Cleanliness and the use of the right cleaning products are necessary to keep employees, tenants, customers, and students safe in your commercial or industrial building. But common cleaning products can pose enhanced health hazards instead of remove them, so how can you tell if your industrial cleaning chemicals are safe or not?
The following blog will help you understand what to look for when buying industrial or commercial cleaning chemicals.
How Can You Tell If Your Cleaning Chemicals Are Safe?
Cleaning chemicals can contain products that can cause several health conditions; like
- Eye irritation
- Itchy skin
- Breathing difficulties
- Lung irritation
- Headaches
- Even cancer
Some products contain dangerous volatile organic compounds, while others may contain ammonia and bleach. Their formulas make them very specific in action. Therefore, to gain the best possible results you need to choose the correct cleaning products while ensuring it is safe for use. Follow the undermentioned instructions to make the right choice.
Read The Label
The first step in identifying a safe industrial cleaner is by reading the label. Look for usage warnings and its composition. Many labels provide a list of side effects and other problems that might occur if their product is mishandled.
Unfortunately, Canadian law does not require manufacturers to list all the ingredients on the label, making safety identification a difficult task. But still, it is worth checking the label to get an idea about the said chemical.
Read The Safety Data Sheet
The second step in the process is to read the safety data sheet. The SDS can help you identify any potential red flags that can hinder your chance of fully gaining the positive effects of using the correct industrial cleaning product.
The most important sections of an SDS are:
Hazard Identification
If a cleaning product is identified as ‘hazardous’ you may want to look for other safer options.
First-aid Options
If the first-aid options for the product are extensive and require immediate medical attention, it may be best to look for another option.
Handling And Storage
The next section on the SDS to look out for is the handling and storage. Although all chemicals have specific handling and storage requirements, potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals will have extensive handling and storage guidelines.
If you are not looking to fight a serious stain professionally, it is better to choose lighter products to have a safe cleaning experience.
Exposure Control And Personal Protection
Read this part carefully and assess how much PPE you need. The more personal protection is required, the more likely your product is to cause problems. Thus, looking for other safer options in the case of increased PPE is the way to go.
Check The Official Chemical Protection List
The Canadian government’s product safety website pages, chemical risk assessments, and chemicals at a glance provide a list of potential safety hazards and safety assessment techniques. It is better to check this list before choosing a cleaning chemical, to ensure that it is safe to use the product, according to the authorities.
Safety Precautions For Cleaning And Disinfection Products
Some of the safety precautions you can follow while using industrial cleaning products are
- Don’t use the cleaning products in closed spaces. Keep the area well ventilated, especially when disinfecting a space.
- Do not mix the chemicals on your own. Mixing two non-compatible chemicals can form a poisonous and useless product.
- Know how to perfectly dilute the chemical products. Correct dilution can help you get better cleaning results and save you a lot of time and money.
- Read and understand your cleaning product before using it. Know the potential hazards and what to do in case of an emergency.
About Us
Sunrise Industrial Cleaners is an Edmonton-based company. We have been providing our customers with reliable industrial cleaning products since 2004. Our products are efficient, safe, and come at very reasonable prices. Call us today at +1 (780) 465-0788 to utilize our great customer service and cleaning products.
