What is the recommended practice regarding detecting hazardous materials by smell?

What is the recommended practice regarding detecting hazardous materials by smell?

• A. It is acceptable to rely on your sense of smell if the material has a strong odor.
• B. It is recommended to smell to detect the presence.
• C. Never attempt to use the sense of smell to detect the presence of a hazardous material.
• D. Smell should be used only after decontamination.

Answer: (C)

Relying on the sense of smell to detect hazardous materials is not safe or reliable. Odors can be absent even when a hazardous substance is present, and some materials are odorless or have odors only at concentrations far above safety levels. People differ in their ability to detect smells, and exposure can occur before any scent is noticed, especially with irritants or gases that overwhelm the senses. Smelling fumes can also aerosolize or concentrate vapors in the moment, increasing the risk of inhalation or chemical irritation. Because of these factors, trained responders use objective detection methods and procedures—proper gas detectors and monitoring equipment, information from placards and Safety Data Sheets, and established isolation, ventilation, and decontamination protocols—to determine hazards rather than relying on smell. Treat unknown releases as hazardous until proven otherwise, and follow the appropriate safety steps rather than attempting to sniff to identify the material.

Relying on the sense of smell to detect hazardous materials is not safe or reliable. Odors can be absent even when a hazardous substance is present, and some materials are odorless or have odors only at concentrations far above safety levels. People differ in their ability to detect smells, and exposure can occur before any scent is noticed, especially with irritants or gases that overwhelm the senses. Smelling fumes can also aerosolize or concentrate vapors in the moment, increasing the risk of inhalation or chemical irritation. Because of these factors, trained responders use objective detection methods and procedures—proper gas detectors and monitoring equipment, information from placards and Safety Data Sheets, and established isolation, ventilation, and decontamination protocols—to determine hazards rather than relying on smell. Treat unknown releases as hazardous until proven otherwise, and follow the appropriate safety steps rather than attempting to sniff to identify the material.