UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PANGASINAN

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS
Prepared by Engr. Larissa Saculles

12. CHEMICAL SAFETY

Safety – freedom from accidents; freedom from harm, injury and loss
Occupational Safety – is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of
people engaged in work or employment and entrants. As a secondary effect, OSH may also protect co-workers,
family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who
are impacted by the workplace environment
Chemical Safety – the control of exposure to potentially hazardous substances to attain an acceptably low risk
of exposure
Chemical Safety is achieved by undertaking all activities involving chemicals in such a way as to ensure the
safety of human health and the environment. It covers all chemicals, natural and manufactured, and the full
range of exposure situations from the natural presence of chemicals in the environment to their extraction or
synthesis, industrial production, transport use and disposal.
Chemical safety has many scientific and technical components. Among these are toxicology, ecotoxicology and
the process of chemical risk assessment which requires a detailed knowledge of exposure and of biological
effects.

Hazard versus Risk

Hazard – a chemical or physical condition that the potential for causing damage to people, property or the
environment. Hazards from chemicals are always present. It can be created by procedures or equipment.
Risk – A measure of human injury, environmental damage, or economic loss in terms of both the incident
likelihood (probability) and magnitude of the injury or loss (consequence)
Risk= f(probability, consequence)
Accident – The occurrence of a sequence of events that produce unintended injury, death or property damage.
Type of Hazards:
1. Chemical Hazards – may exist in three forms:
a. Solid – can be broken down into smaller particles that can enter the body. Particulates are fine
solids particles (e.g. dust, smoke, mist, fumes or smog) that are suspended in air or liquid.
Particulates can vary in size, shape, density and electrical charges.
b. Liquid – can be broken down (atomized) into a mist.
c. Gas – often encountered as vapor. These are gaseous form of material that is normally solid or
liquid at room temperature and pressure (e.g. water vapor or dry ice)
2. Physical Hazards – Any hazard that comes from environmental factors such as excessive levels of
noise, electrical or mechanical, radiation, pressure, vibration, temperatures. Conditions, besides
chemical, biological or radiological conditions or circumstances that can cause injury, illness and
death
3. Biological Hazards – Any living or once-living organisms, such as a virus, a mosquito, or a snake,
that poses a threat to human health. Common biological hazards:
• Microorganisms – such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi
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 • Arthropods – such as crustaceans (e.g. crabs), arachnids (e.g. spiders) and insects (e.g.
mosquitoes)
• Animals – such as alligators, bears, and poisonous snakes
• Plant allergens and toxins – such as pollen and poison ivy
• Protein allergens – such as food, urine, feces, blood, hair or dander (dandruff or tiny particles of
skin) from vertebrate animals
Factors for determining chemical and biological hazards:

• Toxicity – how much of the substance is required to cause harm

• Route of entry – how the substance enters the body
Route Entry
Ingestion Mouth, stomach
Inhalation Mouth, nose
Injection Cuts in skin
Absorption (dermal) skin

• Dose – how much enters the body

• Duration – the length of time of the body is exposed
• Interaction – other substances to which the body is exposed
• Response – how the body reacts the substance
• Sensitivity – how one person reacts to the substance compared to the reactions of the other
people. Factors that affect sensitivity (age, diet, gender, fitness, genes, allergies, pregnancy, use
of drugs/alcohol/tobacco
• Frequency – how often a person is exposed to the substance
4. Ergonomic hazards – Repetitive motion (pipetting), lifting, work areas (computers, instruments)
Four main types of ergonomic hazards:
1. Manual material handling – moving heavy or bulky objects without using appropriate
equipment or tools
2. Poor posture – placing the body in awkward positions or moving incorrectly.
3. Improper use of tools – using the wrong tool or a particular task, or incorrectly using the right
tool for a task
4. Repetitive motions – using tools, adding manual quantities of chemical to a vessel, or
frequently climbing stairs or ladders. About 15 to 20% of workers in jobs requiring highly
repetitive motion of shoulders, arms, wrists or hands develop repetitive motion disorders.
Disorder Affected site
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Wrist
Tendonitis Elbow, wrist, hand
Tenosynovitis Elbow, wrist, hand
Epicondylitis Tennis elbow
Reynaud’s phenomenon “white finger”
Ulnar neuropathy Fingers

