Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Tool: IPCS International Chemicals Safety Cards

International Chemical Safety Cards are data sheets intended to provide essential safety and health information on chemicals in a clear and concise way. The aim is to promote the safe use of chemicals. They are used at the “shop floor” level by workers, and by those responsible for health and safety in factories, agriculture, construction and other workplaces, and often form part of education and training activities. More than 1,700 cards are available in English.

SMC Category Hazard identification and risk assessment, Risk prevention and reduction, Emergency preparedness and Response
Subcategories Hazard identification and chemicals risk assessment, Information and data assessing hazards and risks, Response to accidents, Protective measures
SME Activity Handling, Unloading and loading, Pollution control and disposal, Production, Storage
Resource Type Online programme
Author International Labor Organization (ILO) and World Health Organization (WHO)
Company type Synthesis of substances, Formulation of chemicals, Industrial users of chemicals
Year Continuously updated
Link(s) http://www.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.home
http://www.ilo.org/safework/info/publications/WCMS_113134/lang--en/index.htm

How to use it

Inputs

1) ICSC number or CAS number or chemical name

Outputs

1) A 2-page sheet for shop floors containing:

  • Category, identity, physical data, chemical properities
  • Acute health hazards, short and long term health hazards, fire and explosion hazards
  • Preventive measures
  • First aid and fire fighting information
  • Regulatory information, classification and labelling
  • Environmental data
  • Spillage disposal and safe storage
Learning time Short (<1h)
User expertise Basic (no scientific/engineering background required/no business management experience required)
User-friendliness Very user friendly
Advanced tool No
Languages French, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish