MODULE 4

CHEMICAL SAFETY

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

TLO 9: Apply chemical safety in the design and calculations of the applications of
chemistry specific field of expertise.

Introduction

Chemicals are part of our daily life. All living and inanimate matter is made up of chemicals
and virtually every manufactured product involves the use of chemicals. Many chemicals
can, when properly used, significantly contribute to the improvement of our quality of life,
health and well-being. But other chemicals are highly hazardous and can negatively
affect our health and environment when improperly managed.

The production and use of chemicals continues to grow worldwide, particularly in

developing countries. This is likely to result in greater negative effect on health if sound
chemicals management is not ensured. Multisectoral action is urgently needed to protect
human health from the harmful effects of improperly managed chemicals. WHO
summarized scientific evidence and provides risk management recommendations for the
10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern listed below:

1. Air pollution 6. Dioxin and dioxin-like substances

2. Arsenic 7. Inadequate or excess fluoride
3. Asbestos 8. Lead
4. Benzene 9. Mercury
5. Cadmium 10. Highly hazardous pesticides

Chemical Safety is achieved by undertaking all activities involving chemicals in such a way
as to ensure the safety of human health and the environment. It covers all chemicals,
natural and manufactured, and the full range of exposure situations from the natural
presence of chemicals in the environment to their extraction or synthesis, industrial
production, transport use and disposal.

Chemical safety has many scientific and technical components. Among these are
toxicology, ecotoxicology and the process of chemical risk assessment which requires a
detailed knowledge of exposure and of biological effects.

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 Unit 1 Chemical Safety

UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES

TLO 9: Apply chemical safety in the design and calculations of the applications of
chemistry specific field of expertise.

ENGAGE
We come into contact with chemicals every day. They make our lives easier, but they also
can pose a threat to human health and the environment. Substances which accumulate
in the human body, animals and plants and which are dispersed by air water or passed on
through the food chain are particularly hazardous. Their most hazardous form, persistent
organic pollutants (POP), is a global problem which can only be solved at international
level. Chemicals are not only a potential problem if they are dispersed all over the world,
like POPs. They can also cause damage at the local or regional level. In order to protect
ourselves from such hazards, we have to recognise chemicals and know how they affect
the environment. If information on chemicals does not provide sufficient protection,
hazards must be limited through restrictions, bans and authorisation provisions.
Nanomaterials are an issue here. They offer a plethora of possibilities, but they may also
pose risks. As they are new materials and there are still gaps in the knowledge about their
effects, they are a particular challenge for chemicals safety.

EXPLAIN

CHEMICAL SAFETY & HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

COMMON TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

CHEMICAL - any substance with a molecular identity

Examples: water, carbon dioxide

pH - power of Hydrogen (+)

- value that represents the acidity of alakalinity of a certain solution

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 ACID - organic or inorganic compound that has pH less than 7.0
Examples: HCl - hydrochloric acid, muriatic acid
H2SO4 - sulfuric acid, dipping acid
HNO3 - nitric acid, aqua fortis

ALKALINE; CAUSTIC; BASE - organic or inorganic compound that has pH greater than 7.0
Examples: NaOH - sodium hydroxide, caustic soda
KOH - potassium hydroxide, caustic potash

SOLVENT - chemical that can dissolve other materials to form mixture.

Examples: acetone, 2-propanone
Isopropyl alcohol, 2-propanol
paint thinner

CORROSIVE - substance that causes visible destruction to human skin tissue at the site of
contact; liquid that has a severe reaction rate on steel/metal
Examples: acid, caustic

FLAMMABLE - any liquid having a flashpoint below 100 oF (37.8 oC)

Examples: acetone, IPA, methanol, paint thinner

COMBUSTIBLE - those with flashpoint above 100 oF but below 200 oF (93.9 oC)
Example: Fuel

FLASHPOINT - the lowest temperature at which vapors from volatile liquid will ignite
momentarily upon application of a small flame under specfied conditions

VOLATILITY - the tendency or ability of a liquid to quickly vaporize

Examples: acetone, IPA, methanol

EXPLOSIVE - material that produces a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure,

gas and heat when subjected to abrupt shock, pressure or high temperature
Examples: acetylene compressed gases

RESPONSIBILITIES

SUPERVISORS
a) Maintain a complete LIST and MSDS of chemicals used in his/her area.
b) Acquire MSDS from the manufacturer/supplier or get assistance from P&L.
c) Have his/her PS properly trained on chemical safety.
d) Assist in evaluating chemicals used in his/her area.

