Trade union strategy revolves around all members having the right to know what chemicals she or he is working with. The workplace should be designed and adapted to the needs of workers, rather than adapting workers to the needs of given technologies. The following steps are recommended.
Survey all chemicals used and make sure the labels comply with the National Occupation Health and Safety Commission's (NOHSC) Guidance Note for the Labelling of Workplace Substances.
Get the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the chemical. The MSDS should tell you:
· what the chemical product is
· health effects
· physical description
· first aid information
· requirements for controlling exposure
· storage and disposal requirements
·
A Chemical Register should be compiled of all chemicals at your workplace.
Risk assessment for each chemical should take place based on the information compiled and how the chemical is used at your workplace. Monitoring of the workplace is also involved.
(based on John Mathews excellent book Health and Safety at Work: A Trade Union Safety Representative's Handbook. 2nd Ed. Pluto Press, 1993)
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