It’s important never to assume employees know safety protocol when working around chemicals, whether you operate mineral processing services or deal with only specific chemical compounds. An incident involving chemicals could be costly and dangerous, so think about your safety procedures with these 10 points from Chemical Info.

Training has to be offered to all new recruits, covering procedures for dealing with common chemicals and the ways in which they could be exposed to them. However, existing staff should also be given regular top ups on safety practices. Consider also a jargon-busting language course for new recruits, as it can be all too easy to be complacent when being trained by staff who are familiar with the language of the business.

Chemicals can be hard to tell apart, even by experts, so ensure that you label everything. This will prevent incidents by mixing the wrong materials. Material safety data sheets should be kept nearby and employees should consult these for the safe handling of that chemical.

Testing emergency equipment should be a regular task in areas that handle chemicals. Eyewashes could prevent employee blindness if safety gear should fail and fire extinguishers may be required by firefighters should an incident occur.

Avoid clutter and messy workspaces by keeping excess chemicals stored away until needed. Untidy spaces are more likely to cause spills and incorrect mixing.

Employees also need to be encouraged to use safety gear whenever dealing with chemicals. Ensuring safety equipment is kept in sight in an easy to reach place will mean that hopefully workers use it more. Make sure everyone knows where this is.