Introduction to
chemical hazards:
understand
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Introduction to chemical hazards
Hazardous chemicals
Hazardous chemicals have the potential
to harm humans, other species or the
environment. They may be naturally
occurring, manufactured or the by-product
of an industrial process. Their benefit to
humans is immeasurable. However, if their
use is not effectively managed they can
cause harm.
The classification
of chemical hazards
Substances hazardous to health are
classified as follows:
• corrosive – for example, oven
cleaners and caustic soda
• dangerous to the environment –
for example, chlorofluorocarbons
or pesticides
• explosive – for example, fireworks
• toxic – for example, asbestos and lead
• harmful or irritant – for example,
isocyanates (found in some
paints) or adhesives
• sensitiser – substances (for example,
isocyanate paints) that can cause an
allergic reaction or effect, usually
affecting the skin or respiratory system
• oxidising – for example, hair
dyes and bleaches
• highly or extremely flammable –
for example, liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG) or methylated spirits
• carcinogenic, mutagens and reprotoxins
(teratogens) – for example, silica dust and
diesel fumes.
1
Gathering information on hazardous chemicals
How hazardous substances cause harm
depends on how they enter the body.
Injection through skin or other areas Absorption through the skin or eyes
Inhalation to the lungs Ingestion through the mouth
Before undertaking a hazardous substance • gathering information about the
assessment and implementing control chemicals used or produced
measures, you must first identify the
hazards from the substance(s).
• identifying how exposure may occur
• What are the properties
There are several ways that OSH of the substance?
professionals can identify hazards • How are they used?
from chemicals in the workplace.
• How much?
These include: • How long?
• reading a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) • identifying who is at risk. Particular
for a manufactured chemical groups will be at higher risk of
• undertaking occupational hygiene working with some chemicals,
monitoring (air sampling and/ eg, new and expectant mothers
or biological monitoring) if the chemical is a mutagen or
teratogen, or known asthmatics if the
• identifying hazardous chemicals that
chemical is a sensitiser or irritant
are process-generated, naturally
occurring or created by production • putting in place in place appropriate
processing by seeking advice from controls or combination of controls
process engineers or industrial chemists using the ‘hierarchy of control’ concept.
and from guidance material
2
Risk-assessing hazardous substances
Here are some examples of controls Administrative controls
using this concept. • Modify the system of work, such
as by changing the times at
Eliminating the risk which certain tasks are done.
• Change the activity so that a • Use placards or hazard warning signs.
hazardous chemical is not used.
• Use housekeeping and labelling to
• Use a non-harmful substance instead limit inadvertent (especially skin)
of a hazardous one (known as exposure to workplace hazards.
elimination through substitution).
• Provide specific training and
Substituting the system of work, work instructions.
substance or plant for something less • Rotate staff to minimise exposure
hazardous times to hazardous chemicals.
• Change the type of hazardous • Implement emergency arrangements
chemicals kept on site.
to mitigate accidental release of
• Use a pelletised form of the hazardous chemicals or inadvertent exposure
chemical, rather than a powdered form. of workers to chemicals.
• Replace asbestos with safer • Provide safety showers as part of
synthetic substitutes, such as glass emergency arrangements (such
foam, rock and glass wool. as exposure to corrosives).
• Vacuum or use an industrial sweeper • Provide spill clean-up equipment.
to clean up concentrated dusts, rather
than sweep them up manually. • Use schedules to remove workers from
exposure (eg, remove lead miners)
• Paint using a brush or roller instead from the area of exposure if their blood
of by spray gun application. lead levels exceed a certain level).
• Select a product with less • Use occupational hygiene monitoring and
volatile ingredients. health surveillance to monitor exposure.
• Reduce the quantities of hazardous
chemicals kept on site. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) /
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
Engineering controls • Provide eye, respiratory and hand
• Use Local Exhaust Ventilation protection for workers (and instruction
(LEV) to remove fumes. on when and how to use it).
• Use ventilation as the main method of
control of airborne chemical hazards,
particularly contaminants in underground
mines and sample preparation
areas when pulverising samples.
• Use spill containment.
• Use safety relief valves.
• Use overfill protection.
• Introduce a restricted work area.
• Locate potentially hazardous materials
or processes away from frequently-
used thoroughfares and buildings.
• Enclose the system.
• Separate goods from other hazards.
• Segregate incompatible substances.
3
Summary
Chemical hazards exist in almost every
workplace, so it is important to know how
to manage them. This introduction has
given an overview of the steps needed to
identify, classify, risk-assess and control
chemical hazards.
4
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