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WEEK 2 – ELEMENT 6

Chemical & Biological

Health Hazards and
Control
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Classification of
Occupational Health Hazards
Physical:
Machinery, Electricity, Heat, Noise
Chemical:
Acids, Alkalis, Asbestos
Biological:
HIV Virus, Legionella, Bacteria
Ergonomic:
Posture problems, Fatigue
Psychological:
Stress, Shock, Anxiety
NEBOSH

Classification of Health Hazards

Health Workplace Health effect of
Hazard health hazard exposure

Physical Noise Noise induced

hearing loss
Chemical Asbestos Asbestosis

Biological Rats urine Leptospirosis /

Weil’s Diseasse
Ergonomic Repetative Work related
tasks upper limb
disorders
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Biological Hazards
Biological hazards can be bacteria or viruses

Diseases caused by biological agents

include:
• Legionnaires disease a type of pneumonia or lung infection

• Hepatitis blood borne viral infections

• Weils disease fatal infection transmitted urine from infected rats
• Anthrax disease caused by the bacteria found in animal hides

• Rabies Rabies is a virus transmitted bite from a wild infected animal

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Biological Hazards Control Measures

1) Cleaning / Disinfecting
2) Water treatment programmes
3) Vermin control A pest animal prohibited, controlled
4) Procedures for handling, containment
& disposal
5) Personal hygiene
6) Immunisation to build resistance to specific infections
7) Health surveillance strategies and methods to detect
and assess systematically the adverse effects of work on the health
of workers.
8) Specific training
9) PPE
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PHYSICAL FORMS OF
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
• Gases (Co2)
• Vapour (toluene)
• Mists and aerosols (deodorant)
• Smoke (coal burning)
• Fumes (welding)
• Dusts (floor mill dust)
• Liquids (chemicals)
• Solids (Lead ingot)
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Hazardous Substances Symbols (1)

Irritant:
Inflammation on contact with skin,
eyes or mucous membrane may
cause inflammation e.g. adhesives
and detergents

Corrosive:
Destruction of living tissue at point
of contact (skin) strong acids or
alkalis i.e. H2 SO4, Caustic, ammonia
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Hazardous Substances Symbols (2)

Harmful: Substances which if

swallowed, inhaled or penetrate the
skin may cause damage to health
e.g. Trichloroethylene

Very Toxic: Poisonous substances

which in very low quantities may
cause death, acute chronic damage
to health e.g. cyanide
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Hazardous Substances Symbols (3)

Toxic:
Poisonous substances which in
low quantities may cause death,
acute chronic damage to health
e.g. Lead, Mercury, Arsenic

Carcinogenic:
Substances which cause
disorders in cell growth that may
lead to cancer or increase its
incidence e.g. Benzene
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Hazardous Substances Symbols (4)

Mutagenic:
Substances which induce
hereditable genetic defects
or increase their incidence

Teratogenic: Toxic for

reproduction. Substances
which produce or increase
the incidence of non
heritable effects in progeny.
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TOXICOLOGY
Definition:
The study of how different materials will
affect the human body

The factors to be considered are:

1) Route of Entry
2) Toxicity
3) Dose & Response
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TOXICOLOGY - Routes of Entry

a) Inhalation

b) Ingestion

c) Absorption

d) Injection (Direct
Entry)
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TOXICOLOGY - Routes of Entry

Inhalation Absorption
• most important route • through the skin
of entry • solvents may penetrate
• substances can unbroken skin
directly attack lung
tissue •Injection
• responsible for 90% of • when skin is damaged
all cases of industrial
poisoning • puncture of the skin
Ingestion • contact with liquid or
gas under pressure
• via the mouth
• often accidental
• poor hygiene
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Toxicity, Dose & Response

Toxicity: The potential of a substance
to cause harm to living things

Dose: How much of a substance you

are exposed to and how long the
exposure lasts

Response: How the body reacts to the

exposure
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Factors Affecting Response

 Body Weight
 Age
 Skin Type
 Sex
 Diet
 Health
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Ill-health Definitions
Acute :
Is an immediate or rapidly produced adverse effect,
following a single or short-term exposure to a
hazardous substance, usually with a rapid or
immediate response which is normally reversible.
Chronic:
Adverse health effect resulting from prolonged,
repeated exposure to a hazardous substance the
response being gradual (often unrecognised for a long
time) may get worse with no further exposure and is
often irreversible.
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Toxic Effects
Acute:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Inflammation
Eye irritation
Unconsciousness
Death

