Questions and Answers
Substances can often be mistaken with mixtures, when in fact they are two very separate concepts when it comes to chemistry and hazardous chemicals. The following is a basic comparison of both substances and mixtures: Chemical Substances A chemical substance is defined as a form of matter that has a constant chemical composition and can … Read more
The CAS registry number, also known as a CASRN or simply CAS number, identifies a wide variety of chemical substances with a sequence of random digits. Created by the Chemical Abstracts Service, this unique number can have up to ten digits. There are up to 1 billion number sequences that can be chosen to label … Read more
Originally, CAS numbers weren’t required to appear on Material Safety Data Sheets. Back then, MSDSs were not formatted in a way that allowed for maximum utility. Once OSHA made the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals required for all businesses that handled hazardous chemicals, the chemical information requirements changed rapidly. This improvement … Read more
There isn’t one, but two distinct numbers on a Safety Data Sheet for hazardous chemical identification. Those are the CAS registration number and the SDS ID number (formerly known as the MSDS number). These numbers are not interchangeable! Sometimes these can be mistaken for each other, but in fact they serve very different purposes and … Read more
It’s important for workplaces to safeguard employees and property with fire protection, prevention systems. Buildings have what is called ‘fire load’—a term fire protection professionals use when determining the potential severity of a fire in a building based on the presence of certain hazards—and fire prevention systems are put in place to keep a building’s … Read more
OSHA defines a hazardous chemical as “any chemical which is classified as a physical hazard or a health hazard, a simple asphyxiant, combustible dust, pyrophoric gas, or hazard not otherwise classified.” Furthermore, OSHA clarifies chemical hazards and toxic substances pose a wide range of health hazards (like irritation to the skin) and physical hazards (such … Read more
Material safety data sheets (MSDS) was the required documentation for hazardous chemicals before OSHA aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling (GHS). After its adoption in 2012, businesses that handle, store, and use dangerous chemicals must follow the guidance specified for safety data sheets (SDS). Prior to these major changes in the … Read more
OSHA also encourages employers to train workers about potential fire hazards in the workplace and how to safely respond in the case of a fire emergency—everything from evacuation routes to using firefighting equipment. As part of OSHA’s standard for fire prevention plans, employers are required to inform employees of the fire hazards they will be … Read more
When most people refer to health and safety efforts in the workplace, they primarily target eliminating workplace hazards to keep people safe from harm. However, the World Health Organization directly states that, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This infers that … Read more
According to OSHA’s top ten most cited safety violations in 2020, the most frequently cited electrical violation was the inability to control hazardous energy. In the industrial world, controlling hazardous energy is bundled together with the use of a Lockout Tagout program. Due to the safety implications that electricians and other workers face in electrified … Read more