Staying safe is a deliberate act. Without making a conscious effort to keep our homes and workplaces hazard-free, conditions can get out of control and catch us unaware, sometimes with dire results.
Inattention is a major factor in many accidents, and all of us at the City of Carlsbad want you to stay safe.
For that reason, I want to talk to you about hazardous materials in the workplace. I know you're probably saying to yourself right about now, "Oh, I don't have to worry about that. I'm not a manufacturer. I don't use any hazardous materials at my business."
I have a hunch that if you opened a cabinet or utility closet at your business right now, you'd find anywhere from three to five chemicals stored there, and that one of them has been there so long you can't remember why you got it.
Your Carlsbad fire safety team advises that its good practice to know what chemicals you're storing at your business, and to dispose of the ones you no longer need before they cause an accident. Any amount of chemicals above five gallons is too much, unless it's necessary for your regular activities.
Any type of chemical can be hazardous if there's too much of it, or if its not properly stored and contained.
And while one particular chemical may be only mildly dangerous by itself, it may become lethal when it's mixed with another agent.
Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in chlorine bleach, reacts chemically with ammonia, vinegar, drain cleaners and other acids to release a toxic gas, which, in large amounts, can sear your lungs, burn your eyes and cause other ill effects.
Bleach is only one common chemical that has hidden hazards. Gasoline, acetone, paint thinners and similar products are so flammable that you're not allowed to have more than five gallons of them on hand, unless you have a permit and you store them in a flammable-liquids storage cabinet.
Never transfer a chemical from its original container to another, because the label holds useful and vital information, such as what not to mix with that product, or what to do if the substance spills or comes into contact with someone's skin or eyes. The label also will instruct you on safety measures, and often lists a toll-free phone number for you to call for information on that substance.
You should also know a product by more than its brand name.
Read the ingredients to find out what's really inside the bottle, and be careful about how you store such materials. Don't put them in rooms accessible to the public, and keep them out of reach of children.
If you have too much of the substance on hand, or you no longer need it, dispose of it properly. Don't flush it down the toilet or dump it into a storm drain, as that can be harmful to people and wildlife.
Locations in Oceanside and Vista accept hazardous waste from Carlsbad residents for free. Information on their locations is on the City of Carlsbad website, www.carlsbadca.gov/trash.
The city also hosts an annual household hazardous waste collection event each spring, and offers pick up service for a small fee.
If you have any questions about something you have at your place of business, please contact your City of Carlsbad fire safety specialists at 760-931-2141, or [email protected].
Inattention is a major factor in many accidents, and all of us at the City of Carlsbad want you to stay safe.
For that reason, I want to talk to you about hazardous materials in the workplace. I know you're probably saying to yourself right about now, "Oh, I don't have to worry about that. I'm not a manufacturer. I don't use any hazardous materials at my business."
I have a hunch that if you opened a cabinet or utility closet at your business right now, you'd find anywhere from three to five chemicals stored there, and that one of them has been there so long you can't remember why you got it.
Your Carlsbad fire safety team advises that its good practice to know what chemicals you're storing at your business, and to dispose of the ones you no longer need before they cause an accident. Any amount of chemicals above five gallons is too much, unless it's necessary for your regular activities.
Any type of chemical can be hazardous if there's too much of it, or if its not properly stored and contained.
And while one particular chemical may be only mildly dangerous by itself, it may become lethal when it's mixed with another agent.
Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in chlorine bleach, reacts chemically with ammonia, vinegar, drain cleaners and other acids to release a toxic gas, which, in large amounts, can sear your lungs, burn your eyes and cause other ill effects.
Bleach is only one common chemical that has hidden hazards. Gasoline, acetone, paint thinners and similar products are so flammable that you're not allowed to have more than five gallons of them on hand, unless you have a permit and you store them in a flammable-liquids storage cabinet.
Never transfer a chemical from its original container to another, because the label holds useful and vital information, such as what not to mix with that product, or what to do if the substance spills or comes into contact with someone's skin or eyes. The label also will instruct you on safety measures, and often lists a toll-free phone number for you to call for information on that substance.
You should also know a product by more than its brand name.
Read the ingredients to find out what's really inside the bottle, and be careful about how you store such materials. Don't put them in rooms accessible to the public, and keep them out of reach of children.
If you have too much of the substance on hand, or you no longer need it, dispose of it properly. Don't flush it down the toilet or dump it into a storm drain, as that can be harmful to people and wildlife.
Locations in Oceanside and Vista accept hazardous waste from Carlsbad residents for free. Information on their locations is on the City of Carlsbad website, www.carlsbadca.gov/trash.
The city also hosts an annual household hazardous waste collection event each spring, and offers pick up service for a small fee.
If you have any questions about something you have at your place of business, please contact your City of Carlsbad fire safety specialists at 760-931-2141, or [email protected].