Chronic:
Cancers
Death
Local
Systemic
Sensitisation
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Dermatitis
Removal of natural oils from skin which
causes reddening, soreness, cracking
and bleeding of exposed skin. Usually
occurs to arms and hands

Causative Agents:
Solvents, Detergents,
Mineral oils, Diesel fuel,
Cement, Dusts, etc.
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Measures to Prevent Dermatitis

• Substitute/change process
• Clean working conditions & Properly
planned safe systems
• Careful attention to skin problems
• Prompt attention to cuts etc.
• Use of PPE
• Barrier creams
• Pre-employment screening
• Information, instruction and training
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Target Organs
A Target Organ is defined as:
An organ within the human body on which
a specific toxic material exerts its effects.

Lungs Brain

Asbestos, Coal dust Lead, Mercury

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Target Organs
Eyes –
Brain – lead ammonia
Nasal passages – organic
solvents
Lungs – asbestos, chlorine,
carbon dioxide, ammonia, Kidneys –
isocyanates, silica, organic leptospirosis
solvents, legionella

Liver – hepatitis
Blood – carbon Nerves –
monoxide organic
Skin - detergents, solvents, lead
isocyanates,
mineral oils, acids,
alkalis, organic
solvents
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NEBOSH
Occupational Exposure Limits
(OEL)
The maximum concentration of an
airborne substance averaged over a
reference period to which an employee
may be exposed by inhalation

• Threshold Limit Values (TLV) USA

• Indicative Limit Values (ILV) Europe
• Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) UK

High risk substances

Other hazardous substances
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Action If OEL Exceeded

1) Stop the process
2) Remove employees from area
3) Make area safe
4) Investigate cause
5) Assess existing controls
6) Monitor procedures
7) Check workers health
8) Record incident
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NEBOSH

Asbestos
Types Diseases
White (Chrysotile) Asbestosis
Brown (Amosite) Mesothelioma
Blue (Crocidolite) Lung cancer

Blue and brown

asbestos are more
hazardous than white
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Asbestos Uses
Protective Clothing
Insulation boards
Pipework Lagging
Cement Boards
Gaskets, Filters Blue asbestos cloth on a boiler flue
Brake Linings
Plasterwork
Sprayed for Insulation
Asbestos insulating board in a wall
partition
Workers at risk:
Maintenance, & Demolition workers
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Other Agents (1)

Ammonia: A colourless gas with a pungent
odour
• Irritation to the eyes and upper respiratory tract
• Used in printing and fertilisers
Chlorine: A greenish gas with a pungent odour
• Irritant to respiratory tract, abdominal pain,
nausea (sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach)
• Used as a disinfectant in drinking water and
swimming pool water
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Other Agents (2)

Carbon Dioxide: A colourless, odourless gas
 Increases the rate of respiration,
unconsciousness
 Produced in fermentation, Fire protection
Carbon Monoxide: A colourless, odourless and
tasteless gas
 Headaches, drowsiness, asphyxiation
 Incomplete combustion in boiler, vehicle
exhausts
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Other Agents (3)

Isocyanates: Volatile organic compounds

 Irritation of skin and mucous membrane,
asthma
 Spray painting vehicles, manufacture of
footwear
Lead: A heavy, soft and easily worked metal
 Nausea, headaches, nervous system, death
 Batteries, Plumbing and roofing work
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Other Agents (4)

Silica: Found in sand, sandstone, granite
 Silicosis
 Building industry
Organic solvents: Dissolve other substances
 Irritant to the eyes, skin, throat and lungs,
headaches, nausea, dizziness
 Used as a base in paint manufacturing, PVC,
etc
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Other Agents (5)
Leptospirosis or Weil’s: Caused by
bacteria from rats’ urine
• Attacks kidneys and liver
• Found in rivers, sewers, ditches, canals
Legionella: An airborne bacterium found in
water sources e.g. cooling towers,
stagnant water
• Breathing difficulties, pneumonia
Hepatitis: Hazardous substances, viruses
• Diseases of the liver, high temperature,
jaundice
• Health workers and workers handling
bodily fluids
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AIRBORNE DUST
Respirable dust:
Airborne dust of such a size about 0.5 microns that
it is able to enter the lungs during normal breathing

Respiratory diseases:
• Asbestosis (chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting
the tissue of the lungs)
• Silicosis (occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of
crystalline silica dust)
• Asthma chronic …the airways occasionally constrict
• Bronchitis (an acute inflammation of the air passages within the lungs)
• Lung Cancer
• Farmer’s lung (a disease of dairy farmers who handle
contaminated hay)
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Body Defences against dust

