DEALING WITH CHEMICAL SAFETY

PART 1: HAZARDS - GENERAL

A chemical can only be harmful in one of three ways:
1)
2)
3)

It can contribute to, or cause a fire or explosion

It can come into contact with the human body.
It can enter the body.

In the workplace, chemicals can enter the body through:

1)

Inhalation: breathing chemicals into the lungs is the most common form of
entry.

2)

Contact: with the eyes or through the skin.

3)

Ingestion: either from eating or drinking.

It follows therefore, that chemicals need to be in the appropriate form to enter the
body:
a)

To enter the lungs: a substance would need to be in the form of smoke,

fumes, mist, dust or vapour.

b)

To enter through the skin: a substance must be in a form that can be

absorbed through the skin and in most cases this is either a vapour, liquid,
spray or mist.

A chemical absorbed into the body may cause acute or chronic poisoning and the
effects might be immediate or develop over a long period, depending on the
dosage.
The nature of different substance will alter the effects these substances can
have:
a)

Corrosives: usually affect the mouth, nose and throat and cause
inflammation, irritation and even severe burns. Fumes, especially acid,
can be extremely hazardous.

b)

Allergens: depending upon the length and quantity of exposure, these can
lead to things like dermatitis and asthma.

c)

Mutagens: can change the genetic code of cells.

d)

Teratogens: can affect the growth of the fertilised egg and the embryo.

Of the vast quantity of chemicals and chemical compounds in daily use, some
are relatively safe, some present a hazard to certain people and some present a
hazard to everyone.
Apart from these health hazards, two other major hazards make chemicals an
important issue in occupational health and safety i.e fire & environmental
pollution.
PART 2: HAZARDS. FIRE
In most cases, fire occurs when flammable vapour is given off from a material or
chemical and is in the presence of oxygen and a source of ignition.
This again makes the physical form of the material very important. For example:
a)

Flammable gases which are already in a vaporous state are more

hazardous than combustible solids.

b)

Flammable liquids present a greater fire hazard if their surface area is

increased.

c)

Dust and fibre deposits are real hazards in mills and similar work areas
due to the risk of explosion.

The temperature of the substance and the availability of oxygen are two crucial
ingredients when evaluating potential fire hazards.
If these factors are considered, along with the possibility of containerisation and
separation of chemical substances / compounds, many of the hazards can at
least be reduced.

PART 3: HAZARDS - ENVIRONMEN{TAL POLLUTION

Environmental pollution can occur when a chemical or toxic substance is
released into the environment in an uncontrolled manner.
This usually take the form of:
a)
b)

Spills and leaks

Air contamination

Both can occur inside the work area or in the outside environment and lead to
environmental damage, be sources of fuel for fires and pose health hazards.
PART 4: CONTROL MEASURES
The first step in controlling any hazards is to understand them, but in the case of
chemicals, this can be a major problem because.
a)
b)

Information is needed not only about the particular substance being used.
What happens when one or more substances are combined in a process
or product, and what are the resulting properties of by-products and
finished products?
SOLUTION:
Combine information such as material safety sheets with the experience of
trained personnel in the workplace.

CONTROL STEPS
1)

Eliminate the use of chemicals which are not needed.

2)

Substitute, where possible:

a)
Less hazardous chemicals for hazardous ones that will perform the
same task
b)
The process currently being used; for example, a spray process
may be replaced by a dipping process
c)
The container a chemical is supplied in to a safety canister.

3)

Identify each chemical container with the product name and that of the
manufacturer and any necessary warning labels and symbols. Warning
symbols and details of the ingredients should also be present on the
original container.

4)

Never use contaminated containers.

5)

Isolate hazardous processes either by enclosing the activity or operation,

or by keeping particular work practices at a safe distance from other work
areas.

6)

Ventilate work areas adequately to remove airborne contaminants and

lessen the risk of fire, by removing flammable vapor.

7)

Monitor contaminant levels in the air to ensure that exposure to chemicals

is within acceptable levels. Regular medical screening of personnel might
be necessary in high risk environments.

8)

Personal hygiene should be an established practice in all workplaces and

included in this regime could be:
a)
b)
c)

Regular change of clothes.

Use of barrier creams and gloves.
Regular washing of hands and forearms.

9)

Good housekeeping, especially cleaning and decontaminating surfaces,

should be an everyday control measure.

10)

Personal protective equipment such as aprons, gloves, goggles, face

shields, respirators and foot wear are often the last line of defence should
an accident occur. Some activities, of course, present high risk and the
wearing of personal protective equipment can be of paramount
importance.

11)

Safety signs identifying high risk situations and work areas should be
posted and obeyed by all personnel as well as visitors and contractors.

12)

Safe work procedures laid down for a particular job or task take into
consideration all the risks and hazards that may exist and must be strictly
adhered to.

If any processes, chemical use, or work procedures change in a particular job or

task or if you have a concern, raise it with your supervisor, safety committee or
safety manager.

PART 5: STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION

Understanding some of the fundamental considerations involved in the safe
storage and transportation of chemicals highlights the importance of following the
correct procedures.
Questions to be considered are:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Should access to the chemical be controlled by being placed in a locked

area?
Is a controlled temperature environment required for storage of some
chemicals?
What quantity of a particular chemical can be safely stored in one
location?
Are particular combinations of chemicals safe to store with each other?
Is the storage area in a suitable location?
Is ventilation of the storage area adequate?
Is dry storage required for some storage container?
Is bunded storage needed for a particular liquid to contain spills or leaks?

Transporting chemicals requires addressing many of the same sort of problems

that apply to storage, with the additional requirement that the required
identification signs are displayed during transportation. In many cases this is a
legal requirement.
PART 6: EVALUATION OF HANDLING & STORAGE METHODS
Should any of the following situations arise, there may be a problem that has not
been recognised or properly addressed:
a)
b)
c)
d)

People suffering irritation to the eyes, nose, throat or skin.

The presence of unpleasant smells.
Clouds of smoke, dust or fumes.
Excessive amounts of dust on work-benches or floors.

Also, the introduction of a new chemical, or infrequent use of particular

chemicals, can introduce a new hazard to a particular work area which may
require strict handling or storage requirements.
Regardless of where chemicals are used, everyone has a commitment to
following safe working procedures.
Realising the risk and conducting an on-going program to minimise the hazards
will reduce accidents and make every workplace a safe workplace.