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Session Objectives

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

 Discuss classification of chemicals

 Determine the hazard posed by chemicals to

human health, property and the environment

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Chemicals have improved our

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disinfectants acids resins paints

used oils solvents

cleaning agents
used batteries

fumes

wood dust

Chemicals in the Workplace

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Who should carry out Classification ?

Classification is the responsibility of chemical suppliers

e.g. manufacturers, importers, downstream users and
possibly distributors.
Downstream users – manufacture goods or offer services, where chemicals are not the main element of their
business

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 Classification of Chemicals
 A scientific assessment of whether a chemical can cause harm –whether
it has the potential to cause cancer, explode, irritate the eyes, etc.

Defines physical, health and

environmental hazards of
chemicals and harmonizes
classification criteria

The basic classification requirement is for chemical suppliers to determine whether the chemicals they supply are ‘hazardous’
according to an internationally-agreed set of rules (known as ‘criteria’) to identify what harm a chemical might cause.
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 •Explosives •Acute Toxicity
•Flammable Gases (Oral/Dermal/Inhalation)
•Aerosols •Skin Corrosion/Irritation
•Oxidizing Gases •Serious Eye Damage/Eye
•Gases Under Pressure Irritation
•Flammable Liquids •Respiratory or Skin
•Flammable Solids Sensitization
•Self-Reactive Health Hazards(10
•Germ Cell Mutagenicity
Substances classes)
•Carcinogenicity
•Pyrophoric Liquids
•Reproductive Toxicology
•Pyrophoric Solids
Physical Hazards(17
•Self-Heating •Target Organ Systemic
classes) Toxicity - Single Exposure
Substances
•Substances which, in •Target Organ Systemic
contact with water emit Toxicity - Repeated Exposure
flammable gases •Aspiration Toxicity
•Oxidizing Liquids
•Oxidizing Solids
•Organic Peroxides •Hazardous to Aquatic
•Corrosive to Metals Environment
•Desensitized
Environmental Hazards(2
(Acute/Chronic)
classes)
explosives[Added in •Hazardous to the Ozone
GHS Rev. 6] Layer

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 Classification of Chemicals
 Chemicals are classified so that people using them (industry or as
consumers) can understand any hazardous effects they could have on
human health or the environment and to protect against that harm.

 Classification is about identifying intrinsic hazards, It’s about getting the

information needed for decisions about risk control to be made, so that
chemicals can be produced, transported, used and disposed of safely.

 Classification is fundamental to safe chemical management. It is vital that

classification is based on accurate, robust and adequate data/information.

Remember! Classification must be carried out regardless of

the tonnage, volume or amount of the chemical being supplied.

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Classification of Chemicals
Chemicals can be classified based on:

 Physical & Chemical Properties

 Health Effects
 Effects to Environment
 Nature of Exposure

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

1. Flammables/Combustibles
2. Corrosives
3. Oxidizers
4. Compressed Gases
5. Cryogens
6. Pyrophorics (Air Reactives)
7. Water Reactives
8. Explosives/Potentially Explosives
9. Peroxide Forming Chemicals

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties
substances that can catch fire and burn
Flammables & Combustibles Can be in the form of solid, liquid or gas

Flammable Liquids •Flash point below 37.8o C (100o F)*

Temp. at which the substance releases a vapor capable of ignition
care must be taken to keep any • Examples: alcohols , esters, ethers, ketones
possible ignition sources away
from flammable vapors gasoline, lighter fluid, paint, thinner
Flammable Solids •Have an ignition temperature below 100o C.
point at which the substance will spontaneously ignite without an ignition source
care must be observe in the storage,
since it will spontaneously ignite Ex: naphthalene (HT), metals – Al, Cd, Cr, Ti, Zn
(P) moth balls (HT), calcium carbide (WR)
without ignition source when stored
below 100oC
alkampor apog

Flammable Gases Examples: hydrogen, methane, acetylene

Combustible • Have a flash point of 37.8oC to 100oC *

Liquids Examples: acetic acid (CA), phenol (CA, T),
propionic acid (CA), diesel fuel, engine oil
HT – Highly Toxic WR- Water Reactive CA- Corrosive Acid P- Pyrophorics
* NFPA 30 provides safeguards to reduce the hazards associated with the storage, handling, and use of flammable and
combustible liquids. Department of Labor and Employment
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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

Corrosives
 Strong acids & bases that can corrode metals and destroy
human tissue
 Examples:
Acids Bases
acetic acid (C) ammonium hydroxide (T)
citric acid (C) potassium hydroxide (T,WR)
formic acid (C, T) sodium hydroxide (T,WR)
muriatic acid (HCl) drain declogger (NaOH)
wall cleaner (Na3HPO4)

T –Toxic WR- Water Reactive C- Corrosive

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties
chemicals which decompose readily under certain conditions to yield oxygen.
Oxidizers They can cause a fire to burn violently.

