Chemical Safety
Walking the walk
NOT
Talking the talk!
Chemicals are a hazard

Hazard:
Potential to cause harm

Risk:
Likelihood that harm will arise


Perception of risk is critical
Risk depends on exposure
Minimise EXPOSURE & reduce the RISK!
Hazardous Substances

Physico-chemical Hazards


include flammable, explosive and oxidising
Toxicological Hazards

include toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, harmful,
irritant, corrosive and sensitising

Environmental Hazards
Flash-Point

The flammability of Liquids defined by its flash-
point
 The
lowest temperature at which a fuel-
air mixture present above the surface of
a liquid will ignite if an ignition source is
introduced

21-55 0C ~ Flammable

<21 0C ~ Highly flammable

< 0 0C ~
Extremely flammable
Toxic
LD50 (oral) LD50
mg/kg
(skin)
mg/kg
Very toxic <25
<50
(T+)
Toxic (T) 25-200
50-400
LC50(inhal)
mg/l(4hrs)
Harmful
(Xn)
2-20
200-2000
400-2000
<0.5
0.5-2
Adequate Risk Assessment

Should be commensurate with the risk
and complexity of the process

Competent person

Must take into account the substances, nature
of the work, human variability and the nature
and degree of exposure
Chemical Risk Assessment

Step 1:
Collect the relevant information

Step 2:
Assess the risk

Step 3:
ID prevention and protective
measures

Step 4:
Plan for an emergency

Step 5:
Audit and review

Step 6:
Communicate the RA
Chemical safety
Minimise
EXPOSURE
and reduce the
RISK!
Chemical reality I

30th January 2003 - Irish Independent

34 year old worker habitually exposed to
excessive dust and fumes

“Such a character and such concentration
as to be likely injurious to his health”

Contracted asthma

€165000 plus costs against the company
Chemical reality II

Research laboratory – Spring 1988

Safe systems of work

Solvent stills

Water pressure

‘Pulling capillaries’

Presence of mind is good – absence of
body is better!
Chemical reality III

9th September 1993

Amino alcohol production

Ester formation

Thionyl chloride leak

€16,000 per day