Chemical EHS: Building a Practical Chemical Safety Program
Chemical EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) is the set of systems and practices that keep employees, facilities, and the environment protected when working with hazardous chemicals. In day-to-day operations, “ehs chemistry” often means translating chemical hazards—flammability, toxicity, reactivity, corrosivity—into clear controls: labeling, training, storage rules, exposure prevention, and emergency response.
A strong chemical EHS program is also a compliance program. In the U.S., OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) is the backbone for communicating chemical hazards to workers. The more chemicals you manage across multiple sites, departments, or shifts, the more important it becomes to standardize how Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labels, and inventories are controlled and accessed.
What “EHS Chemistry” Includes in Real Workplaces
Chemical safety isn’t only about lab environments. Manufacturing, healthcare, construction, custodial operations, utilities, automotive shops, and warehouses all encounter hazardous substances. EHS chemistry is the operational discipline of:
- Identifying chemical hazards and routes of exposure (inhalation, skin/eye contact, ingestion)
- Evaluating tasks that create higher risk (mixing, heating, spraying, transferring)
- Selecting and verifying controls (engineering, administrative, PPE)
- Documenting and communicating hazards (SDS, labels, training)
- Preparing for spills, exposures, and fires
When these elements are inconsistent—outdated SDS, missing labels, unclear storage rules—incidents and citations become much more likely.
OSHA Rules That Shape Chemical EHS Programs
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
OSHA’s HazCom standard requires employers to develop and maintain a hazard communication program for hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Key chemical EHS obligations include:
- Written HazCom program describing how labels, SDS, and training are managed
- Chemical inventory (a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present)
- SDS availability: SDS must be readily accessible to employees during each work shift
- Labeling: containers must be labeled with required hazard information
- Employee training on chemical hazards, protective measures, and how to read labels/SDS
The standard aligns with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classification and labeling, which impacts how hazards are communicated (e.g., signal words, pictograms, hazard statements).
Other OSHA standards that commonly intersect with chemical safety
Depending on your chemicals and processes, chemical EHS may also connect to:
- Respiratory Protection (29 CFR 1910.134) when airborne exposures are possible
- Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR 1910 Subpart I) for hazard assessments and PPE use
- Emergency action and fire prevention (29 CFR 1910.38/39) where applicable to chemical hazards
- Permit-required confined spaces (29 CFR 1910.146) for chemical atmospheres and residues
Compliance is not just documentation—OSHA expectations focus on whether employees can quickly access accurate hazard information and follow effective controls.
Core Elements of a Chemical EHS Program for Chemical Safety
1) Maintain an accurate chemical inventory
A chemical inventory is foundational for identifying hazards, training needs, and emergency planning. It should include:
- Product name as it appears on the label/SDS
- Manufacturer/supplier
- Work area/location and typical quantity
- Storage conditions (flammable cabinet, corrosives cabinet, etc.)
- Notes on high-risk chemicals (carcinogens, sensitizers, reactive materials)
In practice, inventories fail when chemicals move between areas, temporary containers appear, or old products remain on shelves. A centralized system helps track locations and quantities so the inventory reflects reality.
2) Keep Safety Data Sheets complete, current, and accessible
Under OSHA HazCom, employees must be able to access SDS during their work shift. Chemical EHS teams should ensure:
- SDS match the exact product and supplier
- SDS are current (suppliers may update classifications or hazard controls)
- SDS are easy to retrieve during an emergency
SwiftSDS supports a centralized SDS library in a secure, cloud-based location—helping standardize access across sites and shifts, and reducing the risk of outdated or missing SDS.
3) Label containers correctly—including secondary containers
GHS-aligned labeling is a frequent pain point. For chemical safety, ensure:
- Primary containers maintain the manufacturer label
- Secondary containers are labeled per workplace requirements
- Labels remain legible and intact (especially in wet, dusty, or high-traffic areas)
When chemicals are transferred to spray bottles, squeeze bottles, or temporary process containers, chemical EHS procedures must define how labeling will be handled and verified.
4) Train employees to use SDS and labels, not just “check the box”
HazCom training must enable workers to understand and apply hazard information. Effective training includes:
- GHS pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements
- How to find key SDS sections (e.g., first aid, handling/storage, exposure controls)
- Task-specific hazards: what changes when you heat, mix, or aerosolize a product
- Spill/exposure response steps
Mobile access can make a meaningful difference: SwiftSDS provides mobile SDS access so employees can retrieve critical information at the point of use rather than searching a binder across the facility.
5) Control exposure through the hierarchy of controls
Chemical EHS relies on layered risk reduction:
- Elimination/Substitution: use a less hazardous chemical where feasible
- Engineering controls: local exhaust ventilation, closed transfer systems
- Administrative controls: procedures, restricted access, scheduling
- PPE: gloves, eye/face protection, aprons, respirators
For PPE selection, SDS Section 8 (Exposure Controls/Personal Protection) is a starting point, but chemical EHS should validate compatibility (e.g., glove material vs. solvent type) and task conditions.
6) Store and segregate chemicals to prevent reactions and emergencies
Chemical safety depends on preventing incompatible chemicals from interacting and ensuring storage matches hazards. Common EHS chemistry practices include:
- Segregating acids from bases
- Keeping oxidizers away from organics/flammables
- Managing flammables in approved cabinets and limiting quantities in use areas
- Controlling ignition sources where flammable vapors could be present
Inventory tools that track chemical locations, quantities, and expiration dates help reduce “unknowns” and prevent degraded or expired chemicals from lingering.
7) Plan for spills, exposures, and emergency response
Chemical EHS programs should coordinate with emergency planning so employees know:
- What to do immediately after a spill or exposure
- Where eyewash stations and safety showers are located
- When to evacuate and who to notify
- How to isolate the area safely
SDS provide critical first-aid and firefighting guidance; rapid access—especially via mobile devices—supports better decisions under pressure.
Common Chemical EHS Gaps (and How to Fix Them)
Even mature programs struggle with a few repeat problems:
- Multiple SDS versions across departments or sites
- SDS binders not updated or not available during all shifts
- Incomplete chemical inventories (especially for maintenance or janitorial products)
- Unlabeled secondary containers and deteriorated labels
- Employees unsure where to find SDS or how to interpret hazard controls
SwiftSDS helps address these by centralizing SDS management, supporting GHS organization, and strengthening OSHA HazCom readiness through consistent access and inventory tracking.
Implementing Chemical EHS Improvements: A Simple Roadmap
If you’re strengthening chemical safety, focus on high-impact steps first:
- Audit your chemical inventory by area and verify products match SDS
- Confirm SDS are readily accessible during each work shift (including mobile access)
- Standardize workplace labeling rules for secondary containers
- Refresh HazCom training using real products and tasks from your facility
- Improve storage/segregation and remove expired or unnecessary chemicals
Take Control of Chemical Safety with SwiftSDS
Chemical EHS works best when information is accurate, accessible, and consistent—especially SDS, labels, and inventory data required under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200. SwiftSDS brings these pieces together with a centralized cloud SDS library, GHS support, chemical inventory management, and mobile access that helps workers find critical hazard information fast.
Ready to reduce SDS chaos and strengthen chemical safety? Explore how SwiftSDS can support your OSHA Hazard Communication program and improve chemical EHS performance across your organization.