Improving safe use of chemicals can be achieved at different levels.
A Safety Committee should be formed with the task of working regularly with safety issues. It could start to work with following:
Organizational measures
· assess chemical hazards and set priorities concerning the safety in the organisation;
· create emergency plans for the assessed hazards;
· organize occupational health care and regular surveys as necessary;
· organize contacts with authorities/laboratories to createa monitoring system for chemical hazards, and to reliably measure and/or estimate occupational exposures to chemicals when needed;
· start collecting case studies of accidents and sickness records in the enterprise to create a basis for priority measures in the control of hazards;
· identify chemicals in use;
· obtain information of their hazards;
· collect this data and make an inventory list of all chemicals used in the factory: create a Register for Workplace Chemicals;
· involve workers in safety organizations, such as the system of Safety Representatives, and Safety Committees;
Technical measures to control the hazard
Technical measures can be used to prevent chemical hazards at source, and to prevent the transfer of dangerous chemicals. By technical means it is possible to reduce the exposure of the worker.
Substitution
An effective control method for any hazardous chemical is substitution: a hazardous chemical is replaced with a less hazardous one. This is especially important when the chemicals in question can cause cancer, damage to the reproductive functions or create allergic reactions. Choosing a safer process or changing an old and hazardous process to a less dangerous one effectively reduces the risks.
An example of safer choice is to have pellets or paste instead of powdered substances which readily produce high levels of dangerous dusts. Water-based paints and adhesives are available to replace harmful products containing solvents.
All possible information should be made available when considering the change of a substance or the whole process so that the new choice does not create unexpected new dangers.
Engineering control
· Closed system
· If hazardous chemicals can not be replaced by less dangerous ones, exposure must be prevented by protecting the worker. Enclosing the hazardous process or chemical is an effective method.
One example is to use sealed pipes to transfer solvents and other liquids instead of pouring them in the open air. Vapours and gases caused by spray painting or produced in pickling or hardening baths in the metal industry should be controlled, ventilated and not allowed to enter the workplace air.
Local exhaust ventilation
It is not always possible to enclose all dangerous operations. A properly designed local exhaust ventilation is the second choice in order to remove the contaminants at the source. A local exhaust ventilation system consists of a hood, ducts or pipes, a system to collect and separate the pollutants from the clean air, and an efficient fan to create enough suction force.
The hazardous gases, fumes and dust can be collected from the vented air. They should not go untreated, straight out, to pollute the surroundings of the factory and the environment. Attention should be paid to the clean air inflow which replaces the exhaust. Inspection, proper maintenance, regular cleaning and changing of filters are essential to protect the worker against hazardous contaminants.
General ventilation
Where it is difficult or impossible to prevent hazardous chemicals, fumes, dusts, mists or particles from entering the workplace air at the source, a general dilution ventilation can be installed. This should be designed to meet the needs of the specific work process and workplace. At its best it should consist of an inflow of clean air and an outflow of exhaust forced by fans at right places. It can also be used with other preventive measures.
Housekeeping
When working with dangerous chemicals, a proper housekeeping is essential. Storage areas must be well organized and kept in order. The transport of chemicals within the industrial premises should be planned and the transport routes kept clear. Maintenance of premises and equipment should also be planned. These tasks should be dedicated to persons/work groups/departments. Workers using the equipment should know the person responsible for repairing faulty equipment.
Monitoring the efficiency of housekeeping and inspections should be carried out regularly; this should involve the workers themselves, who are experts in their own work.
A `Code of Practice' has been developed by the International Labour Organisation, and some countries have applied these principles for organizing hazard control. At the shop-floor level,a Safety Committee could:
· do regular inspection using checklists made for the particular chemicals and chemical processes in use;
· mark and label all chemicals;
· keep at hand an inventory list of all chemicals handled in the place of work together with a collection of chemical safety data sheets for these chemicals;
· train workers to read and understand chemical safety information, including the health hazards and routes of exposure; train them to handle dangerous chemicals and processes with respect;
· plan, develop and choose the safe working procedures;
· reduce the number of people coming into contact with dangerous chemicals;
· reduce the length of time and/or frequency of exposure of workers to dangerous chemicals;
· train workers to know and understand the emergency procedures;
· equip and train workers to use personnel protective equipment properly after all that is possible has been done to eliminate hazards by means of other methods.
Planning and maintaining storage areas is very relevant for users of chemicals in order to avoid material losses, accidents and disasters. Special attention should be paid to incompatible substances, suitable location of products within the storage area and proper arrangements and climatic conditions. For example, cylinders should be fixed with chains to upright position and the acids in the area or cupboard meant only for them. The fumes or splashes should never reach the area where cylinders are kept.
Hazardous substances can leak, cause a fire or give off dangerous fumes and vapours. When two substances come into contact with one another, they may react violently. The reaction products may be much more dangerous than the original chemicals.
Written instructions of storage practices should be provided, and chemical safety data sheets of dangerous substances kept in stock should be available in the storage area.
Chemicals react in the same characteristic ways whether they are wastes or are used in a production process. The hazards are also the same. Where chemicals are used, the enterprise should plan labelling, collecting and handling of wastes. Some countries have introduced legislation and provide detailed advises on how to treat dangerous chemical waste. To gain maximum benefit for all, a response is essential, from the shop-floor, where the chemicals are actually used, up to the management, which should plan the whole, safe `lifecycle' for every substance. Cooperation with and within authorities is needed to fulfill these tasks.