HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Hazardous substances are dangerous. How dangerous depends on the type of substance, what it is made of, the way it enters the body, and the amount of substance that enters the body.

Your workplace may use a lot of different hazardous substances. Some may be things you see every day such as wood dust, paint, dyes, glue, fibre glass, resins, cleaning liquid and powders.

Harm to health may occur suddenly, such as dizziness, nausea and itchy eyes or skin; or it may occur gradually over years, such as dermatitis or cancer. Some people can be more susceptible than others.

We use hazardous substances almost every day of our lives. It may be antiseptic for a cut, paint for the walls, or a cleaning product or solvent. They may seem harmless, but even these ordinary things can make you very sick if they are used incorrectly.

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides detailed information on a hazardous substance. It gives more details than a label. MSDSs are provided for your employer by the manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous substances.

It is important that hazardous substances in workplaces are used according to:

• the manufacturer or supplier's written instructions, (the MSDS); and
• agreed safe work procedures.

How to obtain first aid treatment for hazardous substances should be part of your training.

Remember:

• follow safe work procedures;
• always correctly wear the appropriate safety equipment provided by your employer;
• do not eat, drink or smoke while working with a hazardous substance;
• do not keep food or drink near the substance;
• wash your hands and face and other exposed areas with soap and water before going to the toilet or eating and drinking; and
• read the MSDS.

It is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with safe work procedures for handling hazardous substances and to provide information, training and supervision.