MEM603

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

Chapter 4 Industrial Hazards
i. Introduc,on to Industrial Hazards
ii. Type of hazards
iii. Mechanical and Electrical Hazards

iv. Chemical Hazards

v. Physical Hazards (Noise, Vibra,on, Radia,on,

Pressurized Environment, Thermal Stress)
vi. Ergonomics/ Manual Handlings
vii. Psycho-Social Hazards
viii. Biological Hazards
ix. Transport Hazards
x. Fire safety

Hazardous
Chemicals in the
Workplace

What are Chemical Hazard?

Hazardous chemicals in the workplace are substances, mixtures
and materials that can be classified according to their health and
physicochemical risks and dangers.

Eects of chemicals
Nature / Hazards
Route of Entry / Exposure
Dose
Concentration
Duration

Characteristics of the person

Chemicals: Hazards
There are two broad types of hazards associated with hazardous chemicals
(1)Health and
(2)Physicochemical hazards (many chemicals have both health and physicochemical
hazards)

Health hazards These are properties of a chemical that have the potential to
cause adverse health effects
Adverse health effects can be
acute (short term) - headaches, nausea or vomiting and skin corrosion
chronic (long term) - asthma, dermatitis, nerve damage or cancer

Chemicals: Hazards
Physicochemical hazards These are physical or chemical properties
of the substance, mixture or article that pose risks to workers other than
health risks, as they do not occur as a consequence of the biological
interaction of the chemical with people
They arise through inappropriate handling or use and can often result in
injury to people and/or damage to property as a result of the intrinsic
physical hazard
Examples include flammable, corrosive, explosive, chemically reactive
and oxidising chemicals

Potential Routes of Entry

Chemicals can enter the body and harm us via
the following routes of exposure:
Inhalation (breathing in)
Absorption (through skin or eyes)
Needle-stick (injection)
Ingestion (eating or swallowing)

The Importance of Dose

Dose takes into consideration HOW LONG
we are exposed to a chemical and at what
CONCENTRATION
For example, a very high concentration of
alcohol for a short time might be lethal while
intermittent exposure to lower amounts of
alcohol may do little harm

Where do Chemicals Affect?

Chemicals in the body can be described by which part of the body they affect:
EFFECT

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE

LOCAL

Adverse eects to the par,cular

,ssue

Phenol can severely damage the skin

Ammonia can irritate the respiratory
tract

SYSTEMIC

Adverse eects on one of the

systems of the body

Lead aects the nervous system,

blood, kidneys
Organophosphate pes,cides may
aect the nervous system

When do Chemicals Affect the Body?

EFFECT

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE

ACUTE

Short las,ng and develop soon

aVer exposure

Irritant gases immediately irritate the

eyes
Excessive exposure to organic solvents
can induce narco,c eects such as
headaches
Death from high, short term exposure
to carbon monoxide

CHRONIC

Long las,ng and some,mes

permanent. Onset may be soon
aVer exposure or delayed

Leukemia from benzene exposure

Reduced fer,lity from lead exposure

Risk Assessment of Chemicals

A PCBU must manage risks associated with using, handling, generating or
storing of hazardous chemicals at a workplace
When managing the risks, regard must be had to the following factors:
the hazardous properties of the hazardous chemical
any potentially hazardous reaction (chemical or physical) between the
hazardous chemical and another substance or mixture, including a substance
that may be generated by the reaction
the nature of the work to be carried out with the hazardous chemical
any structure, plant or system of work that:

is used in the use, handling, generation or storage of the hazardous chemical

could interact with the hazardous chemical at the workplace.

