Setting your business’s health and safety standards is important, no matter what that business is.
Your business involves dealing with, manufacturing, storing, transporting, or otherwise handling hazardous materials, whether they are directly toxic or risk contamination. This risk requires special consideration. As such, we will look at the range of ways you can mitigate the risks they might pose.
Key Takeaways
- Make sure your team has the right protective equipment like gloves, goggles, and masks when handling dangerous materials.
- Put up clear signs in areas where hazardous substances are handled or stored to remind workers to be careful.
- Label all containers properly with warnings about the risks of what’s inside them.
- Store toxic materials in special designated spaces that are dry, calm, and have good airflow. Check storage areas regularly for any problems.
- Pay attention to air quality and ventilation in workplaces that frequently deal with hazardous substances to protect workers’ health.
Ensure you have PPE at the ready.
First, you have to ensure that your team has the PPE required for the hazardous materials they are handling. This can include goggles, gloves, face masks, aprons, and even full-body hazmat suits, if necessary. You have to decide the realistic threat level that hazardous materials present and err on the side of caution regarding how much PPE you should have on hand.
Call attention to them as much as you can
Signage can also play a vital role in ensuring the safety of any hazardous material handling. You should have signs for any area where these materials are expected to be handled or stored regularly so you can ensure that your team members approach that area with the appropriate level of vigilance beyond that, accurate labeling of the various containers and storage areas, and describing the risk that the materials within pose can remind your team of he multiple steps they have to take to mitigate those risks.
Find your designated storage.
Effective, secure, and safe storage is vital for any workplace that regularly contains hazardous materials. The materials should be stored in designated spaces marked as such and kept dry, calm, and well-ventilated. Your storage spaces should be inspected periodically to ensure any leaks, contamination, or other issues are addressed immediately.
Be mindful of air quality.
Some hazardous materials do not require touching to pose a risk. However, some can affect air quality, posing a real danger to anyone who breathes in their particles. As such, you may need to invest in equipment like fume hoods, which can contain any hazardous material that could affect air quality and filter out the harmful airborne particles they give off. Wearing face masks around them is still recommended, but you can mitigate the risk significantly.
Continuously train your team.
If your workplace sees you handling hazardous materials frequently, it’s important to never let your team grow complacent and ensure that they don’t forget the threat that these materials can cause through professional training. For instance, make sure that you crack down on anyone eating or drinking while handling hazardous materials and ensure they wash their hands after handling them each time.
Many eCommerce businesses handle things like medical supplies, chemicals, and more. As such, if you do, you need to be fully aware of what you can do to prevent the health risks they may pose.
Essential Industry Insights for Further Reading
- OSHA Hazardous Materials Safety Guidelines: Official safety recommendations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for working with dangerous substances.
- CDC Chemical Safety Resources: Helpful information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about protecting workers from chemical hazards.
- EPA Pesticide Safety Training Materials: Training guides from the Environmental Protection Agency on safely handling pesticides and other toxic chemicals in the workplace.
