An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
An Introduction to
Chemical Awareness
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Aims and Objectives
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Current legislation
Hazards and symbols of chemicals
Types of chemicals and what they do
PPE
Risk assessment
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
EXAMPLES
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Legionnaires disease
Blood borne viruses
MRSA
Latex gloves
Respiratory Sensitizers
Cyotoxic drugs
Clinical Waste
Glutaraldehyde
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Bleach
Paints
Glues
Lubricating oils
Wood dust
Pesticides
Ozone (Photocopying)
Toilet cleaners
• Chlorohexidine
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Current legislation
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
• Very toxic or toxic
substances and
preparations cause
death or acute or
chronic damage to
health when inhaled,
swallowed or absorbed
via the skin, even in
small quantities.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
• Harmful substances
may cause death or
acute or chronic
damage to health when
inhaled, swallowed or
absorbed through the
skin.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
• Corrosive substances
and preparations may
destroy living tissues
on contact and
include:
Acids – Sulphuric Acid
Alkalis – Sodium
Hydroxide
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
• Irritant substances
and preparations are
non-corrosive but may
cause inflammation
through immediate,
prolonged or repeated
contact with skin or
mucous membranes
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Sensitising substances and preparations may cause
an allergic reaction.
(Inhalation and Skin contact)
Di-Isocyanates, Flour/Grain Dust, Crustaceans/Fish
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Carcinogenic substances and preparations may induce
cancer or increase its incidence if inhaled or ingested
or absorbed by the skin.
Mustard gas, hardwood dusts, coal soots
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Mutagen substances or preparations which cause a
permanent change in the amount or structure of the
genetic material in an organism, resulting in a
genetic change or the characteristics of the
organism. Eg Ethidium Bromide (dye)
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Teratogenic substances which are capable of
disturbing the growth and development of an
embryo or foetus. Eg Ethanol
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Solvent is a liquid or gas that dissolves a solid,
liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic
compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and
carbon.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Oil a colloquial term used to refer to certain diverse
and unrelated compounds sharing the same physical
properties (such as viscosity and a hydrophobic
nature), while ignoring related compounds.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Oxidisers a chemical compound that readily
transfers oxygen atoms.
Eg Hydrogen Peroxide
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Flammable or Highly
Flammable or
Extremely Flammable
is the ease with which a
substance will ignite,
causing fire or
combustion.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Explosion is a sudden
increase in volume and
release of energy in an
extreme manner,
usually with the
generation of high
temperatures and the
release of gases.
Eg Chemical
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Definitions
Dangerous when wet
substance is one that
spontaneously undergoes
a chemical reaction with
water.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
“Substance Hazardous
to Health ?”
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
“Substance Hazardous
to Health ?”
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Other signs
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
EVALUATING
THE RISK
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FIND OUT
The likelihood of exposure
What level of exposure could occur
Potential duration of exposure
Potential for recurring exposure
CONCLUDE
Whether existing or potential exposure is
significant or not?
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
“Substance Hazardous
to Health”
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very toxic, toxic, harmful, corrosive, irritant
WELs
Biological agent
Any substance creating a comparable
hazard
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
FACTORS FOR ASSESSMENT
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Routes of entry
Health effects
Chemical reactions
Engineering controls
Safety data sheets
Personal protective equipment
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
ROUTES OF ENTRY
• INHALATION
• INGESTION
• SKIN ABSORPTION
• INJECTION
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
TOXIC EFFECTS
THE EFFECTS OF A CHEMICAL ON THE
BODY ARE DTERMINED BY:
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THE AMOUNT TAKEN INTO THE
BODY
THE EXPOSURE TIME
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
TOXIC DOSES
• ONE GRAM OF SALT CAN KILL A RAT
• SIX GRAMS OF CAFFEINE CAN KILL A
HUMAN
• ONE TABLET OF PENICILLAN CAN
KILL A PERSON WHO IS ALLERGIC TO
IT
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
ACUTE EFFECTS
• Usually results from short exposures to high doses
• Very often short lived, and usually followed by
permanent damage or complete recovery
• Effects are usually very visible so cause is easily
found
• Wide variation in effects from simple irritation to
death
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
CHRONIC EFFECTS (1)
• Health Effects - from exposures over a
“long” period of time.