* person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)

Implementing Control Measures to

Minimise the Risk
When controlling chemical hazards, the hierarchy of control should be followed:
Elimination of the chemical/process
Substitution of chemical or process e.g. asbestos with glass wool, benzene with
xylene, changing from a dry process to wet, dipping instead of spraying

Engineering (ventilation) e.g. fumehoods, canopy hoods, filtration systems

Engineering (isolation) e.g. a glove box for handling toxics, remote controls,
performing certain work after hours

Administrative e.g. modifying work schedules, air monitoring, training, work methods,
signage, health monitoring

Personal Protective Equipment e.g. gloves, respirators, goggles, lab coats,

enclosed footwear

Prohibited and restricted hazardous

chemicals
The WHS-Work Health Safety Regulations prohibit or restrict the use,
storage or handling of certain hazardous chemicals in certain situations.
substances containing arsenic must not be used in spray painting or abrasive
blasting
a number of carcinogens such as 4-nitrodiphenyls are prohibited from all uses
except for genuine research or analysis authorised by the regulator
certain chemicals can be used, handled or stored in the workplace after
receiving authorisation from the regulator. Eg cyclophosphamide in
therapeutic use in hospitals
Schedule 10 of the WHS Regulations provides further information on the
hazardous chemicals that are restricted or prohibited for use

Health and Safety Duties in Relation

to Hazardous Chemicals
Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of substances must
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the substance they design,
manufacture, import or supply is without risks to health and safety. Under
the WHS Regulations, manufacturers and importers must:

correctly classify hazardous chemicals.

prepare safety data sheets (SDS), the disclosure of ingredients, packing,

labelling and supply of hazardous chemicals

Health and Safety Duties in Relation

to Hazardous Chemicals
The WHS Regulations include specific duties for a person conducting a
business or undertaking (PCBU) to manage the risks to health and safety
associated with using, handling, generating and storing hazardous chemicals at
a workplace
Officers, such as company directors, have a duty to exercise due diligence to
ensure that the business or undertaking complies with the WHS Act and
Regulations. This includes taking reasonable steps to ensure that the business
or undertaking has and uses appropriate resources and processes to eliminate
or minimise risks that arise from hazardous chemicals at the workplace.

Duties: Officers
The duties include:
maintaining a register of hazardous chemicals
identifying risk of physical or chemical reaction of hazardous chemicals and ensuring
the stability of hazardous chemicals
ensuring that exposure standards are not exceeded
provision of health monitoring to workers if required
Provision of information, training, instruction and supervision to workers and records
kept
provision of spill containment system for hazardous chemicals if necessary
obtaining the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the manufacturer, importer or
supplier of the chemical

Duties: Officers (cont.)

ensuring chemicals are correctly labelled (remain labelled)
controlling ignition sources and accumulation of flammable and combustible
substances
provision and availability of fire protection, fire fighting equipment and emergency and
safety equipment
preparing an emergency plan if the quantity of a class of hazardous chemical at a
workplace exceeds the manifest quantity for that hazardous chemical
stability and support of containers for bulk hazardous chemicals including pipework
and attachments
decommissioning of underground storage and handling systems, and notifying the
regulator as soon as practicable of abandoned tanks in certain circumstances

Duties: Workers
Workers have a duty to:
Follow health and safety instructions
Follow safe work practices
Take reasonable care for their own health and safety
Take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect the health and
safety of others
Participate in training and/or inductions
Assist in identifying, assessing and managing risks
Use appropriate safety systems, equipment and personal protective equipment
as required

Hazard Pictograms & Dangerous

Goods Class Labels
There are 9 hazard pictograms in the GHS which represent the
physical, health and environmental hazards.
When to use Hazard Pictograms or DG Class Labels?
All decanted substances should have GHS hazard pictograms on label
All transported substances (e.g. air, road, rail) must have DG Class Labels

Users of chemicals must ensure they understand the meaning and use
of the GHS Hazard Pictograms and the DG Class labels.

Comparison of hazard pictograms

from the GHS & the corresponding
ADG Code class labels

Labels
All chemical packages, containers, tanks or bulk stores must be clearly labelled
with the following information:
The product identifier
Proper shipping name and UN number (if chemical is dangerous goods)
The contact details of manufacturer or importer
Identity and proportion of each ingredient
Any hazard pictogram or a dangerous goods class label (for transport)
Any hazard statement, signal word and precautionary statement
Any information about the hazards, first aid and emergency procedures
Expiry date

Example of GHS labels

Product identifier
Ingredient proportions
Signal word
Hazard pictograms

Hazard statements

Precautionary statements

Supplier information

Labelling Decanted Substances

When a substance is decanted from the
original container and not used
immediately (or given to someone else),
the decanted container must have a
label which states:
the product identifier (name)
hazard pictogram or hazard statement

