CHEMICAL
Hazard description
Exposure to chemicals in the workplace can cause detrimental effects on human body. The three major routes of exposure are by:
- inhalation
- skin
- ingestion
The terms “acute” toxicity (short term-exposures: improper handling of the chemical, spill, leak…) and “chronic“ toxicity (repeated exposures over a long period of time) are used to delineate between effects on the basis of severity or duration.
Most chemicals can cause both acute and chronic toxicity depending on the conditions of exposure.
Controlling chemical risk requires good management of chemicals and therefore knowledge of the product used.
Do not manipulate chemical products for which you are not sure of the toxicity and use: in case of doubt do not hesitate to contact HSE experts.
Contact
CERN Safety Rules and related documents
The CERN Safety documents concerning the chemical hazards are the following:
- Safety Regulation (SR-C): Chemical Agents
- General Safety Intruction (GSI):
- Safety Instructions (IS):
- Safety Guidelines:
- SG C-0-0-1: Identification of hazardous chemical agents
- SG C-0-0-2: Chemical risk assessment (Inhalation)
- SG C-0-0-3: Safe Handling and Storage of Lead at CERN
- SG C-0-0-4: REACH
- SG C-0-0-5: Safe handling and disposal of nanomaterials
- SG C-1-0-1: Storage of hazardous chemical agents
- SG C-1-0-2: Chemical protective gloves
- SG C-1-0-3: Practical guide for users of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems
- SG C-2-0-1: Explosion protection measures
- SG C-2-0-2: Identification and prevention of explosion hazards
- SG C-2-0-3: Practical guide for classification of hazardous areas
- Safety Forms (SF)
- SF C-0-0-1: Chemical risk assessment
- SF C-0-0-2: Nanomaterial Risk Assemment
- SF C-1-0-2: Chemical inventory
- SF C-1-0-3: Test of safety shower/eyes washes
- SF C-1-0-4: Respirator use
- SF C-2-0-1: Explosion risk assessment
- SF C-2-0-2: Classification of hazardous areas
- SF C-2-0-3: Declaration/Cancellation of the use of the flammable gas in an experimental area
- SF C-3-0-1: Exposure Form for hazardous chemicals and CMR
Other documents related to Chemical Hazards:
- Fiche de bonnes pratiques HSE: Manipuler, stocker et évacuer vos produits chimiques
- Feuillet d’information TE: Comment éliminer les déchets chimiques?
- Feuillet d’information TE: Usinage de matériaux composites à base de fibres de verre
- Procedure SCE: Chemical waste
Training courses
On the CERN’s Learning Hub:
Chemical Hazard and labelling
Chemical products must be labelled according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Labels are available from the CERN store.
CERN Chemical Register for Environment, Health and Safety
CERES is a single web interface database with all Safety information on solid, liquid and gaseous chemicals.
The concerned chemicals are the following:
- Chemicals falling under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (having a hazard statement)
- Chemicals not falling under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 but representing a hazard for the safety and health of persons
- Other liquid chemicals having a quantity above 100kg
CERES also performs automatic risk calculation and implements an automatic notification system that helps keeping chemical records up-to date.
