Exposures to chemical hazards may result in immediate irritation or injury, or may produce delayed effects. Physical hazards are more likely to result in sudden injury, and generally involve a rapid release of energy. Physical hazards include fire, explosions, compressed gases, high vacuum, and electrical hazards.

As you use or come into contact with chemicals, be aware that they can enter your body through four major routes.

• Inhalation – gases and airborne particulate can be breathed in through your nose or mouth.
• Absorption – chemicals, including dust, smoke or vapors, can enter your body through your skin or eyes.
• Ingestion – chemicals can enter your body through your mouth.
• Injection – chemicals can enter your body through an accidental impact, cut or puncture to your skin.

Signal Words alert the reader to the relative severity of hazard posed by that chemical. There are only two words used as signal words, "Danger" and "Warning." Within a specific hazard class, "Danger" indicates a more severe level of hazard, and "Warning" indicates a less severe level of hazard. There will only be one signal word on the label no matter how many hazards a chemical may have. If a chemical has more than one hazard and one of the hazards warrants a "Danger" signal word, then "Danger" should appear on the label, even if it’s other hazards warrant the "Warning" signal word.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) contain information on potential health hazards associated with exposure to chemicals or other substances that are potentially hazardous. It specifies the composition of a chemical (substance or mixture), identifies hazards, recommends preventive measures (collective and individual) and first aid. In other words, it is a crucial piece of documentation for the health and well-being of consumers.

Explosive Hazard: May explode as a consequence of fire, heat, shock or friction. Chemicals with this label should be kept away from potential ignition sources.

Health Hazard: Short or long term exposure could cause serious long term health effects. Skin contact and ingestion of this chemical should be avoided.

Chemical substances that have the ability to create a physical or health hazard are considered hazardous. Due to their properties chemical hazardous substances may be, but are not limited to being toxic, explosive, flammable, self-reactive, oxidizing, or corrosive.

Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment may include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, or coveralls, vests and full body suits.

A Safety Data Sheet (formerly called Material Safety Data Sheet) is a detailed informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical. It describes the physical and chemical properties of the product. SDSs contain useful information such as toxicity, flash point, procedures for spills and leaks, storage guidelines, and exposure control.

• There are three main sources of information used to convey a chemical’s hazards
• Chemical Manufacturer’s Label : your first source for information about potential hazards, safe work practices and PPE required for a specific chemical.
• Supplemental Hazard Labels: additional supplemental labels are often used to quickly convey hazard information in an easy to read format.
• Safety Data Sheets: Every chemical in the workplace has an SDS. SDS contain more detailed information than labels

SDS Section 8 is designed to help you avoid personal exposure to chemicals in quantities or time periods longer than can be done so safely. It lists the maximum amount of personal exposure that is considered safe and the protective measures that should be used to safely handle the chemical.

The term "health hazard" includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic or highly toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, agents which act on the hematopoietic system, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to provide protection from serious injuries or illnesses. Careful selection and use of adequate PPE should protect individuals involved in chemical emergencies from hazards effecting the respiratory system, skin, eyes, face, hands, feet, head, body, and hearing. No single combination of protective equipment and clothing is capable of protecting against all hazards. Thus PPE should be used in conjunction with other protective methods, including exposure control procedures and equipment.

When working with hazardous materials, it is important to be alert to the specific nature of the dangers that are posed by those materials. This also means it is important to identify and differentiate one hazardous material from another in order to effectively apply precautionary measures.

Hazardous chemical containers must be labeled, tagged or marked with:

1. Product identifier
2. Signal word
3. Hazard and precautionary statements
4. Name and address of chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party

Employers are required to have Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each hazardous chemical that is used in the workplace.

As you use or come into contact with chemicals, be aware that they can enter your body through four major routes.

• Inhalation – gases and airborne particulate can be breathed in through your nose or mouth.
• Absorption – chemicals, including dust, smoke or vapors, can enter your body through your skin or eyes.
• Ingestion – chemicals can enter your body through your mouth.
• Injection – chemicals can enter your body through an accidental impact, cut or puncture to your skin.

A Safety Data Sheet (formerly called Material Safety Data Sheet) is a detailed informational document prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a hazardous chemical. It describes the physical and chemical properties of the product. SDSs contain useful information such as toxicity, flash point, procedures for spills and leaks, storage guidelines, and exposure control.