The Connecticut Poison Control Center receives approximately 500 calls a year from people who get poisoned at work.

Workers most commonly get poisons splashed in the eyes, splattered on the skin, inhaled, or swallowed. Types of occupational exposures vary. Below are two common scenarios.

A man gets an industrial-strength corrosive cleaner splashed on his hands and he was not wearing gloves to protect himself. He suffers from chemical burns on his hands and calls the poison center for help.

A mechanic is working underneath a car and gets an automotive fluid in his eyes. He rinses his eyes but they are still irritated. He calls the poison center for more information.

Need some new material for those safety committee meetings? Want to educate your workers about poisons, poison prevention, and the poison center?

Contact our community education specialist for an available program developed in collaboration with the National Safety Council. It outlines strategies and plans for bringing poison prevention messages to workers via lunch and learn sessions, safety/health fairs, and Bring Your Child to Work Day, among others. Topics include hazardous chemical safety, poison prevention 101, and medication safety. Resources include PowerPoint presentations, exhibit ideas, fact sheets, and other tools.