Chemical Safety

10 examples of chemical hazards

chemical safety10 examples of chemical hazards, toxins and chemicals, toxic chemical substances

Chemical hazards: what they are and why they matter

Chemical hazards are harmful effects caused by toxins and chemicals in the workplace—whether from a spill, a reaction, improper storage, or normal use. These hazards range from immediate burns and poisoning to long-term illnesses like cancer or organ damage. Understanding chemical toxicity and the conditions that increase exposure is essential for safer operations.

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200, requires employers to identify hazardous chemicals, maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), ensure proper labeling, and train employees. In practice, this means your team must be able to quickly locate an SDS, understand the hazards, and follow the recommended controls.

If a worker can’t access the right SDS fast, even a “routine” chemical can become an emergency.

10 examples of chemical hazards (with real-world workplace context)

Below are 10 examples of chemical hazards commonly associated with toxic chemical substances and dangerous chemical substances. Each example includes typical industries, exposure routes, and key controls aligned with SDS guidance and OSHA expectations.

1) Corrosive hazards (acids and bases)

Corrosives can cause severe skin burns, eye damage, and respiratory irritation. Common examples include sulfuric acid (battery maintenance), hydrochloric acid (cleaning), and sodium hydroxide (food processing, drain cleaners).

  • Exposure routes: Skin/eye contact, inhalation of mists
  • Common controls: Chemical-resistant gloves, face shields, splash goggles, emergency eyewash/showers, proper dilution procedures
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS requires labels/SDS access; PPE is addressed under OSHA PPE standards (e.g., 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I)

2) Flammable liquid and vapor hazards

Solvents such as acetone, toluene, xylene, and isopropyl alcohol can ignite easily, especially when vapors accumulate.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation (vapors), fire/explosion injury
  • Common controls: Flammable storage cabinets, bonding/grounding, ventilation, ignition source control
  • OSHA tie-in: Hazard communication plus fire prevention/storage requirements (e.g., 29 CFR 1910.106 for flammable liquids)

3) Toxic inhalation hazards (acute poisoning)

Some chemicals are dangerous after short-term inhalation exposure. Examples include hydrogen sulfide (wastewater, oil & gas), carbon monoxide (forklifts, combustion), and certain solvent vapors.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation
  • Common controls: Air monitoring, local exhaust ventilation, respiratory protection when needed, emergency response procedures
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS training must cover protective measures; exposure limits and respirator program requirements may apply depending on substance and conditions

4) Carcinogenic hazards (long-term cancer risk)

Certain toxic chemical substances are linked to cancer after repeated exposure. Examples include benzene, formaldehyde, and hexavalent chromium compounds.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation, skin contact (for some agents)
  • Common controls: Substitution, enclosed processes, ventilation, exposure monitoring, medical surveillance where required
  • OSHA tie-in: In addition to HCS, OSHA has substance-specific standards for some carcinogens (e.g., 29 CFR 1910.1028 for benzene; 29 CFR 1910.1048 for formaldehyde)

5) Reproductive toxin hazards

Some chemicals can impact fertility or fetal development. Examples may include certain glycol ethers, lead compounds, and some solvents.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation, dermal absorption
  • Common controls: Exposure reduction, task redesign, PPE, hygiene controls (handwashing, no food/drink in work areas)
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS requires hazard classification/communication for reproductive toxicity where applicable under GHS

6) Sensitizers (asthma and allergic reactions)

Sensitizers can trigger allergic skin reactions or occupational asthma. Common examples include isocyanates (spray foam, coatings), epoxy hardeners, and some preservatives.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation, skin contact
  • Common controls: Closed mixing systems, ventilation, skin protection, strict housekeeping to reduce residues
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS training should include symptoms of exposure and protective practices; SDS Section 2 and 8 typically provide key details

7) Oxidizers (accelerate fire)

Oxidizers such as concentrated hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) may not burn themselves but can intensify fires or react violently with organics.

