Chemical Burns First Aid Toolbox Talk

Chemical burns can happen when acids, caustics, solvents, cleaners, concrete slurry, adhesives, fuels, or other hazardous materials contact the skin or eyes. The damage may start immediately, but some burns keep getting worse if the chemical stays on the body or soaks into clothing.

This talk focuses on recognizing chemical burns, starting first aid quickly, flushing exposed skin or eyes, removing contaminated items safely, and getting medical help when needed.

Why This Matters

• Chemicals can burn skin, damage eyes, irritate airways, or be absorbed into the body.
• Fast flushing can reduce the amount of time the chemical stays in contact with tissue.
• Contaminated gloves, sleeves, boots, and clothing can keep chemicals against the skin.
• Some burns look minor at first but become worse after the worker leaves the exposure area.
• Knowing the chemical name helps medical responders choose the right treatment.

Common Hazards

• Splashing chemicals while mixing, pouring, pumping, spraying, cleaning, or opening containers.
• Concrete, mortar, grout, or cement slurry soaking through gloves, boots, pants, or knee pads.
• Using damaged gloves, torn sleeves, open cuffs, or the wrong chemical-resistant clothing.
• Touching the face, neck, arms, or eyes with contaminated gloves or tools.
• Delayed reporting because the worker thinks the burning, redness, or irritation will go away.
• A chemical trapped under a watch, ring, glove cuff, boot, sock, waistband, or kneepad continuing to burn the skin.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Review the chemical label, safety data sheet, first aid steps, and emergency contact procedure.
• Know where the eyewash, safety shower, wash station, clean water, and first aid supplies are located.
• Confirm required PPE is available, fits correctly, and matches the chemical hazard.
• Check gloves, goggles, face shields, boots, sleeves, aprons, and coveralls for holes, cracks, gaps, or contamination.
• Set up the work area to reduce splash, spray, pressure release, and contact with contaminated surfaces.
• Keep chemical containers labeled so responders know what caused the burn.

During Work

• If chemical contact occurs, move away from the exposure area and alert the crew immediately.
• Flush affected skin or eyes with clean water right away using the eyewash, safety shower, or wash station.
• Remove contaminated gloves, clothing, boots, jewelry, or PPE while flushing if it can be done safely.
• Do not rub the burn, apply creams, use neutralizing chemicals, or return to work without being checked.
• Keep the chemical label or safety data sheet available for medical responders.
• Report all chemical burns, splashes, and skin irritation, even if symptoms seem mild at first.

Crew Talking Points

• What chemicals or wet materials today could burn skin or eyes?
• Where are the eyewash station, safety shower, wash water, safety data sheets, and emergency contacts?
• What PPE is required to prevent skin and eye contact?
• How will we help a worker flush exposed skin or eyes quickly?
• What clothing or PPE could trap chemicals against the body during this task?
• Speak up right away if you feel burning, stinging, itching, redness, eye pain, or chemical contact on your skin or clothing.

Stop Work If

• A worker has chemical contact with skin, eyes, regular clothing, or the inside of PPE.
• Burning, redness, blistering, pain, itching, numbness, eye irritation, or vision problems are reported.
• Eyewash, safety shower, wash water, first aid supplies, or emergency contacts are not available.
• The chemical is unknown, unlabeled, mixed incorrectly, reacting, leaking, or spilled.
• Required gloves, goggles, face shields, boots, sleeves, aprons, or coveralls are missing or damaged.
• The crew does not understand the safety data sheet, first aid steps, or emergency response plan.

Final Reminder

Chemical burns need fast action. Flush the area, remove contaminated items, report the exposure, and get medical help before a small burn becomes serious.