Using Safer Chemicals

Using safer chemicals is one way to create safer work environments and minimize exposure to hazardous wastes and materials. OSHA has developed a toolkit to help employers transition to using safer chemicals. Because so many chemicals that are used and present in work environments are unregulated or unaccounted for, workers experience more than 190,000 illnesses and more than 50,000 deaths annually as a result of chemical exposure.

OSHA's toolkit outlines seven steps that employers can take to transition to using safer chemicals in the workplace:

• Engage - Form a team to develop a plan. Assemble an internal team to assume responsibility for developing a work plan to transition to using safer chemicals. This team should be made up of individuals who perform a variety of roles in the workplace.
• Inventory and prioritize - Examine current chemical use. Develop an inventory of all chemicals in the workplace, along with their uses and the hazards associated with each. Prioritize the substitution of chemicals based on criteria such as hazard, exposure, risk, regulation potential, established company policies, interests of relevant stakeholders, and substitution potential.
• Identify - Identify alternatives. Once the team has identified chemical substitutions, consider all possible chemical alternatives, material alternatives, process changes, design changes, technological solutions, or other options to eliminate the hazardous chemicals.
• Assess and compare - Assess and compare alternatives. Assess and compare the cost, hazard level, and performance of each of the chemical alternatives.
• Select - Select a safer alternative. Consider the pros and cons of each alternative and select the best option based on cost, hazard level, and performance.
• Test - Pilot the alternative. Test alternatives on a small scale to evaluate their effectiveness before fully transitioning to the chemical substitute.
• Evaluate - Implement and evaluate the alternative. Monitor and evaluate the entire transition to the chemical substitute.

To learn more about Hazardous Waste visit our Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.