet or an SDS. This sheet is divided into 16 parts and it tells us what hazards are posed by the product, what we need to do to protect ourselves from those hazards, and what first aid measures need to be taken in case of accidental exposure. These sheets also tell us how to store and handle the material, how to clean it up if it's spilled, and what effects it might have on the environment if it gets into the water or food chain. These sheets are incredibly important. Most should be generated and produced according to a system known as the GHS system, or the Globally Harmonized System of Chemical Classification. This globally recognized standard ensures that the safety data sheets all contain the same 16 sections. And that chemical hazards are properly classified and noted in a way that's easy to understand using a standard set of globally recognized symbols to identify those hazards. If you are wondering how to handle a chemical or what personal protective equipment you should be wearing, this is always the place to find it. These sheets will even tell you what route the chemical can take into the body so you understand why certain PPE is required. Sometimes chemicals are hazardous if they're inhaled, others only if they're ingested, and some can be absorbed through the skin. Once you know this information, it really becomes easier to not only protect the people working with the chemical, but it gives you the information that you can use to help plan the overall construction work and the schedule so that you can avoid placing people next to other hazardous operations. Safety data sheets aren't just for liquids or chemicals either. There are solid materials that come with an SDS. particularly if that material's going to be heated or used in a way that could produce dust or fine particles. In this case, the SDS can tell you things like if you weld this particular metal it will produce hazardous fumes. Take the time to look at the hazardous chemicals or products that you might be using or exposed to. Get a copy of that safety data sheet from the supplier. Make sure that sheet represents the actual material that you're using and he the warnings for proper handling, storage, and required personal protective equipment. Believe me, it will pay off later in life to take a few extra steps now to avoid being exposed to chemicals that can cause health issues. If you want to learn more about hazard communication and how to read and interpret safety data sheets, check out my other course here on LinkedIn Learning called Occupational Safety and Health Hazcom.