Safety and Health Topics

Chemicals have the ability to react when exposed to other chemicals or certain physical conditions. The reactive properties of chemicals vary widely and they play a vital role in the production of many chemical, material, pharmaceutical, and food products we use daily. When chemical reactions are not properly managed, they can have harmful, or even catastrophic consequences, such as toxic fumes, fires, and explosions. These reactions may result in death and injury to people, damage to physical property, and severe effects on the environment. Process safety management (PSM) is used to prevent and mitigate chemical reactivity hazards. This page is maintained as a product of the Alliances between OSHA and The Dow Chemical Company and the Chemical Reactivity Hazards Management Signatories.The following questions link to information relevant to reactive chemicals in the workplace.

What standards apply?OSHA Other Federal
How can chemical reactivity hazards be recognized in the workplace?Incident Investigation Reports
How can chemical reactivity hazards be evaluated?References
How can chemical reactivity hazards be controlled and prevented?
What additional information is available?Related Safety and Health Topics Pages Training Other Resources
In Focus
Hot Topics
Essential Practices for Managing Chemical Reactivity Hazards. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), (2003). Contributes to a continued reduction in the number and severity of incidents involving uncontrolled chemical reactions in the workplace.
Alliances
The Dow Chemical Company. OSHA Alliance Page.
Chemical Reactivity Hazards Management. OSHA Alliance Page.
Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS). CCPS and OSHA Alliance Page.
Chlorine Institute, Inc. (CI). CI and OSHA Alliance Page. eTools
Ammonia Refrigeration. OSHA. Assists employers and employees in identifying and controlling the hazards associated with the operation and maintenance of ammonia refrigeration systems. Many of the requirements of the Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard, 29 CFR 1910.119, are identified in this eTool as possible controls, and are useful as recommended practices, whether or not the ammonia refrigeration system is a covered process.