While many individual chemical substances are inadequately assessed in terms of their. Even in the cleanest, most modern office, employees are exposed routinely to inks, toners and adhesives not to mention a wide range of materials used in cleaning and. The npg gives general industrial hygiene information for hundreds of chemicals classes. How can we find out, whether a working substance is a hazardous substance. Chemical hazards california department of industrial relations. Pdf chemical hazards are a major occupational health and safety ohs issue in. There are three main routes of entry absorption inhalation ingestion. The list is broken down into the four main categories of hazards. The niosh pocket guide to chemical hazards npg informs workers, employers, and occupational health professionals about workplace chemicals and their hazards. In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicals must be available and understandable to. The ccs, in close coordination with the division of chemical health and safety, commissioned a task force of stakeholders and subject matter experts to create a guide for identifying and evaluating. Times change and, due to the hard work and diligence of occupational health. Chemical hazards are substances which, because of its characteristics and effects, may cause harm to human health and safety. There may be too much oxygen, or other chemicals that can catch fire or explode.
A toxic effect may be visible damage, or a decrease in performance or function measurable only by a test. Management of chemical hazards requires the combined efforts of occupational health and safety ohs specialists, including generalist ohs professionals, occupational hygienists and occupational health practitioners. What are the risks of working with these chemicals. Safety and health topics chemical hazards and toxic. An overview find, read and cite all the research you need on. Pdf chemical hazards and safety management in pharmaceutical. Chemical hazards and toxic substances pose a wide range of health hazards such as irritation, sensitization, and carcinogenicity and physical hazards such as flammability, corrosion, and explosibility. These effects can strike a single cell, a group of cells, an organ system, or the entire body. Pdf on apr 1, 2004, len levy and others published chemical hazards in the workplace. Understanding these various routes of entry is necessary to prevent exposure to hazardous chemicals. The use of chemicals in the workplace has increased globally and will continue to pose hazards at the workplace 7, 8. This involves identifying the chemicals you have in your workplace and the hazards associated with them. Chemical hazards the methods in which chemicals enter the body are called routes of entry.
The best way to protect workers from hazards is to remove the hazards from the workplace altogether, or at least keep them away from workers. This page provides basic information about chemical hazards and toxic substances in the workplace. Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace code of. Chemical hazards can be broken down to include exposure to. The physical, environmental and human hazards of a chemical substance must be considered when conducting a risk assessment in the workplace. Breathing in contaminated air is the most common way that workplace chemicals enter the body. Safety and health topics chemical hazards and toxic substances.
D provide less toxic cleaning products when possible. Poisonous gases and vapors, such as hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide, may also build up in a confined space. The npg clearly presents key data for chemicals or substance groupings such as cyanides. Your steps to chemical safety 8 you have seen how chemicals effect the body. The toxicity of a substance is its ability to cause harmful effects. Identifying and evaluating hazards in research laboratories. Locally, both ngo and leo 9 and woo and sundar 10 reported that 10% of. Chemical hazards are a major occupational health and safety issue in australian. Chemical hazards abstract chemical hazards are a major occupational health and safety issue in australian workplaces. Employees of all kinds work with these chemicals in a pure form or in a mixture.