SAFE USE OF

CHEMICALS AT
WORK
by

Benjamin Mutetwa

NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY AUTHORITY

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 1

 INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES
• Whole life cycle of a chemical should be
considered when assessing its dangers
and benefits i.e. production, storage,
handling and disposal of chemicals.
• Key objective of subject include
- To protect workers from the hazards of
chemicals.
- To reduce or prevent the incidence of
chemicals at work.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 2

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES -
CONT
- Provision of guidelines for ensuring that all
chemicals for use at work, including impurities
by-products and wastes that may be formed are
evaluated to determine their hazards.
- Ensuring that employers are provided with a
mechanism for obtaining from their suppliers
information about the chemicals used at work to
enable them to implement effective programmes
to protect workers from chemicals hazards.
- .

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 3

INTRODUCTION &
OBJECTIVES - CONT
- Provision to workers with information
about the chemicals at their workplace and
about appropriate preventive measures to
enable them to participate effectively in
safety programmes.
- Establishing principles for programmes to
ensure that chemicals are used safely.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 4

ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
• No chemical substance can cause
adverse effects without first entering the
body or coming to contact with it.
• 4 major routes
- Inhalation (breathing in)
- Absorption (through the skin or eyes)
- Injection (eating, swallowing).
- Transfer across the placenta of a pregnant
woman to the unborn baby.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 5

ROUTES OF EXPOSURE –CONT.
- Most chemicals can be dispersed into the air
to form dust, mists, fumes, gas or vapour.
- Skin absorption is, after inhalation, the second
most common route through which
occupational exposure may take place.
- Eyes can also absorb chemical substances,
either from splashes or from vapours.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 6

 WHAT IS A HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCE?
• A health risk
- Toxic or very toxic
- Corrosive
- Harmful
- Irritant
- Sensitizing
- Cancer causing
- Effects on reproduction

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 7

 WHAT IS A HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCE? – CONT.
• Fire and explosion hazard
- Explosive
- Oxidizing
- Flammable

• Dangerous for the Environment

- Toxic to living organisms
- persists in the environment
- Bioaccumulation

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 8

 HOW CHEMICALS AFFECTS US
• Harmful effects of chemical substances depends
on the toxicity of chemical and exposure to it.
• Level of exposure: concentration and exposure
duration.
• Acute and Chronic Effects
- Acute: effects that occur immediately after a short
exposure; can occur inside 24 hours.
- Chronic: effects usually require repeated exposure
and a delay is observed between the first exposure
and appearance of adverse effects.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 9

 HOW CHEMICALS AFFECTS US
– CONT.
• Local and Systemic Effects
- Acute local effects:
- Corrosive injuries.
- Lung injuries from inhaled gases e.g. Phosgene, nitrogen
oxides.
- Systemic effects
- Chemicals, which are absorbed from site of administration, end
up in the blood stream and may produce toxic effects in remote
tissues, cells or organs e.g. skin irritation, dermatitis, skin itching,
watery/teary eyes, sneezing (nasal effects)
- Effects on blood.
- Effects on organs/tissues such as liver, kidney and lungs.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 10

HOW CHEMICALS AFFECTS US
– CONT.
• Target Organs
- Organs affected by chemical agents.
- e.g. CNS usually involved in systemic effects.
Other target organs include liver, lung, and
skin.
- Also to a lesser extent muscles and bones.
- Male and female reproductive systems
vulnerable to many substances.
- NB: Many substances can penetrate the skin
and enter blood circulation, e.g. phenol.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 11

 HOW CHEMICALS AFFECTS US
– CONT.
• Allergic Reactions
- Allergic reaction, or sensitization may appear after
repeated contact with a substance.
- Small doses of a substance can provoke a reaction.
- Skin and eyes common areas in humans which
respond to allergic reactions.
• Interactions
- Additive effects of chemicals
e.g. Solvents
Asbestos and cigarette smoking

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 12

 COMMON CHEMICAL GROUPS
THAT CAUSE HEALTH RISKS.
• Dust, fumes and gases
- pneumoconiosis
- asbestosis
- metal fume fever
- irritation to the respiratory system
• Solvents
- Narcotic effects
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Reduced comprehension
- Tiredness
- Damage to liver, kidney, bone marrow, cns.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 13

