Safe Chemical Handling Practices

Additional Safety Guidelines

If you have epilepsy, dyslexia, diabetes, or other medical conditions that you think could put you at particular risk, especially when handling chemicals, be sure to notify your immediate supervisor.  This type of information may not be used to discriminate against you in any way, but you will want her/him to know what to do if something should happen to you while working.

Mercury is a “heavy metal poison.”  This means it can enter your body, and will never leave.  Over a lifetime of exposure, eventually a critical level can be reached when the effects of the heavy metal poison sets in, including insanity, uncontrollable shaking and death.  If you find a mercury spill (a liquid that looks like silver), make sure you notify your Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) immediately to have him/her clean it up.  Do NOT attempt to clean it up yourself as it can be absorbed into your body through fumes or through contact with your skin.  Lead is another heavy metal poison, and was commonly used in paint.  Unfortunately, lead also has a sweet flavor; if you are in an older home and notice your children eating the paint, it’s probably because there has been, in the past, lead based paint in your house.  Make sure you get your child to a doctor immediately!