By the end of this online course you will be able to:
We have developed this online training course, with the aim of assuring all key messages are delivered and that users of our cleaning and hygiene products use them safety and effectively as possible.
Using basic common sense will be a key requirement to ensure you reduce the risk of chemical injury to yourself or others.
By completing this online training course you have taken a major step forward in protecting yourself from potential injury.
We pride ourself on our commitment to provide excellent customer service and a key aspect of that is a strong focus on end user training.
Its in our best interest to ensure users of our cleaning and hygiene chemicals know how to use them safety and effectively.
We invest considerably in our training to ensure our key messages are understood and put into practice by our customers each and every day.
Have you considered how safe the detergents and other cleaning chemicals you use at home?
Here are four common cleaning chemicals that you may have used at home. Can you put these common domestic cleaning products in order from safest to most hazardous?
All Detergents are Chemicals
We have all managed to get shampoo in our eyes at some point while washing our hair and yes it can sting. So it is understandable that getting a commercial grade cleaning detergent in your eyes could cause really seriously harm.
Even non-hazardous washing up liquids which are wrongly regarded by many people as safe can cause severe skin irritation if they are used for prolonged periods without using rubber gloves.
These products, including well know supermarket brands are designed to remove grease and starch from plates, so they will naturally defat the skin on your hands and can lead to cracked skin and blistering in extreme circumstances.
Commercial chemicals are powerful
Commercial cleaning detergents are designed to remove grease, grime burnt on carbon and limescale from surfaces, utensils, equipment and floors which accumulate at far higher levels in commercial areas than they would do at home.
This means they are more powerful than domestic products because they have to get the job done as quickly and effectively as possible.
In many cases our products are diluted with water, which makes them less hazardous in use so our primary focus must allows be directed towards the product in the original container and in its original concentrated format.
The health & safety executives who monitor workplace safety report thousands of small-scale chemical accidents each year.
These range from chemical burns causing severe skin damage to, in worse case, loss of eyesight. In some cases employees have to take many days off work with attendant loss of income.
If a product label states it will cause severe burns to the skin or cause severe eye damage if concentrate comes into direct human contact, you need to be careful. These are legal warning statements and should never be ignored.
Welcome to the safety labelling system
All Kitchenmaster products are labelled correctly and contain the correct and appropriate health and safety information.
It is extremely important to read the label to find out about any potential dangers to your health and how to protect yourself from harm. If you are unsure, speak to your supervisor or manager before using the product.
There is a big difference between hazard classification. For example, between a manual washing up liquid and an automatic dishwashing detergent, and to confuse the two, could have serious injury implications.
Hazard Symbols
There are a variety of icons within the red diamonds which depending on the chemical formulation indiate clearly what the potential hazards might be. Kitchenmaster products may carry one of five pictograms. Lets look at these now, note that some products may carry more than one hazard pictogram.
This can signify a number of hazards. The product may cause skin irritation and/or sensitisation or eye irritation. It may be a respiratory irritant or cause dizziness or drowsiness, or might be acutely toxic (harmful) or be hazardous to the ozone layer. Read the label to identify the specific hazard and how to protect yourself.
These products are corrosive and can cause severe damage to skin and eyes. May cause damage to metal items.
These products are harmful to the environment, especially marine life, so should be disposed of appropriately.
These are products that can cause or intensify fire and explosions. These products should be stored separately from any flammable or combustible materials.
These products are highly flammable and must be kept away from any potential sources of ignition.
Personal & Protective Equipment (PPE)
In addition to the hazard and precautionary statement all Kitchenmaster products carry a personal, protective, equipment symbol showing what PPE you should wear when handling the product in it’s concentrated format.
You should wear the appropriate gloves when handling this product. You should generally wear gloves when handling most commercial chemicals.
You should wear eye protection when handling this product. Used for chemicals which may cause severe eye damage or irritation due to splashing.
You should wear an apron when handling this product. Used when a product may cause severe skin burns due to splashing or accidental spillages.
You should wear a face mask when handling this product. Used where a mist or vapour may occur or with powder products.
The Ten Golden Rules
If you are in doubt ask a more experienced member of staff for advice or contact our customer service department.
Always read the label carefully. Remember, the presence of a red diamond warns you that there is a hazard present and therefore you will need to wear the appropriate PPE to avoid direct contact with your skin and most importantly, your eyes.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on dilution rates and application techniques, which are usually found on the product guidance sheet and chemical label.
If you are unsure request further product training from one of our customer service team.
Wear the recommended personal protective equipment. It is your responsibility to use the personal protective equipment provided.
Never mix chemicals together – this can be highly dangerous.
Some commonly used chemicals when mixed together can form chlorine gas which is toxic. The use of bleach combined with acid toilet descaler are a major source of potential danger, so watch out.
Never put chemicals into unlabelled bottles or containers.
All chemicals must be easily identifiable at all times. Kitchenmaster provides numerous labelled bottles for various products and you should ensure that these are ordered, in stock and used.
Ensure the chemicals are stored safely and securely in a designated area.
Always store them in their original containers, upright with the caps tightened, and out of the reach of children and general public.
If an accident does occur, as a first step wash/rinse the splashes of the chemical immediately away with cold clean, water. You will also need to be aware of the appropriate first aid requirements, which can be found on the product safety data sheet.
Report any incidents to your manager and seek medical advise once you have carried out the initial accident response measures.
Treat all professional cleaning and hygiene chemicals with respect. They are not intended to cause harm they are intended to clean effectively in busy and demanding environments. You must also take your time when cleaning safely. Being “too busy” is no excuse, because most accidents are caused when people are rushing, being careless and not thinking clearly.