• Cause and effect difficult to identify
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
CHRONIC EFFECTS (2)
• CARCINOGENIC
• TERATOGENIC
• MUTAGENIC
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
CHRONIC EFFECTS (3)
• REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS
These
chemicals, unlike teratogens, can affect the male
and female reproductive systems. As a result the
ability to have children may be impaired.
• SPECIFIC ORGAN TOXICITY
Chronic
overexposure to some substances can damage
specific organs e.g. Carbon Tetrachloride can
cause liver damage.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
WELs ( 1)
• Workplace Exposure Limit (WELs):- Is the
concentration of airborne substance, averaged
over a reference period(e.g. 8 hour long term)
to which employees may be exposed by
inhalation under the circumstances.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
WELs ( 2)
The concentration of an airborne substance,
averaged over a reference period at which,
according to current knowledge, there is no
evidence that it is likely to be injurious to
employees if they are exposed by inhalation, day
after day, to that concentration
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
WELs
Cumulative effects of different chemicals.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
MAINTAINING CONTROL
• Health questionnaires
• Monitoring exposure
-WELs
• Emergency plans
• Auditing procedures
• Health surveillance
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
SAFETY DATA SHEET 1
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Identification of the substance/preparation
Identification of the company or undertaking
Composition/information on ingredients
Hazard identification
First Aid measurements
Fire-fighting measurements
Accidental release measures
Handling and storage
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
SAFETY DATA SHEET 2
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Exposure controls/personal protection
Physical & chemical properties
Stability & reactivity
Toxicological information
Ecological information
Disposal information
Transport information
Regulatory information
Other information
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
ABBREVIATIONS
• TWA = Time Weighted Average
• STEL = Short term exposure limit (15 mins)
• LTEL = Long term exposure limit (8 hours)
(TWA)
• WELs = Workplace Exposure Limit
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Skin Absorption
• SK = Can be absorbed through the skin
Exposure via the dermal route may:
Make a substantial contribution to the body load.
Cause systemic effects so conclusions based on
airborne concentration limits may be invalid.
• SEN = Causes respiratory sensitization
(Asthmagen)
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
COSHH Essentials
Skin Care:
Body’s largest organ.
Protection against the environment.
First line of defence against harmful bacteria.
Without its sensory organs we would have no
warning of dangerous contact.
Wash hands regularly.
Apply a moisturiser.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
CONTROL MEASURES
“HEIRARCHY OF CONTROL”
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ELIMINATION
SUBSTITUTION
CONTROL AT SOURCE
ENGINEERING CONTROLS :
( Total / Partial Enclosure / Isolation / LEV )
MAINTAIN DISTANCE
REDUCE CONTACT TIME : (Rotation)
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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OPERATING PROCEDURES
•SUPERVISION
•TRAINING
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DISCIPLINE
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
PRACTICAL CONTROLS
• Limit volumes being handled /stored.
• Review type, size, shape, weight of
containers used.
• Store incompatible substances separately.
• Implement spillage /emergency procedures.
• Transport substance in closed/sealed
containers.
• Use substances in less volatile states /forms.
• Restrict access.
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
PRE-INFORMATION,
TRAINING &
INSTRUCTION
• Inform the employee about
the risks
• Give the employee
information on PPE
• Provide instruction on use
• Arrange for training
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
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Reactions / behaviour
Skin examination
Lung function test
Breath sample
Saliva sample
Blood sample
Urine sample
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Risk Assessment
1. Identify hazards
2. Decide who may be harmed and how
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
4. Record findings and implement them
5. Review your assessment update, if necessary
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Myth:
Risk assessment is too
complicated for me
to do!
Source: H and S Myths
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Myth:
Graduates are
banned from throwing
mortar boards
Source: H and S Myths
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Good schools need to focus on turning
out people who are risk savvy, not risk
averse petty bureaucrats equipped with
tick-box clipboards. Safety needs to be a
core value in schools just like everywhere
else - not the first excuse of choice when
things get a bit difficult.
Source: Judith Hackett (Chair of HSE)
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness
Conclusions
An Introduction to Chemical Awareness