Labelling Consumer Products

A hazardous chemical does not need to meet the labelling requirements under
the WHS Regulations if the chemical is a consumer product with the original label
on its container and if it is reasonably foreseeable that the hazardous chemical will be
used in the workplace only:
in a quantity that is consistent with consumer household use
in a way that is consistent with consumer household use, and
in a way that is incidental to the nature of the work carried out by a worker using
the chemical
Consumer products which do not meet the definition of a workplace hazardous
chemical and are covered by the SUSMP must comply with SUSMP labelling
requirements

SUSMP means the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons, published by
the Na,onal Drugs and Poisons Schedule CommiXee as amended from ,me to ,me.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a chemical information sheet
provided by the manufacturer or supplier of chemicals
It describes the identity, properties, uses, precautions for use
and safe handling procedures of a hazardous chemical
A SDS must be readily available at each location where the
chemical is used

Safety Data Sheets (cont.)

The supplier must provide the current safety data sheet for the
hazardous chemical when the chemical is first supplied to the
workplace and if the SDS is amended, when the hazardous chemical is
first supplied to the workplace after the SDS is amended
A PCBU must obtain the safety data sheet (and any amended version)
for a hazardous chemical from the manufacturer, importer or supplier no
later than when the chemical is first supplied at the workplace or as
soon as practicable after it is first supplied but before it is used at the
workplace

Preparing a Register
The register is a list of the product names of all hazardous chemicals
used, handled or stored at the workplace accompanied by the current SDS
(one that is not more than five years old) for each hazardous chemical
listed. It must be updated as new hazardous chemicals are introduced to
the workplace or when the use of a particular hazardous chemical is
discontinued.
A PCBU must ensure that a register of hazardous chemicals at the
workplace is prepared and kept up-to-date. The register must be readily
accessible to workers involved in using, handling or storing
hazardous chemicals and to anyone else who is likely to be affected by a
hazardous chemical at the workplace.

Emergency Plan
If the quantity of a Schedule 11 hazardous chemical used, handled,
generated or stored at a workplace exceeds the manifest quantity for
that hazardous chemical:
the PCBU at the workplace must give a copy of an emergency plan in
relation to the workplace to a primary emergency service organisation
(SAMFS)

If the primary emergency service organisation gives the person a written

recommendation about the content or effectiveness of the emergency
plan, the person must revise the plan in accordance with the
recommendation
hXp://www.mfs.sa.gov.au/site/community_safety/commercial/hazardous_chemicals_emergency_planning.jsp

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publica,ons/Documents/681/
Placard_manifest_requirements_WHS_Regs.pdf

Empty / Uncleaned containers

If a container is not cleaned to a condition as if it had never
contained the hazardous chemical, then the container must be
labelled
Any uncleaned containers must be included when calculating
placard and manifest quantities (mostly in the case of a liquid)
quantity means the net capacity in litres of the container

Health Monitoring
Regs 368, 370 and 406, Schedule 14
Health Monitoring is required to be performed if workers have a
significant risk health from ongoing exposure to any of the following
substances:
MOCA, Acrylonitrile, Asbestos, Benzene, Cadmium, Creosote, Crystalline
Silica, Inorganic Arsenic, Inorganic Chromium, Inorganic Mercury,
Isocyanates, Organophosphate Pesticides, Lead, Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAH), Pentachlorophenol (PCP), Vinyl Chloride, Thallium

Prohibited and Restricted Carcinogens if a valid technique is available.

Further help?

www.safework.sa.gov.au

ADG Code, class labels and publication information

www.ntc.gov.au/heavy-vehicles/safety/australian-dangerous-goods-code/

Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/labelling-hazardous-chemicals-cop

Model Code of Practice: Preparation of Safety Data Sheets

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/safety-data-sheets-hazardous-chemicals-cop

Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice

http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/managing-risks-of-hazardous-chemicalsin-the-workplace

GHS hazard pictograms for download

www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/pictograms.html

GHS revision 3 Official text and corrigenda:

www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html