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Safety and Health Topics |
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| Chemical Reactivity Hazards |
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In
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Chemicals have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals or certain physical
conditions. The reactive properties of chemicals vary widely and they play a vital role in the production of many chemical, material,
pharmaceutical, and food products we use daily. When chemical reactions are not properly managed, they can have harmful, or even catastrophic
consequences, such as toxic fumes, fires, and explosions. These reactions may result in death and injury to people, damage to physical
property, and severe effects on the environment. Process safety management (PSM) is used to prevent and mitigate chemical reactivity hazards.
This page was developed as a product of the Alliances between OSHA, The Dow Chemical Company, and the Chemical Reactivity
Hazards Management Signatories. This page is maintained as a product of the Alliances between OSHA,
The Dow Chemical Company,
and the
Process Safety
Signatories.
The following questions link to information relevant to reactive chemicals in the workplace.
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What standards apply?
OSHA | Other Federal |
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How can chemical reactivity hazards be recognized in the workplace?
Incident Investigation Reports |
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How can chemical reactivity hazards be evaluated?
References |
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How can chemical reactivity hazards be controlled and prevented?
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What additional information is available?
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages | Training | Other Resources |
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In Focus |
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Hot Topics
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Essential Practices for Managing Chemical Reactivity Hazards. American
Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS).
New York: Wiley-AIChE; 2003. Provides guidance to help small and large companies
identify, address, and manage chemical reactivity hazards. The electronic
on-line version of this book is made freely available thanks to the support of
OSHA, the US EPA, CCPS, the American Chemistry Council, the Synthetic Organic
Chemical Manufacturer's Association and Knovel Corporation.
Alliances
eTools
Ammonia Refrigeration.
OSHA. Assists employers and employees in identifying and controlling the hazards
associated with the operation and maintenance of ammonia refrigeration systems.
Many of the requirements of the Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard,
29 CFR 1910.119, are identified in this eTool as possible controls and are
useful as recommended practices, whether or not the ammonia refrigeration system
is a covered process.
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