Chemical labels and safety data sheets

Leader: review the source and site procedures before presenting. Adapt this briefing to today’s task and the crew’s language and training needs. This is an original educational talk, not OSHA-issued training or certification.

Start the conversation

Adhesives, cleaners, paints, and solvents may introduce hazards that are easy to overlook. Before opening a product, find out what it is and how it should be handled.

Key talking points

• Read the label and review the safety data sheet for hazards, handling, protective equipment, first aid, and storage information.
• Know how to access the site’s safety data sheets during the shift. Ask for an explanation if a label or instruction is unclear.
• Use the employer’s labeling procedure for transferred chemicals. Do not use an unidentified container or guess its contents from appearance or smell.
• Follow the required ventilation and protective measures. Report spills and use the site response procedure; do not attempt cleanup beyond your training.
• Electrical job example: the crew is using PVC cement and a cleaner supplied in a secondary bottle. Before use, ask a worker to locate the product identification and explain how they would find the matching SDS. An unlabeled bottle is a reason to stop and ask, even if everyone thinks they recognize it.
• Connect the discussion to the actual workspace. A product used in an open laydown yard may need different planning when the task moves into a small room. Have the supervisor review the specified ventilation, nearby activities, and protective measures before the crew changes locations or substitutes a different product.
• Finish by assigning responsibility for storage and end-of-shift cleanup. Discuss how empty containers and contaminated waste are handled under the site procedure. Ask who should be contacted if a worker experiences irritation or a spill occurs; guessing at the cleanup method can create another exposure.

Ask the crew

1. Where can we find the SDS for today’s products?
2. What happens if we find an unlabeled container?

Before work starts

Choose one product in use today and locate its label and SDS with the crew.