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    1. Home
    2. Family, home and community
    3. Support and safety in your home
    4. Safety at home

    Chemical safety in the home

    Chemicals are used in the home every day. They include cleaning fluids, plant food, paint and fuels. Homes even contain chemicals within plastics used for insulation and flooring. Getting to know the labels on chemical products will help protect you and your family from harm.

    Chemical products in the home

    Cleaning products like bleach, oven sprays, liquid laundry capsules and toilet cleaners are chemicals. So are paints, glues, oils, pesticides and medicines. 

    The liquid that is used for electric cigarettes is highly toxic to children and pets.  They have an attractive smell so should be treated and stored as a chemical.

    You should be aware of all the chemicals present in your home.  Most of them aren’t dangerous if you use them properly. However, many chemicals need more careful handling than others. 

    Some chemicals are particularly attractive to children or can be confused as food or drink if they are not stored in their original containers and safely out of reach.  For example, bleach and cleaning sprays are often stored behind the toilet for convenience. 

    They must be removed and placed in a locked cupboard out of reach and sight of children.

    Labels can help you identify the more hazardous chemicals, tell you what the dangers are and advise how to use them safely.

    Recognising chemicals

    Most chemical products carry hazard symbols telling you whether a substance is harmful and in what way. You might see one or more symbols on a single product.

    There are nine chemical product symbols.

    Meaning

    Symbol

    Very toxic (fatal)

    What does it mean?
     

    • Fatal if swallowed

    • Fatal in contact with skin

    • Fatal if inhaled

    • Toxic: if swallowed

    • Toxic in contact with skin

    • Toxic if inhaled

    • Examples of where it can be found

    • Pesticide, biocide, methanol

    Examples of precautionary statements:
     

    • Wash thoroughly after handling

    • Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product

    • If swallowed seek immediate medical attention

    • Rinse mouth

    • Store in a closed container

    • Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing

    • Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection

    • If on skin: gently wash with plenty of soap and water

    • Remove/take off immediately all contaminated clothing

    • Wash contaminated clothing before reuse

    • Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray

    • Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area

    • Wear respiratory protection

    • If inhaled: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing

    • Store locked up

    If this label showing a skull appears on a chemical product it shows that it's toxic

    Contains gas under pressure

    What does it mean? 

    • Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated

    • Contains refrigerated gas; may cause cryogenic burns or injury

    Examples of where it can be found

    • Gas containers

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Protect from sunlight

    • Wear cold insulating gloves/face shield/eye protection

    • Get immediate medical advice/attention

    Chemical symbol for contains gas under pressure

    Harmful skin and eye irritation

    What does it mean?
     

    • May cause respiratory irritation

    • May cause drowsiness or dizziness

    • May cause an allergic skin reaction

    • Causes serious eye irritation

    • Causes skin irritation

    • Harmful if swallowed

    • Harmful in contact with skin

    • Harmful if inhaled

    • Harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Washing detergents, toilet cleaner, coolant fluid

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray

    • Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area

    • If inhaled: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing

    • If swallowed: seek medical advice/attention

    • Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection

    • If on skin: wash with plenty of soap and water

    • If in eyes: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes

    •  Remove contact lens, if present and easy to do

    •  Continue rinsing

    • ​​​​Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product

     

    If this label appears on a chemical product it shows that it's harmful to skin and might cause eye irritation

    Flammable

    What does it mean?
     

    • Flammable gas

    • Flammable aerosol

    • Flammable liquid and vapour

    • Flammable solid

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Lamp oil, petrol, nail polish remover

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Do not spray on an open flame or other ignition source

    • Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces – No smoking

    • Keep container tightly closed

    • Keep cool

    • Protect from sunlight

    Chemical symbol for flammable

    Explosive

    What does it mean?
     

    • Unstable explosive

    • Mass explosion hazard

    • Severe projection hazard

    • Fire, blast or projection hazard

    • May mass explode in fire

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Fireworks, ammunition

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Get special instructions before use

    • Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood

    • Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces – no smoking

    • Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection

    • Use personal protective equipment as required

    • Explosion risk in case of fire

    Chemical symbol for explosive

    Harmful to the environment

    What does it mean?
     

    • Very toxic to sea life with long lasting effects

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Pesticides, biocides, petrol, turpentine

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Avoid release to the environment

    • Collect spillage

    Chemical symbol for harmful to the environment

    Increases fire risk

    What does it mean?
     

