CHEMICAL HAZARDS AND RISKS

(MODUL 5)

Mohamad Yani

Laboratory of Environmental Technology and Management

Agroindutrial Department
Bogor Agricultural University
Email : f226yani@gmail.com
Hazard:
a potential source of harm to life, health or property.
(The existence of hazard implies the existence of a
threat, but where the hazard can be contained or
exposure in unlikely, it can exist with minimal risk. The
hazards of chemicals are related to the intrinsic property
of the chemical and there is link between hazard and risk
when exposure occurs).

Risk :
can be defined simply as a possibility of injury or loss.
The probability and its consequence which may be
quantified by calculation.
 Principals for Controlling Workplace Hazards

1. Identify the hazard;

2. Assess representative exposures to the hazard;
3. Establish the nature of risk;
4. Control the hazard through risk elimination or risk
reduction activities;
5. Monitor the effectiveness of the controls to
ensure they are still working.
 1.1 Objectives

1. Definitions of hazards and risks and examples

of some common hazards and risks
2. The interaction between the worker, the hazard
and possible outcome(s)
3. Factors used to establish acceptable risks
4. Features of the dose response relationship
5. The concept of occupational risk management
6. Principles for controlling workplace risks
1.2. Hazard and Risk

As hazards and the means to eliminate or minimize risks form a

crucial part of workplace safety management, the terms hazard
and risk will need to be defined.
Hazard is the intrinsic properties of a substance or process to
inflict damage or harm. This can include chemical (toxicity,
corrosiveness), physical (explosiveness, electrical, flammability),
biological (infectiousness), and so on, hazards. The definition of
hazard implies the existence of some threat, and a hazard can
exist without risk.
 Components of Hazard
1. intrinsic properties of the hazard
2. the nature of the equipment or the form of the
material (such as vapour, mist, liquid, dust)
3. the exposure-effect relationship
4. the pathways of hazard from the process to the
individual
5. conditions and frequency of use
6. aspects of worker behaviour that affect exposure to
the hazard
7. mechanisms of action
Types of hazards
Physical hazards: These include noise, radiation (ionising, electromagnetic
or non-ionising), heat, cold, vibration and pressure.
Chemical hazards: Through a variety of actions, chemicals can cause
damage to health and property. Some of these actions are explosiveness,
flammability, corrosion, oxidation, poisoning, toxicity, carcinogenicity.
Biological hazards: Mainly from infection or allergic reaction. Biological
hazards include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. Some biological
hazards, such as AIDS or Hepatitis B are potentially life threatening.
Ergonomic hazards: These are hazards from poor work design, layout or
activity. Examples of ergonomic problems include manual handling, workplace
layout and task design.
Psychological hazards: Stress, violence at work, long working hours, lack
of control in decision making about work can all contribute to poor work
performance.
Recognition:

Hazard identification (or recognition) is the first step in

hazard removal or control from the workplace,
especially at laboratory.

In many cases the hazards are easily identified and

are fairly obvious, such as, untidy work area,
inappropriate or damaged tools, incorrect manual
handling techniques.
Evaluation:

Once we have identified or recognised that there is a hazard

present there has to be some evaluation of the risk presented:
The two most important questions we can ask are:
Is the risk acceptable?
Do we need to control it?

Control:
Control is all about implementing actions which reduce the risks
from a hazard to an acceptable level. The ideal situation is off
course, reduction to zero by elimination of the hazard
altogether. The control process takes form in the hierarchy of
control measures which will be covered in much greater depth
in the next captions.
Chemical Hazard
1. Solids, liquids, gases
2. Incompatibility of chemical mixtures
3. Control Experimental design
4. Preparation for experiment
5. Lists all chemical hazards, to find out more on lab
safety read an article by Associate
6. Have neutralizing solution needs in case of spills
7. Scale to avoid accidents
8. Unknowns, for example PCB
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheets
 These are data sheets that tell you the
chemical and safety properties of the
various chemicals we will use in the lab.
 You must look up MSDS information for
the safety section of your Pre-Lab in
order to:
 Know how to use the chemicals safely.
 Know what to do if there is a spill or
accident.
 Be able to do the lab.
MSDS Diamond
 The MSDS information is put into a short-
hand form for quick and easy reference on
labels and posters.
 You also see MSDS Diamonds on transport
vehicles and containers.

