A food worker is putting chemicals into clean spray bottles.
What must the food worker include on each spray bottle?
a. ?The dilution of the chemical
b. ?The common name of the chemical
c. ?Instructions for where the chemical should be used
d. ?Instructions for how to handle chemical exposures
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b. The common name of the chemical.
Explanation:
When a food worker is putting chemicals into clean spray bottles, it’s crucial to ensure proper labeling to avoid any confusion or mishandling of chemicals that could affect food safety, employee health, and the overall environment. According to workplace safety guidelines such as those provided by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and health departments, several key pieces of information must be included on any chemical container, especially when it is being transferred to a new container, such as a spray bottle.
- The Common Name of the Chemical: This is the most essential labeling requirement. The food worker must include the common name or identity of the chemical in the spray bottle to ensure that it can be quickly and easily identified. This helps prevent misuse or accidental exposure to harmful substances. The common name refers to the familiar name of the chemical, rather than its scientific or technical name, so that all workers, even those without specific chemical knowledge, can understand what it is.
- Dilution Information (a): While dilution information is important for some chemicals (like sanitizers or cleaning agents), it is not a mandatory labeling requirement on every spray bottle. If the chemical needs to be diluted before use, that should be indicated clearly on the original container or in the instructions, but it is not necessarily required on the spray bottle itself unless the dilution is specific to that bottle’s contents.
- Instructions for Use (c): Instructions for where the chemical should be used are typically covered in the original labeling, but they do not have to be included on the spray bottle. As long as the chemical’s identity is clear and the worker understands its proper use, additional instructions are often not required on the spray bottle.
- Handling Chemical Exposure (d): While safety instructions and first aid procedures for chemical exposure should be available in the workplace, these are typically included in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) rather than on each individual container. In the case of serious exposure, the employee should refer to the SDS for the specific chemical.
Therefore, the most crucial piece of information that must be on the spray bottle is the common name of the chemical to ensure safe handling and correct identification.