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Below are the FAQs pertaining to the topic of safety. To view all FAQs by catagory, click here.
The Safety Diamond, or Hazard Diamond, was adopted in 1960 by the US-based NFPA, the National Fire Protection Association, as a quick visual guide to identify the hazards they might be dealing with in a given situation.
Where The Safety Diamond Is used:
Typically, you will find the Diamond displayed on the outside of transportation containers, storage containers, and inside and outside of buildings. You can also find them on product labels and safety data sheets.
Other Systems:
The NFPA Diamond system might be similar to other hazard rating systems, but they are not identical. The United Nation's Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals has their own criteria for the classification of health, physical and environmental hazards which do not necessarily line-up with the NFPA Safety Diamond.
NFPA hazard ratings need to be determined separately and may not align with what the label says.
Reading The Diamond:
The Diamond is broken up into 4 sections:
The left, blue section is for health hazards, rated 0 to 4, where 0 is not hazardous and 4 is the most hazardous.
The top, red section is for flammability, rated 0 to 4, where 0 is not flammable and 4 is highly flammable.
The right, yellow section is for instability, rated 0 to 4, where 0 is stable and 4 is the most unstable.
The bottom, white section is for special hazards, if there are any, and uses a variety of special codes such as "OXY" for "Oxidizer" or "CORR" for "Corrosive."
Conclusion:
The NFPA safety diamond and hazard ratings are their own, and need to be determined separately, which may nor may not align with what is on a product's label.
What is Personal Protective Equipment?
Personal Protective Equipment, commonly referred to as PPE, is anything worn or utilized to minimize exposure to hazardous substances by putting a barrier between the hazard and critical body parts, such as your skin, eyes, nose, and mouth. Some examples of PPE are googles, gloves, gowns, and masks.
Who should wear PPE?
As a best practice, anyone handling any chemical, no matter how safe the chemical may be, should wear some form of PPE. Additionally, any personnel entering an area that requires PPE should protect themselves accordingly.
Is PPE Required?
To know if PPE is required in a facility, check not only with the local, state, and federal regulations, but also the regulations and safety guidelines of that facility.
In the United States, the Department of Labor created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA, which outlines and enforces safe and healthful working conditions for all workers in a workplace. Additionally, OSHA can help your facility create a safety program to help prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.
Conclusion:
All personnel should always wear PPE in a facility that uses chemicals, even if those chemicals have been thoroughly tested and deemed safe for humans and animals. Remember, even though a chemical may be safe, the residue and splash back that can occur by using the chemical can create a hazardous environment.
A product's label provides important information regarding what the product is, any hazards you need to be aware of, and how to use it safely. Labels can wrap around a product's packaging, be split between the front and back of the packaging, and could possibly be folded into a mini book format.
The Front or Main Panel:
The front, or main label, will usually display the product's name, which is a good indicator of what the product is used for.
Depending on the regulations of a country, the front panel might also have a single word like DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION to indicate how dangerous the product is. This is usually paired with an explanation of what the hazard is, such as "eye irritant" or "gas under pressure."
The Back or Other Panels:
The rest of the label will provide usage instructions, such as spraying and wiping, and any other necessary information regarding proper usage.
Most importantly, though, the label will outline any hazardous information you need to know so you can properly protect yourself and your equipment. And, should an injury occur from use of the product, the label will also provide instructions for treatment.
Conclusion:
Reading and following the directions as outlined on the label will ensure you are using the product safely, and reduce potential harm to yourself or the area you are cleaning.
What Is A Safety Data Sheet?
Safety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), are required by most countries, and contain information relating to the health and safety of various products used around, or stored in, the workplace.
Do All Products Need An SDS?
SDS are specific to each country, adhering to the requirements and regulations set up in those countries. While many countries have similar regulations, they are never identical.
If a product does not meet the definition of hazardous for your country, it does not need an SDS. However, many companies will still provide an SDS for their non-hazardous products to make compliance with SDS requirements easier, and to provide other useful information about their products, such as their physical properties.
Can I Use An SDS From The manufacturer's Country?
It is possible to use an SDS from one country to import a product, but for the product to be sold or used in a workplace, a relevant SDS specific to, and in the native language of, your country must first be made available.
Where Do I Get SDS?
SDS can usually be found on the manufacturer's website, but will often be included with every shipment of the product. If you still cannot find the SDS you need, contact the manufacturer; an SDS should be made readily available within 24 hours of your request.
Regulations and Format:
As of 2023, many countries in the world have adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) format for Safety Data Sheets, which consists of 16 sections.
In the United States, SDS are regulated under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, through 29 CFR 1910.1200.
GHS Format Section 1: Identification: Identifies the product name and company contact information.
GHS Format Section 2: Hazards: Discloses the product hazards as established by the regulations of the country of the SDS.
While many countries have similar regulations, they are never identical and can have unique hazard thresholds. The hazards of Section 2 of the SDS should also be found on the product label, unless there is a country specific regulation that says certain products do not need to match the label.
In the USA, consumer goods sold in stores like Home Depot and Walmart are labelled for consumers and home use and do not display the hazards listed in section 2 of the SDS.
GHS Format Section 3: Information on Ingredients: Discloses all ingredients that contribute to the hazard of the product. Not every ingredient in the product must be disclosed, just those that contribute to the hazard of the product, although some companies will choose to disclose more ingredients than necessary for transparency.
GHS Format Section 4: First Aid Measures: Provides first aid information that generally goes into more detail than what you might find on a product label.
GHS Format Section 5: Fire Fighting Measures: Provides information on what to do in case of a fire, such as extinguishing techniques or chemical hazards from the fire.
GHS Format Section 6: Accidental Release Measures: Provides information on what to do in case of a spill, how to contain it, whether or not any protective equipment is needed, and proper cleanup procedures.
GHS Format Section 7: Handling and Storage: Details how to properly store and handle the product.
GHS Format Section 8: Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Lists information on how to protect the worker while handling the product.
GHS Format Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties: Lists the physical properties of the product.
GHS Format Section 10: Stability and Reactivity: Lists important information on how stable the product is and what is required to keep the product stable.
GHS Format Section 11: Toxicological Information: Lists toxicological information for humans.
GHS Format Section 12: Ecological Information: Lists toxicological information for animals or the environment. This information is voluntary and may be blank.
GHS Format Section 13: Disposal Considerations: Describes how to properly dispose of the product. This information is voluntary and may be blank.
GHS Format Section 14: Transport Information: Details how to properly ship your product. This information is voluntary and may be blank.
GHS Format Section 15: Regulatory Information: Lists country-specific regulations that the product must be identified for. This information is voluntary and may be blank.
GHS Format Section 16: Other: Provides any other information, such as terms you need to know, part numbers, NFPA ratings, etc.
