How to Handle Toxic Chemicals

Toxic chemicals can cause health problems, ranging from skin irritations and allergies to life threatening acute reactions such as organ failure. 

Depending on the toxicity level, chemicals can do serious damage to living tissue and organ systems. Some accumulate over a long period (months or years) and may trigger serious illnesses such as lung cancer. That means handling toxic chemicals requires great care. 

Continue reading to understand how to handle toxic chemicals, including taking the following precautions:

• Never inhale the dust, fumes or vapours given off by toxic chemicals
• Thoroughly wash your hands and any other body parts exposed to the chemicals
• Wear proper protective equipment 
• Store toxic chemicals in their original containers or containers designed for them
• Always use proper labels and safety data sheets (SDS)

Key Takeaways

Toxic chemicals can be classified into different categories

There are different levels of toxicity and effects of toxic chemicals

Handling toxic chemicals requires safety measures such as wearing proper PPE

You must follow proper storage protocols to avoid accidents

Similarly, follow the proper procedures and precautions for transporting toxic chemicals

Training employees and complying with regulations is essential

What Are Toxic Chemicals?

Toxic chemicals are substances that can cause sickness or death. They can damage tissues and organ systems, either in a chronic or acute way, and by either long-term exposure or one-time massive exposure.

The damage from toxic chemicals can be superficial, affecting only the skin and hair for example, or it could be internal, affecting the respiratory, digestive, excretory, nervous, or any other organ systems.

Toxic chemicals can be either mild or severely toxic, or somewhere in between. They may accumulate in the tissues, such as the fat tissue, or may directly attack specific cells by binding to their receptors, interrupting normal functions by blocking certain processes.

For example, the toxic chemical cyanide kills by preventing cells from using oxygen, and cells die due to oxygen deprivation. This happens when the cyanide interrupts the mitochondrial electron transport chain within the cells, rendering the cells unable to derive energy via cellular respiration. 

Common Types of Toxic Chemicals

Toxic chemicals can be classified into different categories – these may vary depending on your country or territory, or even upon your industry or specific company. However, toxic chemicals can be broadly classified into six groups:

• Fluorinated substances
• Antimicrobials
• Flame retardants
• Plasticisers and endocrine disruptors
• Solvents
• Heavy metals

Some of these chemicals are carcinogens and take time to have serious effects.

Handling Toxic Chemicals

Handling toxic chemicals requires special protective clothing and proper storage and transportation.

Spillage and direct contact with any body part must be avoided, including toxic chemicals in vapour form. 

If accidents occur, proper protocols such as evacuation, cleanup, and first aid must be strictly followed. 

All safety precautions must be taken, including things like the installation of emergency showers, fire sprinkler systems, and chemical neutralising systems.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The type of personal protective equipment or PPE that needs to be worn by workers in handling toxic chemicals depend on several factors. 

The level of toxicity and hazardous effects of the chemical are primary factors. Many companies that handle highly toxic chemicals nowadays use robotic systems and automated machines during manufacturing processes, meaning that employees can remotely monitor them rather than be in direct contact with the chemical. 

However, when it is necessary to directly handle toxic chemicals, specialised PPE such as hazmat suits with breathing apparatuses should be used.

How To Store Toxic Chemicals

Toxic chemicals should be segregated based on their potential reactions. Chemicals that are highly reactive with each other should not be stored in the same shelf or room. Accidental mixing may result in explosion or fire. 

Here are some examples: 

Containers of toxic chemicals should be stored on shelves that are at or below eye-level so they are easily accessible. Never store chemical containers on the floor, window ledges, or balconies, or anywhere they may be accidentally spilled or kicked. 

Always make sure that the containers are properly labelled, and with accompanying SDS. 

Toxic chemical containers should be closed and properly sealed unless you are dispensing or refilling them. Store the chemicals in a properly ventilated room. Some chemicals may require special internal climate control in terms of humidity and temperature.

Transporting Toxic Chemicals

Similarly to storing toxic chemicals, you must strictly follow specific protocols when transporting these substances. 

For example, incompatible chemicals should be segregated to avoid possible explosive reactions (see table above). The chemicals must be transported in their specialised original containers with proper labelling. The transport you use must be equipped with safety systems and must have internal climate control when necessary, and the drivers should be licensed to transport toxic chemicals – like the ADR couriers we use at ReAgent, for example.

Training Staff & Compliance

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulation and implementation authority in the UK when it comes to handling toxic chemicals. 

Many of its regulatory requirements follow EU and/or international standards. Employee training must be comprehensive and regularly maintained to ensure that information and protocols are kept up to date.

What Should Employee Training Include?

Employee training should cover PPE and how to properly use it, chemical handling protocols based on the SDS, the globally harmonised system of classifying and labelling chemicals (GHS), the proper storage of hazardous chemicals, transportation of toxic chemicals, and risk management and policies. 

Employees must have clear understanding of the following:

• The hazards and risks involved
• The limit of exposure at the workplace
• Results of monitoring exposures
• Health-related information based health surveillance
• First aid and proper response, such as containment during spillage

Access to Chemical First Aid Kit

First aid kits for chemical exposure must be easily accessible to all, and there should be workplace first aiders on site at all times. Even better, every employee should know how to apply first aid in specific situations. 

Conclusion

When handling toxic chemicals, you must strictly follow safety protocols. These protocols cover PPE, storage, handling, and transportation. There should also be proper safety facilities in your workplace, and regular training should be conducted to prepare employees for any toxic chemical accidents.