 Common Chemical Groups That
Cause Health Risks- Cont
• Metals
- CNS effects
- Sensitization
- Cancer
- Allergic reactions
• Acids and Bases
- Corrosive
- Irritation
• Pesticides
- CNS
- Headache
- Convulsions
- Unconsciousness
- Difficulty in breathing

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 14

 HOW TO MINIMISE THE RISKS
CAUSED BY CHEMICALS
• Technical Measures
- Such measures can be used to prevent chemical hazards at the
source.
• Substitution
- Effective method where a hazardous chemical is replaced with a
less hazardous one.
- Quite important when dealing with cancer causing substances.
- e.g. use of pellets or paste instead of powdered substances
which readily produces high levels of dangerous dusts.
- Water based paints and adhesives instead of products
containing solvents.
- Ensure all possible information is available before changing so
that new choice does not create unexpected new dangers and
risks.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 15

• Technical Measures – Cont.

• Engineering Controls
- Closed system
- If hazardous chemicals cannot be replaced by less
dangerous ones, exposure must be prevented by
protecting the worker through enclosing the
hazardous process or chemical.
- e.g. use of 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 and hardening baths in the metal
industry should be controlled, ventilated and not
allowed to enter the workplace atmosphere.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 16

• Technical Measures – Cont.

• Local Exhaust Ventilation

➢ Enclosure of all dangerous operation may not be
possible.
➢ Need for local exhaust ventilation system which
consists of hood, ducts or pipes, a system to collect
and separate the pollutants from the clean air and an
efficient fan to create enough such force.
➢ Hazardous gases, fumes and dust should not be
discharged untreated to pollute surroundings of the
factory and environment.
➢ Inspection proper maintenance regular cleaning and
changing of filters are essential to protect the workers
against hazardous contaminants.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 17

• General Ventilation
➢When 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 the right places.
➢It can also be used with other preventive
measures.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 18

 ORGANIZATION MEASURES
• Establishment of properly constituted safety and
health committees.
• Identify chemicals in use.
• Obtain information on their hazards.
• Collect these data and make an inventory list of
all chemicals used in the factory: create a
Register for Workplace Chemicals.
• Assess chemical hazards and set priorities
concerning the safety in the organization.
• Create emergency plans for the assessed
hazards.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 19

 ORGANIZATION MEASURES –
CONT.
• Organize occupational health care and regular surveys
as needed.
• Organize contacts with authorities/ laboratories to create
a monitoring system for chemical hazards, and to reliably
measure and/or estimate occupational exposure 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.
• Involve workers in safety organizations, such as the
system of Safety Representatives, and Safety
Committees.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 20

 ORGANIZATION MEASURES –
CONT.
• 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.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 21

 ORGANIZATION MEASURES –
CONT.
• Train workers to read and understand the
Chemical Safety Information, including the
health hazards and routes of exposure;
train them to handle dangerous chemicals
and processes with caution.
• Plan, develop and choose the safe
working procedures.
• Reduce the number of people coming into
contact with dangerous chemicals.
Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 22
 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
• Correct equipment
- Respirators designed to protect against dust are
useless against hazardous gases.
- Many solvents rapidly penetrate natural rubber
gloves.
• Training and follow-up training must be given to
workers required to use the equipment.
• Maintenance programme, including regular
cleaning, inspection and replacement of items,
such as gloves and respiratory filters, must be
planned.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 23

 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT - CONT
• Tests to ensure the good condition of
equipment are necessary. It is especially
important to check the face masks and
respirators.
• Responsible person should be indicated to
take care of the equipment.
• An individual set of equipment must be
given to each worker, and a secure, clean
place where to store the equipment.
Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 24
 STORAGE

• Planning and proper maintenance of storage

areas is relevant for users of chemicals in order
to avoid material losses, accidents and
disasters.
• 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.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 25

 STORAGE – CONT.

• 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; the acids in
the area or cupboard meant only for them.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 26

 STORAGE – CONT.