Oxidisers must not be stored with flammables.

HT – Highly Toxic T- Toxic WR- Water Reactive CA- Corrosive Acid

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties
Substances stored in a
Compressed Gases receptacle under pressure

 All compressed gases have large amount of energy stored in the

cylinder from the compression of gas
 Dropping or knocking over a cylinder can cause the energy to
release and may even propel like a rocket
Examples: acetylene (F)
chlorine (T,O)
compressed air
methane (F) C – Corrosive
oxygen R - Reactive
In the event of a leak,
Inert gases can quickly displace air in a large area creating an oxygen-deficient atmosphere,
toxic gases can create poison atmospheres, and flammable or reactive gases can result in fire and exploding cylinders.
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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

Cryogens •• liquefied gases that are kept in their liquid state at very low temperatures.
storing large quantities of food, freezing blood and tissue samples, and even
cooling superconductors.

 Materials that are extremely cold (-100 °C to -270 °C)

 Upon contact, living tissue can freeze & become brittle enough to shatter
 Have common properties & hazardous characteristics w/ compressed
gases
 Examples: liquid hydrogen (F)
liquid helium coldest material known
liquid fluorine (CA, HT, O, WR)
liquid methane (F)
liquid oxygen

HT – Highly Toxic WR- Water Reactive CA- Corrosive Acid F- Flammable

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

Pyrophorics (Air reactives)

Self ignite when
exposed to air
 Substances which ignite in contact with air
 within 5 minutes spontaneously in air at a temperature of
54oC (130oF) or below
 Used mainly in semi-conductor industry
Examples:
Solids Liquids Gases
sodium (WR) aluminum borohydride diborane (HT,WR)
metals (CB,WR) phosphine (HT,WR)
(Al, Cr, Zn) diethyl zinc (WR) silane (WR)

HT – Highly Toxic WR- Water Reactive CB- Corrosive Base

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

Water reactives chemicals that react vigorously with moisture.

 Substances often react violently with water and may

ignite or generate toxic, flammable, or corrosive gases

Examples:
The alkali metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium react with water to
produce heat and flammable hydrogen gas, which can ignite or combine
explosively with atmospheric oxygen.
Solids Liquids
calcium carbide (F) acetyl chloride (CA, F)
magnesium (F) chlorosulfonic acid (CA, HT)
sodium (P) stannic chloride (CA)
phosphorous pentachloride thionyl chloride (CA)
(CA, HT)

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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

Explosives Heat, light, mechanical shock and certain catalysts can initiate explosive reactions.

 A reactive compound that is capable of catching fire or exploding if

subjected to certain conditions such as flame, shock or friction

Examples: Ammunitions, TNT, Dynamite, Fire works

 Pure chemicals or mixtures may become explosive through

contamination
Examples: Perchloric acid w/ organic compounds or metals

 Pure chemicals or mixtures that may degrade over time

Examples: Hydrated picric acid upon drying
Perchlorates at elevated temperature
Exploding bomb pictogram – chemical reaction that causes damage to the surroundings
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Based on Physical and Chemical Properties

Peroxide Forming Chemicals

 Powerful explosives
 Sensitive to oxygen, heat, friction, impact, light and
strong oxidizing & reducing agents.

Examples:
ethers
aldehydes
vinyl & vinylidene compounds

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Classification of Chemicals
Chemicals can be classified based on:

 Physical & Chemical Properties

 Health Effects
 Effects to Environment
 Nature of Exposure

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degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism.
Based on Health Effects

Toxic Chemicals
All chemicals are poisonous to some degree, but a small
dose of a toxin can cause serious health effects.

Hepatotoxins carbon tetracholoride, ethanol

Nephrotoxins halogenated hydrocarbons /chloroform

Neurotoxins mercury, disulfide
Reproductive toxins formamide, lead

Toxic or highly toxic agents strychnine, aniline

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 !
 Non-corrosive substances, which can cause inflammation
through immediate, prolonged or repeated contact with the
skin or mucous membrane.
Irritants may manifest in the form of inflammation of the
skin, eye irritation or irritation to the respiratory system
Examples:
excessive washing of hands with soap and water, household cleaners, fragrances, facial
creams

Exclamation mark – may cause less serious health effects

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 Results to inherited genetic damage to offspring
 80 to 85% of carcinogenic chemicals may have effects on future
generation
Examples:
-Acridine orange
-Diazo dyes

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 Department of Labor and Employment
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Classification of Chemicals
Chemicals can be classified based on:

 Physical & Chemical Properties

 Health Effects
 Effects to Environment
 Nature of Exposure

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Based on Effects to Environment

(a) Hazardous to aquatic environment

shows a tree
In deciding whether a substance should be classified, a search for appropriate with no leaves
databases and other sources of data should be made for the following data and a dead
elements fish to
represent

 Toxic to living organism harm to the

environment.
Acute Aquatic Toxicity / Chronic Aquatic Toxicity

 Persistent in the environment

Lack of degradation or how long it will remain in the environment

 Bioaccumulation built up of a product in an organism

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Environment Hazards
Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs) known as "forever chemicals" are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental
degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Because of their
persistence, POPs bioaccumulate with potential adverse impacts on human health and
the environment. POPS

…. Chemical substances that persist in

the environment, bioaccumulate through the food
web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to
human health and the environment.
…. They are produced and released into the environment
by human activity.

Dirty Dozen POPs

Intentionally produced chemicals currently or once used in agriculture, disease control, manufacturing, or
industrial processes.
Examples include PCBs, which have been useful in a variety of industrial applications (e.g., in electrical
transformers and large capacitors, as hydraulic and heat exchange fluids, and as additives to paints and
lubricants) and
DDT, which is still used to control mosquitoes that carry malaria in some parts of the world.
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Unintentionally produced chemicals, such as dioxins, that result from some industrial processes and
from combustion (for example, municipal and medical waste incineration and backyard burning of
trash).
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Classification of Chemicals
Chemicals can be classified based on:

 Physical & Chemical Properties

 Health Effects
 Effects to Environment
 Nature of Exposure

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Classification of Chemicals

Based on Nature of Exposure Where and in what form are chemicals are found?

Chemicals become hazardous when they get

airborne in excessive concentration
Nature of Exposure
 Acids, Bases, etc.  Mists

 Organic Solvents  Vapors

 Dust  Fibers / Particulates

 Heavy Metals  Fumes

 Gases  Gas
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Classification of Chemicals

Based on Nature of Exposure

Mists
• dispersion of liquid particles in air
• Suspended liquid droplets when
vapor condenses back to liquid
• Associated with acids, chlorine,
formaldehyde, phenols, etc. & https://nwhouston.mosquitojoe.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/77/2017/04/unspecified.jpg

processes like electroplating,

spraying and misting with a
chemical sprayer
• Common acids are hydrochloric,
sulfuric, nitric and phosphoric
acids.

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Classification of Chemicals

Based on Nature of Exposure

Vapors
•Gases formed when liquid evaporates
•Associated with solvents, adhesives,
alcohols, varnishes, paints &
lacquers, degreasers, gasoline, dry
cleaning agent, etc.
•The common organic solvents can be https://www.thoughtco.com/clausiusclapeyron-equation-example-problem-609468

classified as hydrocarbons (toluene),

ketones (methyl ethyl ketone), esters
(ethyl acetate), ether (ethyl ether),
alcohols (ethyl alcohol)

https://pngio.com/images/png-a399277.html

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 Classification of Chemicals

Based on Nature of Exposure

Dusts / Particulates
 Suspension of solid particles in air
 Generated by processes like
grinding, drilling & crushing operations
 Classified according to size
Total dust – all dust particles in the area
Inhalable dust – dust that can be filtered by our body's natural filtering
mechanism
Respirable dust – too small that it can be deposited into the lungs

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Classification of Chemicals

Based on Nature of Exposure

Fumes
• Volatilized solid that condenses
when they contact air
• very small, solid particles created
when hot vapor reacts with air to
form an oxide https://interestingengineering.com/types-of-welding-their-applications-advantages-and-disadvantages

• Associated with molten metals &

processes like welding, soldering,
metalizing and coating
• Examples: Lead, Iron, Chromium,
Tin and Zinc Fumes

https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/how-to-achieve-perfect-pcb-soldering/

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Classification of Chemicals

Based on Nature of Exposure

Gases
• Substances in the gaseous state at room
temperature and pressure.
•Have no warning odor at a dangerous
concentration.
o By-product of incomplete combustion
(carbon monoxide)
o Wastewater treatment plant (hydrogen
sulfide & chlorine gas)
o Refrigeration & fertilizer plants (ammonia)
o Machinery using diesel engine (nitrogen
dioxide)

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 “We cannot do away with chemicals”
Chemicals have improved the quality of life but
its misuse can endanger our lives – can cause
harm to humans, property and environment.

Understanding the nature of chemicals, the risks

of exposure and hazards will help prevent
accidents and illnesses.
 We classify Chemicals based on its Physical
and Chemical Properties, Health effects,
nature of exposure and effects to the
environment
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