The nasal hairs

Coughing and sneezing
Eyes watering
The ciliary escalator
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Indicators of Dust Problems

 Visible signs
 Complaints by employees
 Monitoring
 Health problems
 Equipment problems
 Blocked filters
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Assessing levels of dust
 Visual examination
 Sampling for dust
 Personal samplers
 Fixed samplers
 Filters attached to pumps
 Sample for a fixed time
 Dust lamps
 Direct reading instruments
 Dust accumulation
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Control Measures to Reduce

Exposure to Dust
 Eliminate at source
 Substitute with pellets
 Change process
 Use liquid process
 Enclose the complete process
 Ventilation
 Control by suppression
 Housekeeping
 Maintenance
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NEBOSH

BODY’S DEFENCES
The body’s defences to hazardous
substances are:
• Respiratory (Inhalation)
• Gastrointestinal (Ingestion)
• Skin (Absorption)
• Cellular mechanism
(Injection)
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NEBOSH
Respiratory (Inhalation)
Defences
• NOSE : Wetness & nasal hair
• RESPIRATORY TRACT : Natural
reflexes activate sneezing and
coughing
• CILIARY ESCALATOR – A barrier
against infection. Pushes mucus and
foreign bodies out through throat
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Body’s Defences (2)

Gastrointestinal (Ingestion) Defences
• Taste and smell
• Saliva
• Acid, enzymes and bacteria
• Vomit and diarrhoea

Skin Defences
• Sebum
• Sensory nerves
• Melanin
• Blisters, rashes, inflammation
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Body’s Defences (3)

Cellular Mechanisms (Injection)
• Scavenging Action
• Secretion of defensive substances
• Prevention of excessive blood loss
• Repair of damaged tissues
• The Lymphatic system
Other Defences
• Tears and blinking of the eyes
• Pain
• Hormones e.g. adrenalin
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NEBOSH

Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet (1)

 Identification of substance/preparation
 The manufacturer/supplier
 Composition/information on ingredients
 Hazard identification
 Health effects
 First Aid measures
 Fire fighting measures
 Accidental release measures
 Handling and storage
 Exposure controls
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Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet (2)

 Personal Protective Equipment
 Environmental/Disposal
considerations
 Physical and chemical properties;
 Stability and reactivity;
 Toxicological information;
 Ecological information;
 Disposal considerations;
 Transport information;
 Regulatory information;
 Other relevant information.
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NEBOSH

Product labels

Substance

Preparation © TWI Gulf WLL 2008

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NEBOSH

Risk and Safety Phrases

Risk Safety
R3 Extreme risk of S2 Keep out of the
explosion by shock, reach of children
friction, fire S20 When using do
R20 Harmful by not eat or drink
inhalation S25 Avoid contact
R30 Can become with eyes
highly flammable in S41 In case of fire
use and or explosion do
R45 May cause not breathe fumes
cancer
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Hazardous Substance Assessment

1) IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS
 How much of the substance is in use or
produced by the process
 What is the activity at risk
 How long and how often is the exposure
 Who can be exposed and how
 How can the substance enter the body
 In what form is of the substance
 What is the concentration of the substance
 Is the substance assigned an exposure limit
 Are there any ill-health reports
 Look at the results of health surveillance
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Hazardous substance Assessment

2) Decide who might be harmed and how
 Operators, Others, Pregnant and young worker

3) Evaluate the Health risk & existing

precautions
 Likelihood and Severity
 Existing control measures
 Judgement about need for further control measures

4) Record the significant findings

 Number of affected people
 Adequacy of existing controls
 Further precautions, if necessary
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Hazardous substance Assessment

5) Review the Assessment
New process or substance is introduced
Exposure limit is changed
Someone contracts a disease
Complaints of ill health from workforce
New guidance is published on control measures
Increase in use of hazardous substance
Supervision reports improper use of equipment
Enforcement actions
Compensation claims
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Prevention and Control of Exposure

1) Eliminate the hazard
2) Reduce the risk by substitution
3) Isolate the people from the hazard
Total enclosure, Segregate the people
4) Control
Maintenance of controls, Change the work
pattern, Hygiene, Housekeeping
5) Personal protective equipment
6) Discipline
7) Also information, Instruction, Training
Remember - ERIC PD
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Emergency Procedures
First aid facilities
Relevant safety drills
Suitable warning devices
Suitable training of staff
PPE
Emergency showers and eye-wash
facilities
Spillage and leakage procedures
Evacuation procedures
Warnings to other people
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Spillage Procedures
 Isolation of the area
 Evacuation of employees
 Suitable PPE
 Bunds to contain
spillage/absorbent material
 Contact with emergency
services
 Safe disposal of spilled material
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Local Exhaust Ventilation

