Chemical Hazards


When chemicals are not handled and stored correctly, they can cause injury, illness, disease, death, fire, explosions, or property damage. Chemical hazards can be solids, liquids, or gases (e.g., mists, vapors, dusts, fumes, etc.). Both commercial and domestic chemicals can be hazardous.

Examples of agricultural chemical hazards include
  • corrosive cleaning products,
  • oil-based paints,
  • asbestos,
  • fertilizers,
  • herbicides, pesticides, and
  • vaccines or medications.

 
Image Source: Pexels

NOTE: Pesticides are not included in WHMIS legislation. However, by law pesticides must be registered, and pesticide labels must contain the same information as WHMIS labels, with similar pictograms.

Here is an example of the chemical hazard management pictograms for the insecticide Malathion.

 

     
Images from: clipart-library.com
 
 

Can you interpret these pictograms? Wear googles. Wear advanced respiratory protection. Wear gloves. This chemical is highly toxic!

For more information on pesticide labels, from CCOHS, click here.