Guide for small and medium-sized enterprises on managing chemical pollutants

The use of dangerous chemical products is widespread in large companies, but such products are also used in the daily work of some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for painting, pasting, welding, mixing, cleaning or disinfecting. To help SMEs to manage the potential risks of handling, storing and transporting dangerous substances or mixtures, the Asturian Federation of Employers (FADE) has produced the 'Guide for SMEs on managing chemical pollutants', as well as an online application that complements the guide. This guide serves as an informative tool for companies to help them to manage the potential risks associated with handling, storing and transporting hazardous substances or mixtures, and may serve as a starting point to develop preventive measures, with the aim of eliminating these risks or controlling and maintaining them at reasonable levels. The guide has been written in the simplest and most practical way possible, avoiding excessive technical terms and using graphics, photographs and drawings to give readers a better understanding of the text. The final objective of this guide is for it to be disseminated among the end users of chemical products, especially among workers and intermediate managers of companies.

In addition, FADE developed an application (app) on chemical risk management for SMEs. This tool is intended to help companies to comply with the legal obligations concerning the use, transport and storage of chemical products. On entering the name of a chemical, the application produces useful information about:

• the most suitable respiratory protection;
• the occupational exposure limits ​or maximum concentrations allowed in the work environment;
• procedures for emergencies;
• information about labelling and classification.

The app is available at: https://www.guiacontaminantes.com/FadeWeb/build/production/FadeApp/index.html.