 Red: Flammability
 Yellow: Reactivity
 White: Specific Hazard
 Blue: Health Hazard
MSDS Diamond
MSDS Diamond
 Testyour Knowledge by writing in your
notes what you think this MSDS
Diamond is telling you about a
chemical:
MSDS Diamond

 Answers:
 Red: Flammability
 A 4 in the flammability diamond = VERY Flammable
 Yellow: Reactivity
 A 2 in the reactivity diamond = Reacts Violently with
Water
 White: Specific Hazard
 No Water in specific hazard diamond = Don’t use
water, this also corresponds with the Reactivity
diamond
 Blue: Health Hazard
 A 1 in the health hazard diamond = slightly hazardous
to your health
Number of components to consider in chemical
hazard analysis, including:

1. individual variation in susceptibility

2. the numbers exposed
3. the degree of individual risk
4. the possibility of elimination substitution of a less
hazardous substance or process
5. the possibility of achieving safe levels
6. the financial liability of the hazard
7. public opinion and pressure groups
8. social responsibility
Ergonomic/Biomechanical Hazards
Back strains, accidents, slip & falls
repetitive injuries
eye strain- microscopes
 Know Your Surroundings
Many laboratories contain hazardous
substances.
A hazardous substance is defined as a
material/substance that poses a physical or
health hazard. This includes both chemicals
and biological agents.

A Biohazard is defined as any organism that is

capable of replication and is capable of causing
disease in human, animal or plant.

There are differences between a physical hazard

and a health hazard. Let’s take a look.
Know Your Surroundings
A health hazard has the following
characteristics:
Carcinogen
Toxic or highly toxic
Reproductive Toxins
Irritants
Corrosives
Sensitizers
Hepatotoxins
Nephrotoxins
Neurotoxins
Know Your Surroundings
A physical hazard has the following
characteristics:
Explosive
Flammable
Oxidizer
Pyrophoric
Organic peroxide
Compressed gas
Combustible liquid
Unstable (Reactive)
Water-reactive
Know Your Surroundings
When physical hazards and health
hazards exist, it is very important to
know where the eye wash/safety
shower is located. Unexpected
accidents do occur and knowing where
to go at the time of an emergency can
reduce injury/illness.
 Know Your Surroundings
First aid kits have a variety of quick relief
items. If your lab has a first aid kit, find out
where it is. If more than first aid is needed, it
is recommended to go to Student Health
Services for further treatment. In an event
that would require more than first aid to be
treated, report it to the EHS office within the
next 24 hours.
Risk is the likelihood that harm or injury from a hazard will
occur to specific individuals or groups exposed to a hazard.

For the risk to be real:

the threat must exist
here is likely to be a magnitude of effect
there is the potential for occurrence
Perception of Risk
People judge risks differently. Judgements are made on the
ease of recall and imagining. For example, the role of the
media in bringing risk issues such as AIDS or asbestos to
public attention is one exercise of this judgement. While risk
analyses will provide some estimate of a risk in numerical
terms, presentation of quantitative facts on risk rates often
does not work well. Statistical expressions of risk are only one
dimension of risk, and these may be irrelevant to lay people
who view risk qualitatively.
Perceived as "Safer" Perceives as "Riskier"

Voluntary Coerced
Natural hazards Technological hazards
Familiar Familiar
Not dreaded Dreaded
Understandable Not knowable
Control by the individual Control by others
Fair Unfair
Consequences not fatal Consequences fatal
Low risk to future generations High risk to future generations
Observable Not observable
Immediate effects Delayed effects
Established risk New risk
Long term Catastrophic
The Interactions between Hazard and Risk

Risk = Harm/Injury x Probability of injury

Harm/Injury = Hazard x Exposure
Exposure = Concentration x Duration
Therefore:
Risk = Hazard x Concentration x Duration x Probability of injury

Reduction in any parameter will reduce risk:

