Open HSI menu
Subscribe Login

Home / Articles and Press Releases / Article / Common Hazardous Substances and Safety Equipment Requirements

CATEGORIES

  • Latest Issue
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat and Flame
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Wellbeing at Work
  • Working at Height
  • Working Rights

MORE

  • Press Releases
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Magazines

COMPANY

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Open HSI menu
Subscribe

Home / Articles and Press Releases / Article / Common Hazardous Substances and Safety Equipment Requirements

CATEGORIES

  • Latest Issue
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat and Flame
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Wellbeing at Work
  • Working at Height
  • Working Rights

MORE

  • Press Releases
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Magazines

COMPANY

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

CATEGORIES

  • Article
  • Press Release
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat and Flame
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Wellbeing at Work
  • White Papers
  • Working at Height
  • Working Rights

Article

Common Hazardous Substances and Safety Equipment Requirements

By Hughes Safety

| Read Bio

Published: August 19th, 2021

Share this article

Every year, thousands of workers are injured or suffer ill effects due to hazardous substances. Employers are responsible for taking effective measures to control exposure to these substances and to ensure proper procedures are in place in the event of a spill or splash.

Common hazardous substances and safety equipment requirements

There is a wide range of chemicals that can be hazardous to workers health. If a substance is harmful, they will be clearly labelled with the relevant hazard symbol(s). Common materials in everyday use such as paint, bleach, solvent, or fillers are all considered hazardous.

Chemical suppliers must provide a safety data sheet which can help users understand how to control the hazardous substance and prepare for any spills or splashes. The information contained in a safety data sheet should be in a user-friendly 16-section format and include: properties of the chemical (including recommended use and any restrictions on use) the physical, health, and environmental health hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions for storing, handling and transporting the chemical.

They also include a section displaying the safety pictograms for the substance, for example;

Common hazardous substances and safety equipment requirements

Always ensure you read the full safety data sheet carefully and follow the recommendations within. It should not replace the need for a risk assessment and should only be used to guide your own thorough evaluation.

Hughes supply to numerous industries, here we’ve outlined some of the most common hazardous substances they encounter. It is clear to see why safety showers and/or eye washes are a necessity in these environments.

Common hazardous substances and safety equipment requirements

Standard considerations

In the chemical SDS, under first aid in the event of a spill or splash, it may mention flushing with a ‘large amount of water’. Some may specify an amount of time, usually 15 minutes. European and international standards do recommend the full 15 minutes of flushing to ensure a full decontamination.

Both EN15154 and ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 provide uniform minimum requirements for the performance, use, installation, testing, maintenance and training of emergency safety shower and eyewash equipment.

As hazardous chemicals can be used in a variety of locations across sites, it’s important to be aware of the requirement from EN and ANSI standards that safety showers must be placed within 10 seconds reach (or 15 metres) of a hazard to minimise injury.

Take a look at our standards summary documents for an easy to digest run-down of the main recommendations.

Which safety showers or eye/face wash units suit your site?

  • Emergency tank showers are the simplest solution for meeting standards as they can provide water at the correct pressure and temperature even in remote locations. Immersion heated tank showers maintain the water at a tepid temperature in cold climates. For hot climates, cooling systems can be fitted so the water doesn’t heat up from the solar radiation.
  • Freeze protected safety showers are designed for locations with low ambient temperatures to prevent the water in the safety shower from freezing rendering it inoperable in the event of an emergency and damaging the unit.
  • Temperature controlled safety showers have an integral heated water tank for areas where there is no access to hot water. They can also be used as a warm water source to feed other emergency shower units in the local vicinity.
  • Self-draining safety showers are an alternative solution for hot climates. The standing water in the self-draining showers is allowed to drain away from the standpipe to ensure it doesn’t heat up in the sun.
  • Eye/face wash units should be placed where there is a high risk of splashes of chemicals resulting in eye injuries. They can also be used in conjunction with nearby safety showers to allow varied decontamination depending on the situation.

Don’t forget, if you run a workplace where harmful materials are, the law requires you to control the use of those chemicals. Ensure you assessed the risks in the storage, handling and implementation of the substances so that you can apply and maintain effective control measures.

For advice on the most suitable solution for your application or to request a quote, contact us today.

Share this article

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hughes Safety

Established in 1968, Hughes have built a reputation for innovative engineering design, stringent quality standards and compliance with European and International standards.

You’re in safe hands with Hughes Safety Showers.

Visit Website

POPULAR POSTS BY Hughes Safety

Chemicals banner 1 - hsi -

Article

Common Hazardous Substances and Safety Equipment Requirements

6 factors article banner - hsi -

Article

Six Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Safety Shower

Quality banner - hsi -

Article

Quality is our Watchword

Ready for winter banner 1 1 - hsi -

Article

Are Your Safety Showers Ready For Winter?

Hughes jrsg 1 0 0 600 900 1 - hsi -

Press Release

Managing the Risk of Legionella

Printing 2159700 1920banner 1 331 0 707 1259 - hsi -

Press Release

Protecting People in the Printing Industry

Get email updates

Sign up for the HSI newsletter

Keep up-to-date through the power of email with Europe's largest audited safety magazine - delivering the latest news and products to satisfy all your occupational safety needs.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Article

 Thameslink Traffic Management Programme

Press Release

‘Working At Height’ Remains Biggest Danger

Press Release

“Uncertainty and Ignorance” Risks More Asbestos Deaths

Advertisement

SOCIAL MEDIA

HSI on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/HSIMagazine/

Advertisement

SOCIAL MEDIA

HSI on Twitter

hsimagazine HSI Magazine @hsimagazine ·
29 Mar

Accidents in the workplace can happen at any time. While the consequences and outcomes of these incidents are fairly straightforward to see, establishing who is liable for accidents can be a little more challenging.
https://www.hsimagazine.com/press-release/accidents-in-the-workplace-who-is-responsible/

#hsimagazine #workplacesafety

Reply on Twitter 1641038324226818048 Retweet on Twitter 1641038324226818048 Like on Twitter 1641038324226818048 1 Twitter 1641038324226818048

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE

Stay up to date with our newsletter

    • Keep up-to-date with Europe’s largest audited safety magazine

 

    • Delivering the latest news and products to satisfy all your occupational safety needs

 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe

SUBSCRIBE TO HSI MAGAZINE

5 reasons to subscribe to our digital and print package

  • Stay up to date from anywhere in the world, with instant access to the latest issue straight from your phone, tablet or laptop.
  • Trust that you’re getting the best content from our range of internationally accredited authors.
  • Get full access to our archives and see how occupational safety has evolved with us over the years.
  • Enjoy our monthly newsletter curated with up-to-the-minute news and a selection of editor’s top picks.
  • Hot off the press and straight to your door – look forward to your own glossy copy of HSI, delivered five times a year
Subscribe View Subscription levels

STAY SAFE & INFORMED

Subscribe to the best health & safety articles, news, products and regulations

Find out more

Stay up to date with our newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ABOUT

  • About HSI International
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

YOUR ACCOUNT

Sign In Register Account Subscribe to HSI

RESOURCES

Request Media Pack

CONNECT

ACCREDITATIONS

Copyright Bay Publishing 2023. All Rights reserved.

Designed & Built by:
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT