The Ingenieur Vol 59 July-Sept 2014 The Ingenieur Vo. 59, July-Sept 2014 | Page 47

Control of hazardous chemicals
in the workplace
Because of the complexity
of
assessing
mixtures,
Governments and organisations
have tended to focus on individual
chemical
substances
when
developing strategies to prevent
exposures harmful to workers
health in the use of chemicals
at work. Occupational Exposure
Limit values (OEL) are standards
developed as guidelines to assist
in the control of health hazards
and used by industrial hygienists
in making decisions regarding
safe levels of exposure to various
chemical and physical agents
found in the workplace when
establishing control measures.
Deriving and implementing OEL
for individual chemicals has been
the primary approach.

property damage to the facility,
and in the worst case situation,
impact on surrounding parts of
the community and the general
environment.
The physical characteristics
of chemicals are often related
to health issues. Aspects such
as volatility rate, for example,
can determine the potential
for exposure in a workplace.
The proper control of such
hazards requires knowledge
of the potential effects of the
chemicals, as well as how such
effects might be made worse if
chemicals are not handled or
stored properly. The Globally
Harmonized
System
(GHS)
also has a list of classification
criteria for the physical hazards
of chemicals.
Physical
hazards
are
generally regarded as inherent
properties of the chemical
involved, but in many cases, a
precipitating factor is required
to trigger an effect. Therefore,
a highly flammable liquid that
is handled and stored away
from sources of ignition is not
likely to result in any harm.
Control of such adverse effects
requires extensive knowledge
of workplace conditions, the
chemicals involved, and the
possible synergistic effects of
the chemicals being handled
or stored in the same areas.
Monitoring the situation, as well
as regular maintenance, are key
to successful control.

Effects of physical hazards of
chemicals in the workplace
In addition to the potential for
serious injuries and diseases
to
workers
handling
the
chemicals in the workplace,
there is significant potential for

Achieving sound management
of chemicals in the workplace
The overall strategy to achieve
the sound management of
chemicals in the workplace
and in protecting the general
environment can be simply

Spray painting a car in a workshop
or 2.02 million correspond
to occupational and workrelated diseases; the annual
global number of cases of nonfatal work-related diseases is
estimated to be 160 million.
In 2013, the report for
the World Day on Safety and
Health at Work addressed the
prevention
of
occupational
diseases. While the focus was
not limited to those caused by
chemical exposure, the theme
was entirely consistent with this
year’s topic of safety and health
with the use of chemicals. The
number of physical, chemical,
biological and psycho-social
factors
affecting
workers’
health is constantly on the
rise. The International Labour
Organisation (ILO) has been
responding to the challenge
of
preventing
occupational
diseases with, among other
tools, the elaboration of an
International Reference List of
Occupational Diseases revised
periodically by an international
tripartite meeting of experts.

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