  • Exposure routes: Fire/explosion from incompatibles, skin/eye irritation
  • Common controls: Segregated storage (keep away from fuels/organics), compatible containers, spill control
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS labeling and SDS management help ensure workers recognize oxidizer pictograms and incompatibilities

8) Reactive/incompatible chemical hazards

Some dangerous chemical substances react dangerously when mixed—creating heat, toxic gases, or explosions. Classic examples include mixing bleach with acids (chlorine gas), water-reactive metals, or combining incompatible cleaners.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation of reaction gases, burns, blast injury
  • Common controls: Compatibility charts, segregation by hazard class, clear container labeling, training that emphasizes “never mix” rules
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS requires information on reactivity and incompatibilities (typically SDS Section 10)

9) Compressed gas hazards (asphyxiation, pressure release)

Compressed gases like nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide can displace oxygen and cause asphyxiation; cylinders can also become projectiles if damaged.

  • Exposure routes: Oxygen displacement, physical impact
  • Common controls: Cylinder securement, valve protection caps, proper regulators, ventilation, oxygen monitoring in confined/low-ventilation areas
  • OSHA tie-in: Training and hazard communication; additional requirements may apply for compressed gas storage/handling depending on setting

10) Chronic organ toxicity (liver, kidney, nervous system)

Repeated exposure to certain solvents, metals, and chemicals can harm internal organs even at lower levels over time. Examples include n-hexane (neuropathy risk), certain chlorinated solvents, and some heavy metals.

  • Exposure routes: Inhalation, dermal absorption
  • Common controls: Substitution, ventilation, exposure monitoring, PPE, hygiene and decontamination procedures
  • OSHA tie-in: HCS hazard classes include specific target organ toxicity (STOT); SDS provides exposure controls and first-aid guidance

Where OSHA and GHS fit into everyday chemical safety

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200, employees must have:

  • Immediate access to SDSs for each hazardous chemical
  • Proper container labels (including secondary containers when applicable)
  • Effective training on hazards, protective measures, and how to read labels/SDSs

Because OSHA’s HCS aligns with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), hazard information is standardized—pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and SDS sections. The challenge is operational: keeping SDSs current, ensuring the right version is available, and making them easy to access during routine work and emergencies.

How SwiftSDS helps manage chemical hazards more effectively

Managing chemical toxicity risks isn’t just about having SDSs—it’s about ensuring your team can find and use them instantly. SwiftSDS supports chemical safety programs by providing:

  • A centralized SDS library to store and organize SDSs in one secure cloud location
  • Tools that support OSHA Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200) readiness by improving SDS availability and consistency
  • GHS support to reinforce hazard classification and labeling alignment
  • Chemical inventory management to track locations, quantities, and expiration dates (critical for reducing unknowns and preventing incompatible storage)
  • Mobile access, so workers can retrieve SDS information at the point of use—on the shop floor, in the field, or during spill response

For teams building or refreshing their program, you can also explore SDS management resources to strengthen day-to-day compliance workflows.

Practical next steps to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals

Even with the best training, errors happen when controls are unclear or information is hard to find. Strengthen your program with these steps:

  1. Identify and list all hazardous chemicals by work area.
  2. Verify SDSs are current, complete, and accessible on every shift.
  3. Use SDS Section 2, 4, 7, 8, and 10 to build task-specific controls.
  4. Check storage compatibility and label secondary containers.
  5. Train workers on high-risk scenarios (spills, mixing, confined areas, hot work near solvents).

Safety improves when hazard information is fast, consistent, and built into daily routines.

Call to action

If your organization handles toxins and chemicals and you want a simpler way to control risk and support OSHA compliance, SwiftSDS can help you centralize SDS access, manage inventory, and keep critical hazard information available from any device. Review your current SDS process, then consider adopting SwiftSDS to make chemical safety easier to run—and easier to follow.