Chemical exposure on the job does not always happen from breathing it in. A lot of injuries happen when chemicals get on the skin through splashes, soaked gloves, wet clothing, overspray, leaking hoses, or direct hand contact. Crews can run into this during cleaning, concrete work, painting, coating, fuel handling, adhesive use, waterproofing, masonry cleaning, and equipment maintenance. Even brief contact can cause burns, irritation, rashes, or chemical absorption through the skin.
This talk covers where skin exposure happens, the mistakes that lead to burns and irritation, and the steps crews need to take before and during the job. The goal is to keep chemicals off the skin, use the right protective gear for the product, and make sure everyone knows when the work is no longer safe.
Why This Matters
- Chemicals can burn, irritate, dry out, or damage the skin after direct contact.
- Some products soak through clothing or gloves if the wrong material is used.
- Small splashes often get ignored until the skin starts burning or blistering.
- Wet sleeves, pant legs, gloves, and boots can hold chemicals against the skin for a long time.
- Skin exposure can happen during setup, mixing, transfer, application, cleanup, and disposal.
Common Hazards
- Mixing or pouring chemicals without splash protection or the right gloves.
- Using solvents, cleaners, acids, epoxies, coatings, or fuel with bare hands or damaged gloves.
- Wearing gloves that are not rated for the product being handled.
- Chemicals running into gloves, sleeves, boots, or soaked clothing during overhead or low-position work.
- Touching the face, neck, phone, tools, or vehicle surfaces with contaminated gloves.
- Pressure in hoses, sprayers, or containers causing an unexpected splash when a fitting is loosened.
Safety Checklist
Before Work Begins
- Know what chemical products are being used and review the label and hazards before starting.
- Choose gloves, sleeves, aprons, face protection, and clothing that match the product and task.
- Inspect gloves and protective clothing for holes, tears, thin spots, or contamination.
- Set up wash water, emergency rinse, or other cleanup supplies before handling the product.
- Plan the transfer, mixing, and application steps so splashes and drips are controlled.
- Keep extra gloves and clean protective gear available in case the first set gets contaminated.
During Work
- Keep containers stable and open them slowly in case pressure has built up.
- Handle chemicals carefully to avoid splashing, overspray, and leaks onto skin or clothing.
- Replace gloves or clothing right away if they are torn, soaked, or contaminated inside.
- Do not wipe chemicals off with bare hands or keep working in contaminated gear.
- Wash exposed skin promptly with the proper method if any product gets on the body.
- Keep contaminated gloves away from door handles, ladders, steering wheels, and shared tools.
Crew Talking Points
- What chemicals are we using today, and where is skin contact most likely to happen?
- Are the gloves and protective clothing on this job matched to the product being used?
- What is the plan if a worker gets splashed on the hands, arms, face, or clothing?
- Where can the crew rinse off quickly if there is a spill or splash?
- What tasks today could cause chemicals to run into gloves, sleeves, or boots?
- Speak up now if the PPE, wash supplies, labels, or handling setup do not look right.
Stop Work If
- The chemical is being used and the crew does not know the skin hazards.
- The required gloves, clothing, or face protection are missing or not matched to the product.
- Gloves or protective clothing are torn, soaked, or contaminated inside.
- Leaks, hose failures, or pressure buildup are causing uncontrolled splashes.
- Wash stations, rinse water, or emergency cleanup supplies are not available.
- A worker gets chemical exposure on the skin and the situation is not being handled right away.
Final Reminder
Skin contact with chemicals can injure you fast and get worse the longer it stays there. Use the right protection, keep contaminated gear off your body, and stop work before a small splash turns into a serious injury.
| Crew Member Name | Signature | Date |
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