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Chemical Hazard Communication (HazCom) - is a set of processes and procedures that employers and
importers must implement in the workplace to effectively communicate hazards associated with chemicals during
handling, shipping, and any form of exposure.
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
The HCS requires chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors to label each container of hazardous
chemicals leaving the workplace. All labels are required to have pictograms, a signal word, hazard and
precautionary statements, the product identifier, and supplier identification.
Pictogram – graphic symbols that communicate specific information about chemical hazards.
Figure 1.1. GHS Sample Label

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GHS Safety Data Sheet – are globally recognized source of information for the inherent properties, safe handling
guidelines and hazards of a chemical. The information in a safety data sheet must appear in this order:
1. Identification
2. Hazard(s) identification
3. Composition/information on ingredients
4. First-aid measures
5. Fire-fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and storage
8. Exposure controls/personal protection
9. Physical and chemical properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport information
15. Regulatory information
16. Other information
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been the most recognized organization in the world
dedicated to fire protection and fire safety.
Figure 1.3. NFPA Hazard Diamond

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Hierarchy of Hazard Controls
The hierarchy of control should be used when determining the most appropriate manner for controlling risks
associated with chemical use. Generally, a combination of control will be required nevertheless the higher the
level of control the more effective it will be.
A. Elimination – Where reasonably practical designing or modifying work activities or processes that do
not require use of chemicals. An example of elimination includes: equipment that can be sterilized through
autoclaving and therefore disinfecting chemicals are not required.
B. Substitution – Use a less hazardous chemical or a chemical in a less hazardous form. A substitute
chemical should not introduce a new or a higher degree of risk to health. Examples of substitution include:
detergent in place of a chlorinated solvent for cleaning, water-based paint in place of a solvent-based
paint, painting with a brush rather than spray-painting (creates mist)
C. Isolation – it involves separating people from the chemical by distance or barriers to prevent or reduce
exposure. Examples of isolation include: closed systems such as those used during the processing and
transfer of flammable liquids, isolating operations in one room with access restricted to adequately
protected personnel
D. Engineering Controls – are physical controls that eliminate or reduce the generation of chemicals,
suppress or contain chemicals, or limit the area of contamination in the event of spills and leaks.
Engineering control often entail partial enclosure, exhaust ventilation or automation of processes.
Examples of engineering controls include: ventilation - keep gas/vapor concentration below Occupational
Exposure Limit (OEL); air movement to reduce heat stress; keep toxic contaminants below OEL; confined
space entry; limit CO2 build up; control clean room or hospital environments; hood or fume cupboards-
includes any suction device, regardless of shape, that encloses, captures or removes contaminants
E. Administrative Controls are systems of work or safe work practices which help to reduce employee
exposure to chemicals and those chemicals generated by their use. Examples:
• SOPs (Standard operating procedures)
• Training
• Housekeeping
• Inspection and audits
• Monitoring
• Work-area changes
F. Personal Protective Equipment PPE should not be the only risk control, as this control relies on staff,
students, researchers, and analysts following instructions and procedures correctly. PPE includes: eye
and face protection, hand protection, respirators, protective clothing, foot protection

Emergency response
Emergency planning and response based on industrial hygiene principles:
1. Anticipation
- Safety first
- Risk analysis
2. Recognition
- Types of lab hazards: chemical toxicity, fire/explosion, physical hazards, biohazards, radiation and
special substances
3. Evaluation
- Anticipated risks
- Facilities and equipment sufficient
- Properly trained staff
- Planning
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 4. Control
- Engineering controls
- Administrative Controls
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Four major phases in managing an emergency:
1. Mitigation phase – minimize the likelihood that an incident will occur and to limit the effects of an incident
that does occur.
2. Preparedness phase - process of developing plans for managing an emergency and taking action to
ensure that the laboratory is ready to handle an emergency
3. Response phase – involves efforts to manage the emergency as it occurs and may include outside
responders as well as laboratory staff.
- The response is more effective and efficient when those involved in it understand their roles, have
the training to perform their duties and have the supplies they need on hand.
4. Recovery phase – encompassed the action taken to restore the laboratory and affected areas to a point
where the functions of the laboratory can be carried out safely.

REFERENCES

o University of San Carlos Chemistry Review Center (Chemical Safety and Waste Management Reviewer)
o Manila Review Institute, Inc. (Chemical Technician Reviewer)
o Sison Review Center (Chemical Technician Reviewer)
o Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) – PEME Consultancy, Inc Manual
o Occupational Safety and Health https://www.osha.gov/hazcom
o World Health Organization, Chemical Safety https://www.who.int/health-topics/chemical-safety#tab=tab_1
o Building Maps, NFPA https://www.building-maps.com/how-to-read-an-nfpa-fire-diamond/

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