Chemicals and materials

Resources

The case for safer exposure limits
This one-page handout discusses the importance of choosing healthier exposure limits.

Ammonia

Ammonia
A guide that covers sampling methods, monitoring, protective equipment, emergencies, and hazard communication.

Safety and health topics: ammonia refrigeration (OSHA) 
The OSHA eTool helps you identify and control ammonia refrigeration hazards.

Ammonia emergency response card (NIOSH)
Describes ammonia hazards, symptoms of exposure, and first aid measures.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide 
A brief guide to testing, limits, and injury prevention, with links to more information.

Fact sheet | Carbon monoxide (OSHA)
Tips to protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Workplace carbon monoxide hazards (NIOSH)
Describes sources of carbon monoxide, symptoms of exposure, and ways to prevent it in the workplace.

Chlorine

Chlorine 
A guide to testing, limits, and injury prevention, with links to more information.

Essential oils

Essential oils
These plant-based oils may seem safe, but this bulletin describes the hazards of working with essential oils and includes recommended protective measures.

Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene Oxide 
A guide that covers all aspects of ethylene oxide use, including sampling methods, monitoring, protective equipment, emergencies, and hazard communication.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde 
A comprehensive guide that includes exposure limits, compliance, protective measures, and much more.

Fact sheet | Formaldehyde (OSHA)
Quick facts on formaldehyde, including what employers need to know and how to protect employees.

Formaldehyde (OSHA)
OSHA web page on formaldehyde standards, recognition, evaluations, and solutions.

Hexavalent chromium

Hexavalent chromium 
An extensive safety guide, including highlights of the general industry hexavalent chromium standard.

Small entity compliance guide for hexavalent chromium standards (OSHA)
Designed to help small businesses comply with HC standards.

Hexavalent chromium training kit (Washington State Department of Labor & Industries)
This kit includes an instructor's guide, PowerPoint, and other supporting materials designed to help you train on hexavalent chromium.

Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid: emergency preparedness and response (CDC)
Web page includes an overview, toxicology Q&A, medical management guidelines, and detailed information for first responders. 

Isocyanates

Preventing asthma and sensitization associated with isocyanates
This bulletin discusses the health hazards and risk of exposure to isocyanates while providing practical ways to control the hazard.

Isocyanates: Working safely (California Department of Public Health)
Select products and encourage work practices that minimize exposure to these asthma-causing chemicals.

Lead

Lead 
An extensive safety guide, including highlights of the occupational lead standards.

Lead (EPA) 
This website provides an overview of lead issues and provides resources for work and home.

Lead (OSHA)
Web page including exposures, controls, enforcement, standards, and highlighted links.

Metal working fluids

Metal working fluids
This bulletin provides an overview of safe practices when using metal working fluids.

Methylene chloride

Methylene chloride hazards for bathtub refinishers (OSHA/NIOSH)
Methylene chloride can be particularly dangerous when used in small rooms with no ventilation.

Booklet | Methylene chloride (OSHA)
A booklet including standards, monitoring, exposures, protection, and training.

Methylene chloride (OSHA)
Web page including exposures, controls, enforcement, standards, and highlighted links.

Selecting safer chemicals

Substitutes and solutions: transitioning to safer chemicals 
A guide that walks businesses through the process of reducing chemical hazards by transitioning to safer chemicals.

Transitioning to Safer Chemicals: A Toolkit for Employers and Workers (OSHA)
This OSHA eTool provides employers and workers with information on using informed substitution in the workplace.

Risk management, risk reduction and sustainable chemistry (OECD)
Approaches for risk management of chemicals.   

Silica

Silica safety guide 
Learn about controlling exposures to respirable crystalline silica, including what rules apply to your business and how to protect worker safety and health.

Silica, crystalline (OSHA)
This page highlights the health effects or respirable silica and includes links to prevention resources.

Small entity compliance guide for the respirable crystalline silica standard for construction (OSHA)
This guide assists small businesses protecting their workers from respirable crystalline silica in construction while providing an overview of the silica standard.

Silica and worker health (NIOSH)
A topic page full of resources.

Work safely with silica (Centers for Construction Research and Training) 
A one-stop source of information on how to prevent a silica hazard and protect workers.

Western red cedar/asthma

Western red cedar / asthma 
An overview of the effects and occupational exposure limits, plus links to other resources.

Health effects from exposure to wood dust (WorkSafe Alberta)
This useful guide covers common wood dusts and their health effects along with ways to limit exposure.