Using the Five Senses for Detecting Hazardous Chemicals

 

Being informed is an important aspect of maintaining workplace safety. Most information on hazardous chemicals will come from the labels and safety data sheets (SDS). These documents will describe the hazardous properties of the chemicals, as well as their appearance, state of matter, and other identifying chemical and physical properties. Being able to recognize and use this information is important for detecting hazardous chemicals in the event of an accident.

How to Safely Use the Five Senses for Detecting Hazardous Chemicals

Human senses can be used to directly identify the presence of hazardous chemicals, from seeing a spill to smelling an odor.

There are some hazardous chemicals that become hazardous to human health before they can be sensed or cannot be sensed at all due to lacking identifying properties such as color or scent. For these types of hazardous chemicals, detection and alarm systems are a vital part of creating a safe work environment. These alarm systems provide humans with an indicator there is a hazard present, often having a combination of flashing lights and loud sounds which can be detected using the senses.

Either through direct observation or through alarm systems, the senses enable situational awareness for workplace safety.

Sight

Sight can be used to detect hazardous chemical leaks and spills.

When working with hazardous chemicals, pay attention to anything that looks out of place or has unexpectedly changed. This can include uncontained material, such as a puddle of liquid or a pile of powder. Look for damaged packaging, such as broken or cracked bottles.

Sight can also be used to notice alarms that have a flashing light or display as part of their warning system.

Hearing

Hearing can be used to detect active leaks.

Listen for sounds that indicate a loss of containment. This can include whistling and hissing noises which indicate gas escaping a cylinder. The sound of breaking glass can indicate a container has broken.

Hearing can also be used to notice alarms that have a loud noise or siren as part of their warning system.

Smell

Some hazardous chemical leaks or spills can be detected by smell.

Hazardous chemicals may have a natural smell such as the pungent, rotten-egg-like odor of hydrogen sulfide. Some hazardous chemicals may have no natural odor but have an odorant added to them to allow for detection by scent, such as odorized natural gas.

Smell should never be used as the primary means of identifying a chemical that is classified as hazardous due to being a respiratory hazard or one having an airborne contaminant limit.

Touch

Touching a hazardous chemical is, generally, a negative occurrence. Hazardous chemicals can be hazardous due to being irritating, corrosive, or otherwise damaging to the skin. Touching hazardous chemicals can also spread them to other areas that would have otherwise remained uncontaminated.

Touch should never be used as the primary means of identifying a hazardous chemical. If a hazardous chemical is touched with bare skin, the response instructions provided in the first aid section of the SDS should be followed.

Taste

Tasting a hazardous chemical is, generally, a very negative occurrence. Hazardous chemicals can be hazardous due to oral toxicity. Even chemicals that are not lethal can still make an individual ill by ingesting a small amount.

Taste should never be used as the primary means of identifying a hazardous chemical. If a hazardous chemical is ingested, the response instructions provided in the first aid section of the SDS should be followed.