From regulation to prevention: how companies can better protect their employees from harmful substances

When working in the chemical industry, which is also known for the environment with harmful substances, the safety of employees is paramount. This is also why there are a number of regulations you have to follow – OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), the toxic substances control act (TSCA), globally harmonised system (GHS), and EU REACH regulation, among others.

In short, employers should assess hazardous identification and classification, including putting a danger sign for toxic materials, educating workers through training programs, creating a written hazard communication program, and constantly monitoring and auditing the process.

In this guide, we will look deeper into the companies’ legal obligations in terms of signposting and managing chemical risks, with a practical approach to improving prevention. Read on for more.

Understanding legal obligations

When it comes to legal matters, it is key to understand what you must do as an employer. For instance, HCS requires employers to inform employees about dangerous chemicals through labels, safety data sheets, and training. This is generally applied to chemicals such as acids, solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals like lead and mercury.

At the same time, TSCA regulation helps employees prevent unreasonable health risks. Simply put, it requires a premarket review of new chemicals and restricts harmful substances. Similarly, GHS provides clear instructions for classifying and labeling chemicals (adopted by OSHA and EU), which, in turn, improves communication among all stakeholders.

Thus, the employer’s responsibilities revolve around these key areas: hazard identification and classification, written hazard communication program, safety data sheets, and worker training. Plus, there are also compliance requirements, including regular safety audits, updating safety protocols, and recordkeeping.

Practical approaches to improving prevention

As safety protocols are key in the industry, there are a number of practical approaches that improve the prevention of harmful substances. Here are the most common ones:

Developing a comprehensive chemical management system

The first step is to develop a comprehensive chemical management system, including inventory tracking, digital SDS management, and regular audits and inspections.

For example, you can use barcode technology for efficient compound categorisation and tracking or some software to pull SDS information directly from manufacturers or distributors.

Plus, checklists should be used to identify gaps, such as outdated SDSs or unlabeled containers.

Employee training and engagement

The next thing you should do is educate your employees. This can involve ongoing safety programs and promoting open communication about safety concerns. This way, you can provide regular updates while implementing safety programs and training practices on how to work with dangerous chemicals.

The key is to foster workplace culture, while motivating employees to prioritise safety at all aspects of operations.

Implement best practices

When you seem to have everything under control, it’s always a good idea to continue regular workplace monitoring, adopt safer technologies and alternatives, and improve the safety protocols.

Then, the next step is to leverage the technology to help you out. For example, consider using SaaS-based chemical management solutions, or software that features add-ons like GHS-formatted SDSs, container-level inventory control, and regulatory cross-referencing. Generally, it is recommended to use cloud-based solutions, so you have access to data at all times.

The bottom line

Protecting employees from harmful substances is a multifaceted challenge that requires a comprehensive approach, combining regulatory compliance with practical prevention strategies. Make sure to have a good understanding of regulations like OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

And don’t forget to implement effective chemical management systems, including inventory tracking, digital SDS management, and regular audits, to ensure that workplaces are well-equipped to handle chemical hazards. This way, you will make sure everything runs smoothly and your employers are protected from harmful substances at all times.