Discharge to atmosphere

Hood Ducting Filter Fan

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Types of Ventilation

Enclosed
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Types of Ventilation

Hood
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Lip Extraction
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Ducted System
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Sawdust Extraction
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Machine Shop Extraction

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Portable Extraction
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Dilution Ventilation

Vent Air drawn

from clean
Extract air supply
or Fan ???
Fan

Contaminant
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NEBOSH

When Dilution Ventilation may

be used
• Very low toxicity substance
• Steady rate of release
• Small quantity of contaminant
• Not practicable to use LEV
• Rate of evolution known
• Non specific point of release
• Type of contaminant (not dust)
• Heat loss or gain not a problem
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Measurement of Health Hazards

1) Initial appraisal
2) A basic survey
3) A full survey
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Measurement of Health Hazards

1) Initial Appraisal
• What substances are being used
• What are their hazards
• Do they have Occupational Exposure Limits
• Where are they used
• Who could be affected by them
• How could they be released
• If RPE or other forms of PPE is necessary
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NEBOSH

Basic Survey
1) Smoke tube
2) Dust lamp Observer, or
Lamp - either traversed camera, viewing
by hand to illuminate towards lamp
dust source or mounted whilst shielding
Dust cloud eyes from glare
on a stand
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Pumps and Stain Tubes

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NEBOSH

Chemical Stain Detector Tube

(Grab Sampler)
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NEBOSH

Stain Detector Tube: Advantages

• Cheap
• Simple to use
• Immediate result
• Useful during emergencies
e.g. spillages
• Good for rough reading of
hazard
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NEBOSH
Stain Detector Tube:
Disadvantages
a) Contaminant must be known
b) Rough guide – within 20% accuracy band
c) Reading a specific moment
d) Results depending on positioning
e) May be affected by other substance

© TWI Gulf WLL 2008

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NEBOSH

FULL SURVEY

Two principal methods of longer

term sampling are :

a) Direct reading instruments

b) Indirect reading instruments
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Constant Monitor
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Passive and Active Samplers

Passive Sampler Active Sampler

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• Climate change
• Ozone depletion (CFC)
• Acid rain
burn fuels produce polluting gases. (especially Nitrogen Oxides
and Sulphur Dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in
clouds to form Sulphuric and Nitric Acids.
• Usage of Natural Resources
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NEBOSH
Industrial effects on the
Environment
 Waterways and rivers poisoned
 Land becoming unusable

Polluting Activities include:

 Untreated effluent allowed to run away
 Chemicals used on farms leak into waterways
 Poor handling of chemicals
 Inadvertent spillage
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What is Pollution
Pollution is the release into or onto air, water, or
land of any substance which is capable of
causing harm to man or any other living
organisms supported by the environment

Harm includes:
 Harm to the health of human beings
including offence to the senses
 Harm to other living organisms
 Harm to the quality of the environment,
including the air, water or land
 Damage to property
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Pollution Types
1) Air Pollution
Discharges in the atmosphere etc

2) Water Pollution
Leakages from storage tanks etc

3) Land Pollution
Dumping of hazardous wastes, etc.
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Pollution Control Strategy

1) Prevention: Preventing pollution by having good
systems in place

2) Reduce: By changing the process e.g. reduce

waste

3) Respond: Ensuring a rapid response to incidents

such as spillages

4) Recover: Reviewing systems in places where

problems have occurred
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Emergency Planning Procedure

 Identify all potential accident or emergency situations

 Introduce controls to prevent accident and

emergency situations arising

 Include procedures to minimise the consequences of

any potential environmental impacts

 Have clearly documented plans and procedures for

responding to emergencies

 Be periodically reviewed and revised if necessary

 Be periodically tested if possible

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NEBOSH

Waste Hierarchy
PREVENT

REDUCE

RE-USE

RECOVER

DISPOSE
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NEBOSH
Storing Waste
• Storage area of suitable size
• Storage area suitable location
• Storage area clearly labelled
• Individual containers clearly labelled
• Different types of waste stored separately
• Incompatible wastes never stored together
• Storage kept to minimum
• Protect wastes from elements if necessary
• If necessary protect storage area with bunds
• No hazardous waste in general waste skips
• Ensure storage area secure