Toxic materials are commonly used in numerous industries and applications. Many items people use every day, such as lithium batteries or other similar products, contain potentially hazardous materials and components. Companies that produce, manufacture, store and ship these products must do so in a way that is not harmful. To accomplish this goal, it is important for an employer to identify and enforce best practices when handling toxic substances. The following are a few of these best practices for consideration.
Training and Certification
A company could have numerous employees whose job it is to handle hazardous materials on a routine basis. If a worker fits the definition of a hazmat employee, as indicated by §171.8 of the Hazardous Materials code, such an employee is required to be trained, tested and certified before being allowed to work for the business in this capacity. It is up to the employer to make sure that all their employees who deal with hazardous materials meet this requirement without exception.
Read Labels Carefully
Dangerous accidents happen when employees are not paying close attention to what they are doing. Taking the time to read a label on a container for a toxic substance and being able to determine which safety guidelines should be followed, when using that same substance, is an essential part of avoiding dangerous situations in the workplace. Failure to do this could lead to an employee harming themselves or their coworkers.
Wearing Protective Gear
When it comes to handling toxic substances, an employee’s safety should always be the top concern of the employer. This means all employees should have the required safety gear available to them for use on the job. It is also important for the employer to make certain that employees are actually wearing the safety gear they have been provided. Such precautions will mitigate the dangers of coming in contact with toxic substances in the workplace.
Independent Package Testing
When packing hazardous materials for storage or shipping, it is important to make sure that the packing is done correctly. Otherwise, packages containing hazardous materials could cause harm to others or the environment. This is why a company will want to use a Hazmat Package Testing service to assess the company’s packing approach and its effectiveness. This will help to make absolutely certain that the materials being packed together will not give rise to dangerous problems down the road.
Complying with standards and regulations is essential when handling toxic materials. Failure to do so could create a lot of liability for a company. When employees read and follow safety guidelines, this makes the workplace safer for everyone involved.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