1. hazards may be changed by control measures which remove
exposure (elimination or substitution);
2. a reduction in the intensity of exposure (for example by
control measures which reduce exposure)
3. will reduce risk; as will
4. reduction in the amount of time of exposure; probability may
be reduced through introduction of
5. better control measures.
The Interaction between Hazards, Risks and the Individual
The seriousness of the outcome can be prevented if the hazards
can be identified, and if control of preventive measures could be
taken to eliminate or reduce the risk. Finally, if the effectiveness
of the controls is monitored, then steps can be taken to reduce
risks in a proactive, rather than reactive, manner.
Perception of Risk
Table . Increasing or Decreasing the Perception of Risk
Factor Factors which Increase Factors which Decrease
Perceived Risk Perceived Risk
Amount of knowledge about Ignorance Awareness, information,
the risk education
Type of risk Uncommon, dreaded Common
Type of response Reactive or uncoordinated Forethought, planning,
cooperation
Perception by others Mistrust Credibility
Mode of communication Secretiveness Open communication
Language of communication Emotive and jargonistic Clear and simple
Relationship with media Adverse publicity Good media relations
The Management of Risk
The Process of Management of Risk
PROCESS
Hazard Identification Process
Hazard Assessment Process
Risk Control Process
Risk Evaluation Process
(Risk Avoidance/Acceptance)
PROCEDURES
IDENTIFY:
Intrinsic hazard
New risks
Changes in risk parameters
ASSESS:
Process representative exposures
Magnitude of effect
Probability of occurrences
DETERMINE:
Methods for control for risk
prevention, containment and
mitigation
Degree of risk avoidance
ESTABLISH:
Acceptable levels of residual risk
IDENTIFY:
Inequitable risk distribution
The processes of hazard identification and assessment are
scientific/technical activities, which should be carried out by
individuals with relevant expertise.
The process of risk control and evaluation are "trans-scientific"
political/ social activities, which should be carried out by all
affected individuals, and in some cases, society as a whole.

Some Factors Considered in Establishing Acceptable Risk Levels

The establishment of acceptable risks is due to a number of
factors, some of which are beneficial, some of which are
detrimental. The balancing of these factors will vary from
hazard to hazard and requires at least a qualitative cost benefit
analysis (see Table below).
Table 5: Establishing Acceptable Risk Levels
 2.1 Features of the Dose-Response
Relationship
The most fundamental principles of chemical safety relate to the dose-
response, or exposure-effect, relationship. This relationship indicates a
number of important toxicological and chemical safety concepts:
1. increase in exposure is directly proportional to increase in effects.
This means that the higher the exposure, the greater the likelihood
of adverse outcomes, or the greater the intensity of effects
2. the concept of a no-observable-adverse-effect-level (NOEL), where
a small amount of exposure will not produce any effects. In
chemical safety, the NOEL is often used to establish a "safe" level
of exposure
3. the concept of a "threshold" below which a safe level of exposure
exists, and above which effects are seen. Thresholds are
extensively used in chemical safety, and may be used in the
occupational health and safety context to establish exposure
standards
These three principles form the basic philosophy behind the control
of workplace chemical hazards. Control measures cover a range of
options but their main aim is to reduce workplace exposures to
below the threshold, into the safe region of the dose response
relationship. The dose response relationship is shown in Figure 1.
2.2 Use of the Dose Response
Relationship

Therefore, the association of chemical exposure with the

production of clinical disease needs to recognize that:

1. The disease is associated with the relevant chemical exposure.

2. Exposure to the chemical is feasible or has occurred.
3. Exposure to the chemical has occurred at a sufficiently high
enough concentration or for a suitably long enough period to
produce an effect.
3.1 Development of Occupational Health and Safety in Australia

Safety has been an important part of many industries (for example

mining, manufacturing, construction) for decades. A long history of
accidents, injuries, disease and death in such industries produced
industry specific legislation, such as the Mines Act, the Factories
Shops and Industries Act and the Construction Safety Act.
These contain specific, prescriptive provisions that obliged
employers to improve safety in those workplaces where the
legislation applied (mines, factories or building sites).
Consistent with this approach, a number of regulations and
standards have been introduced recently in Australia which
further specify employer responsibilities in certain defined
areas. These include, for example:

1. the Asbestos Regulations and Code of Practice;

2. the Timber Preservatives Code;
3. the Code of Practice for Vinyl Chloride;
4. the Synthetic Mineral Fibres Code;
5. the Manual Handling Regulation and Code of Practice;
6. the HIV/Hepatitis B Standard;
7. the National Standard and Code of Practice for Inorganic Lead;
8. the Regulation for Hazardous Plant and Equipment;
9. the Standard for Noise;
10. the Standard for Confined Spaces;
11. the Major Hazards Standard;
12. the Hazardous Substances Regulations and associated documentation; and
13. the Carcinogenic Substances Regulations.
Figure 2: Basic Elements of
Recent Risk Management
Standards
As can be seen, these initiatives attempt to deal with a wide range
of different workplace risks. However, while the nature of
workplace hazards vary substantially, the manner in which they
should be controlled has a common approach. This approach can
be called "occupational risk management".

The main idea behind occupational risk management is that the

process of controlling workplace risks can be managed using a
uniform approach. As such, occupational risk management is a
contemporary workplace practice involving the:

•identification of hazards in the workplace;

•at least a qualitative assessment of risks as acceptable/
unacceptable;
•control of risks that are unacceptable.
Figure 3: The Occupational Risk Management Process
THANK YOU