A job hazard is anything at work that can make someone sick or cause injury. Working with chemicals is considered hazardous. Exposure to chemicals can cause immediate (or acute) reactions or they can be more subtle and long-term (chronic). A job hazard is anything at work that can make someone sick or cause injury. Working with chemicals is considered hazardous. Exposure to chemicals can cause immediate (or acute) reactions or they can be more subtle and long-term (chronic).
Acute symptoms could be difficulty breathing, burns on the skin or eyes, or sickness due to ingesting the chemical. For each of these conditions, it is important to know general first aid, which is provided on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). If you need to seek medical attention, be sure to bring the SDS with you.