• The acid fumes or splashes should never

reach the area where cylinders are kept.
• Written instructions of storage practices
should be provided, and Chemical Safety
Data Sheets of dangerous substances
kept in the stock should be available in the
storage area.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 27

 ROLE AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
COMPETENT AUTHORITY
• Formulate coherent policy in consultation with social
partners.
• Review of national measures and practice in consultation
with social partners.
• Compliance with laws and regulations concerning safety
in the use of chemicals at work.
• Competent authority should have the power if justified on
safety and health grounds to;
– Prohibit or restrict the use of certain hazardous chemicals or
– Require advance notification and authorisation before such
chemicals are used.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 28

 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
EMPLOYERS
• Employers should set out in writing their policy and
arrangements on safety in the use of chemicals as part
of their general policy and arrangements in the field of
occupational safety and health.
• Employers should ensure that all chemicals used at work
are labelled or marked in accordance with the provisions
of code of practice on safe use of chemicals and that
chemical safety data sheet (CSDS) have been provided
in respect of all hazardous chemicals used at work.
• CSDS and all relevant information are made available to
workers and their representatives.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 29

 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
EMPLOYERS – CONT.
• Employers receiving chemicals which have not
been labelled or marked or provided with CSDS
should not use the chemicals until the relevant
information has been obtained from the supplier,
or other reasonable available source.
• Employers should maintain a record of
hazardous chemicals at the workplace.
• Record of chemicals should be accessible to all
workers who might be affected by use of the
chemicals.
• Employers should institute risk assessment of
chemicals at work.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 30

 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
EMPLOYERS – CONT.
• Employers should comply with guidelines
standards, laws and regulations
formulated, approved and recognised by
the competent authority.
• Employers should make arrangements to
deal with incidents and accidents involving
chemicals.
• Employers should provide, workers with
necessary appropriate and regular
training on chemical safety.
Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 31
 DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
WORKERS
• Workers should take all reasonable steps
to eliminate or minimize risk to themselves
and to others from use of chemicals.
• Workers should take care of their own
safety and health and that of other
persons who may be affected by acts or
omissions at work.
• Workers should make proper use of all
devices provided for their protection or the
protection of others.
Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 32
 DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
WORKERS – CONT.
• Workers should report to their supervisors any
situation which they believe could present a risk.
• Workers have the right to information on identity
of chemicals used at work, the hazardous
properties of such chemical and precautionary
measures and information on the risks which
may arise from the use of hazardous chemicals.
• Workers have right to information contained in
labels and markings, CSDS.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 33

 DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
WORKERS – CONT.
• Workers should receive training in the
methods which are available for the
prevention and control of and protection
against such risks.
• Workers and their representative have the
right to request and participate in an
investigation by the employer or
competent authority of possible risks
resulting from the use of chemicals at
work.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 34

 DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
WORKERS – CONT.
• Workers have the right to remove themselves
from danger resulting from the use of chemicals
when they have reasonable justification to
believe that there is an imminent and serious
risk to their safety and health.
• Workers who remove themselves from danger or
exercise their right to adequate protection in
regard to exposure to hazardous chemicals
should be protected against undue
consequences.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 35

 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
SUPPLIERS
• Suppliers of chemicals, manufacturers,
importers, or distributors should ensure
that:
- Chemicals are classified
- Hazardous chemicals are labelled.
- CSDS for hazardous chemicals are prepared
and provided to employers.
- Chemicals are marked indicating place of
origin and destination.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 36

 CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
• Major basis for classification of chemicals is the
assessment of exposure levels and
environmental impact (water, air and soil).
• Classification of chemicals should be based
upon their intrinsic health and physical hazards
which include:
- Toxic properties, including both acute and chronic
health effects in all parts of the body.
- Chemical or physical characteristics including
flammable explosive, oxidising and dangerously
reactive properties.
- Corrosive and irritant properties.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 37

 CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS –
CONT.
- All organic and sensitising effects.
- Carcinogenic effects.
- Teratogenic or mutagenic effects.
- Effects on the reproductive system
• United Nations Environmental Programme – UN
Recommendation on the Transport of
Dangerous Goods (UNRTDG).
• WHO Recommended Classification of pesticides
by hazard and guidelines to classification, which
classifies pesticides by degree of toxicity only
and principally by acute risks to health.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 38

 CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS –
CONT.
• Most wide spread criteria used in chemical
classification are values of LD50.
• EU system uses 3 – level acute toxicity scale
[very toxic, toxic and harmful].
• US OSHA applies two acute toxicity levels
(highly toxic and toxic).
• Zimbabwe applies a 4 level acute toxicity scale
namely;
- Purple triangle label – very dangerous poison.
- Red triangle label –dangerous poison.
- Orange triangle label –poison.
- Green triangle label – harmful if swallowed.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 39

 UNRTDG
• Is generally on issues such as notification, identification
and hazard communication.
• Scope restricted to the transport of hazardous
substances in packaged form.
• Recommendation does not apply to exposed hazardous
chemicals or to transport in bulk.
• System now extended to include substances hazardous
to the environment.
• UNRTDG focus on hazard communication based on
labels which include a combination of graphic symbols,
colours, warning words and classification codes and
provide key data for emergency response teams.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 40

 UNRTDG – CONT.
• UN classification subdivides chemicals into 9
classes of hazards namely:
- 1st class – exposure substance
- 2nd class – compressed liquefied, dissolved under
pressure or deeply condensed gases
- 3rd class – condensed gases
- 4th class – easily flammable solid substance
- 5th class – oxidising substances , organic peroxides
- 6th class – poisonous (toxic) and infectious substance
- 7th class – radioactive substance
- 8th class – corrosive substance
- 9th class – other dangerous substance

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 41

 LABELLING AND MARKING
• Labelling should consists of phrases, graphics and color
symbols applied directly on the product, package, label
or tag
• Labels on containers of hazardous chemicals provide the
first alert that a chemical is hazardous.
• Labelling should be generally cover the following:
- Trade names
- Identify of the chemical
- Name, address and telephone numbers of the supplier
- Hazard symbols
- Nature of special risks associated with the use of the chemical.
- Safety precautions

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 42

 LABELLING AND MARKING –
CONT.
• Marking should be clear, comprehensive
and able to withstand adverse climatic
conditions.
- Statement that a CSDS giving additional
information is available from the employer.
- Legibility, durability and size of the label.
- Uniformity of labels and symbols, including
colours.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 43

 LABELLING AND MARKING –
CONT.
• UNRTG established five main pictograms for
easy visible recognition of dangerous goods and
significant hazard identification:
- Bomb – explosive
- Flame – flammable
- Skull and cross bone – toxic
- Trefoil – radioactive
- Liquid pouring out of two test-tubes on a hand and a
piece of metal –corrosive.
- Flame above a circle – oxidising substance.
- A gas bottle – non-flammable gases.
- 3 crescent signs imposed on a circle – infectious
substance.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 44

 TRANSFER OF CHEMICALS
• Employer should ensure that when
chemicals are transferred into other
containers or equipment, the contents are
indicated in a manner which will make
known to workers their identify, any
hazards associated with their use and any
safety precautions to be observed.
• Equipment or containers into which
chemicals are transferred should be
marked and labelled adequately.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 45

 CHEMICAL SAFETY DATE SHEET
(CSDS)
• CSDS for hazardous chemicals should give
information about the identify of the chemical, its
supplier, classification, hazards, safety
precaution and relevant emergency procedures.
• Details of the type of information that should be
required are given below:
- Chemical product and company identification.
- Information on Ingredients
- Hazard Identification
- First aid measures

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 46

CHEMICAL SAFETY DATE SHEET
(CSDS) – CONT.
- Fire fighting measures
- Accident release measures
- Handling and storage.
- Exposure controls and personal protection.
- Physical and chemical properties.
- Stability and reactivity.
- Toxicological information
- Disposal consideration.
- Transport information
- Regulatory information
- Other information.

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 47

 REFERENCES
• ILO. (1993). Safety in the Use of Chemicals at
Work International Labour Office, Geneva.
• ILO. (1990). Convention Concerning Safety in
the Use of Chemicals at Work.
• Stellman J M and Osinksy D (1998). Using,
Storing and Transporting Chemicals. In
Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and
Safety, 4th Edition, Volume III. P 61.2
• WWW.ILO org

Chemical Safety: Mutetwa B 48