    • May cause or intensify fire; oxidiser

    • May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidiser

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Bleach, oxygen for medical purposes

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces – No smoking

    • Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection

    • Rinse immediately if contaminated clothing and skin with plenty of water before removing clothes

    Chemical symbol for increases fire risk

    Serious long term health hazards

    What does it mean?
     

    • May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways

    • Causes damage to organs

    • May cause damage to organs

    • May damage fertility or the unborn child

    • Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child

    • May cause cancer

    • Suspected of causing cancer

    • May cause genetic defects

    • Suspected of causing genetic defects

    • May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Turpentine, petrol, lamp oil

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • If swallowed: immediately seek immediate medical advice/attention

    • Do NOT induce vomiting

    • Store locked up

    • Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray

    • Wash thoroughly after handling

    • Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product

    • Get medical advice/attention if you feel unwell

    • Get special instructions before use

    • Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood

    • Use personal protective equipment as required

    • If exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention

    • In case of inadequate ventilation wear respiratory protection

    • If inhaled: If breathing is difficult, remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing

    Chemical symbol for serious long term health hazards

    Severe skin burns and eye damage

    What does it mean?
     

    • May be corrosive to metals

    • Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

    Examples of where it can be found
     

    • Drain cleaners, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, ammoniac

    How to stay safe from it
     

    • Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray

    • Wash thoroughly after handling

    • Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection

    • Store locked up

    • Keep only in original container

    Chemical symbol for severe skin burns and eye damage

    More detailed information on chemical symbols is available from the Health and Safety Executive for NI (HSENI).

    • Changes to labelling  for chemical products

    Chemical products will also usually have information about safely using the product – it’s important to read and follow this advice. Sometimes, labels will give details of the supplier so you can get further advice.

    Medicines

    Medicines are specialist chemicals. They won’t carry the symbols above but can be harmful if taken in the wrong quantities or by children, who may mistake them for sweets. Like other chemicals they should be:

    • stored safely out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cupboard
    • if storing medications in a fridge, a child restraint medicine box can be used
    • kept in their original packaging and with the product information and instructions for use
    • used as instructed by the pharmacy or medical professional
    • prescribed medicines should only be used by the people for whom they have been prescribed

    Using hazardous chemical products safely

    Always read the warning label and follow the instructions.

    It’s also advisable to follow these guidelines:

    • only use as much as you need of a product
    • if a substance is hazardous, remove children, pets and their toys from the area for as long as is recommended on the label
    • properly ventilate the area by opening the windows – if recommended, wear gloves, long sleeves and a mask
    • do not leave chemical products unattended – if you have to leave the room in the middle of a task, put the product away safely 
    • do not mix chemical products - it’s dangerous to mix together  common household cleaners as they can form a highly toxic gas, for example chlorine bleach and ammonia
    • after using chemicals, wash any part of you that came into direct contact with the substance with warm soapy water

    Storing and disposing of chemical products safely

    Safely store chemicals by following the storage instructions on the label.

    In most cases, you should:

    • not move products into other containers – these containers might not be capable of safely storing the substance, you might not remember what is in the bottle and children might mistakenly think the substance is safe
    • keep all hazardous chemicals out of the reach of young children or locked up
    • never store hazardous chemicals near food or food products
    • keep hazardous chemicals away from items used to prepare and cook foods, like pots, pans and cooking utensils

    If a product is leaking, expired or looks bad, you should dispose of it. Never pour products down the drain unnecessarily – remember that your drainage ends up in seas and rivers. Instead:

    • follow the advice on the label
    • take it to your local civic amenity site (waste and recycling centre), who can get rid of it safely
    • return unused or out-of-date medicines to your pharmacy
    • Recycling and reusing
    • Local councils in Northern Ireland

    Contact with a toxic substance

    If you or a member of your family may have swallowed or come into contact with a potentially toxic chemical, you must seek medical advice.

    Remember to provide a full description of the product and describe any symbols or guidance from the manufacturer detailed on the bottle or package.

    More useful links

    • GP out of hours service
    • Urgent and emergency care services
    • Safety at home
    • Household cleaning products - RoSPA
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    Safety at home

    • Asbestos removal
    • Check your oil tank
    • Chemical safety in the home
    • Dealing with drinking water problems
    • Domestic gas installation and health and safety
    • Farm safety
    • Garden safety
    • Gas safety and carbon monoxide
    • Hot weather advice
    • How to reduce trips and falls
    • Staying warm in winter
    • Steps to reduce the risk of burst pipes
    • Your child's safety in the home

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