Controlling Chemical Hazards In The Workplace

In Canadian workplaces, employers have a duty to protect the health and safety of their employees

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One of the leading causes of work related fatalities in Ontario is as a result of Occupational Disease.

During my years of work as a Health and Safety Consultant I have come to the general conclusion that employers take steps to control safety hazards but often overlook or ignore health hazards in the workplace. There are several reasons for this. Most safety hazards can be identified by our human senses. For example a puddle of fluid on the floor represents a slip and fall hazard or an operator of a piece of machinery is operating it in a visibly unsafe manner (guard removed/bypassed).

Health hazards sometimes are not so obvious. A chemical that generates vapours that can be inhaled by the worker may have no colour, odour or any other indicator that it is in the air. There are chemicals that require a worker to have repeated exposures, or exposures for a very long duration of time before any ill effects are felt. There are limitations in scientific research as well as genetic, chemical and physical differences in human beings. These limitations and differences make it very difficult to determine how a person/worker may react once exposed to a chemical.

Employers can protect their workers from the health hazard represented by chemical exposure in the workplace by conducting an assessment of the chemicals they have onsite and implementing controls based on the results of the assessment.

Chemical Assessment

The employer must find out what chemicals they have on site. They must determine the hazard they represent by looking at how they are used, where they are used and who is likely to be exposed and how. If it is determined that there may be airborne exposure, the employer must determine how much. This can only be done by air sampling. The results of the air sampling must then be compared to established standards by government agencies.

Control

Based on the results of the assessment the employer should:

Identify the availability of safer products which could be substituted for current products that pose a higher health risk.

Consider automatic feed systems for the chemicals that eliminate/limit a workers contact with the chemical.

For airborne contaminants ensure there is adequate ventilation systems in place that keep exposure levels below the legal limits. Monitor the effectiveness of the systems by scheduling routine air sampling.

Limit the amount of time the worker is exposed to the substance by rotating them to different jobs and work areas.

Provide instruction to employees on the safe use and handling of the chemicals and on WHMIS.

Ensure required chemical protective clothing is provided and used. Ensure employees are instructed on the proper use, care and selection of the clothing.

Based on the assessment, if the use of respirators is required, employees must be instructed on the proper use, care and selection of the equipment. Proper sizing of the respirators through qualitative or quantitative fit testing methods should be carried out.

Synergy Advantage Group offers a wide array of services that can help you control the health hazards represented by chemical exposure in your workplace. Synergy Advantage Group offers:

Air Monitoring

WHMIS Training

Fit Testing and Respiratory Protection Training

Spills Response Training

Respiratory Protection Training

Designated Substances Programs

by: Ashfaq

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