ALL EMPLOYEES
a) Be informed on the potential hazard of chemicals he.she may come in contact with
and the other proper precautions.
b) Follow all Environment, Safety & Health requirements when working with chemicals.
c) Read label on the container of every chemical used.

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 d) Check the MSDS for detailed information or when in doubt and follow instructions
stated therein.

HAZARD COMMUNICATION

Requirements:
 All chemicals must be approved by ESH before the chemicals enter the plant.
 No chemicals can be brought in visitors’ lobby or any other employee entrance.
 An information update should occur whenever a new chemical is introduced into the
work area, including those to be used in construction.
 A current inventory list of chemicals used must be posted in the work area and is also
maintained by ESH coordinators.

TYPES OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS

 PHYSICAL HAZARD
A chemical for which there is valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed
gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive)
or water-reactive. Affects the body physically like cuts,burns, eye injury, skin irritation, etc.

 HEALTH HAZARD
The term "health hazard" includes chemicals which are skin irritants, corrosives, sensitizers,
toxins, and agents which can damage lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

 CHRONIC HEALTH HAZARD: Affect the body through long-term exposure.

 ACUTE HEALTH HAZARD: Affect the body through short-term exposure.

EXPOSURE ROUTES
 INHALATION
 Air sacs in our lungs absorb oxygen and other chemicals that are in the air into the
blood stream
 Most common form of exposure

 INGESTION
 Chemicals enter our body through skin, and mucous membrane of eyes.
 2nd most common form of exposure

 SKIN ABSORPTION
 Eating: contaminated hands
 Swallowing: accidental

 INJECTION
 Chemicals is injected into a person by a needle or sharp object such as glass or nails.

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 PROPERTIES AND PRECAUTIONS

SOLVENTS

Properties:
 Narcotics in high concentration; An addictive drug, that reduces pain, alters mood
and behavior.
 Vaporizes immediately when exposed to atmospheric air making it explosion and fire
hazard if exposed to heat or open flame.
 Can dissolved ordinary plastic container especially at elevated temp.

Precautions:
 Handle in a vented fume hood labeled for solvents only.
 Store in a chemical cabinet approved for flammable chemicals and should not be
mixed with corrosive/oxidizing chemicals.
 There must be no open flame or sparks in the hood and all equipment must be
explosion proof.
 Never mix with acids or oxidants it can create explosion and fire.

Personal Protective Equipment:

 Safety glasses
 Chemical gloves
 Chemical apron
 Solvent respirators
 Face shield when handling large volume of chemical

Disposal:
 Dispose pure solvent into appropriate labeled waste can or empty container of the
same chemical.
 Do not mix with other chemical waste or ordinary trash.
 Do not dispose in a fume hood sink.
 Submit waste solvent to proper facility (e.g. waste treatment plant).

ACID CHEMICALS

Properties
 pH is below 7.0
 Very corrosive and cause tissue burns.
 Can irritate the throat after short exposure.
 Repeated contact on diluted solutions cause dermatitis.
 Prolonged inhalation of its concentrated vapor can cause inflammation of the
respiratory tract leading to chronic bronchitis or pneumonia.
 Either strong or weak acid, both are extremely dangerous.

Precautions:
 Do not wear contact lenses.
 Never mix with cyanides, it will produce toxic/deadly gas.
 Never mix with caustics, it will make violent reaction.

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  Never mix with solvents, it can cause explosion and fire.
 Use/handle in vented fume hood labeled for corrosive only

Disposal
 Dispose in fume hood sink while flushing with liberal amount of water.
 Contaminated absorbing materials should be properly disposed in a garbage
container labeled with corrosive or acid chemical.
 The container should be properly sealed and then submit to proper facility (e.g. waste
treatment plant).

Personal Protective Equipment

 Goggles/Safety glasses
 Rubber gloves designated for acid
 Respirators designated for acid
 Acid resistant apron
 Acid resistant sleeves
 Face shield when handling large volume of acid
 Chemical resistant safety shoes

ALKALINE CHEMICALS

Properties:
 pH is above 7.0.
 Basic solutions taste bitter and feel slippery.
 Its corrosive action on the tissues causes burns and deep ulceration with ultimate
scarring.
 It reacts violently with acids.
 Inhalation of the dust or concentrated mist can damage respiratory tract and lung
tissue.

Precautions:
 Do not wear contact lenses.
 Do not mix other chemicals not unless with an approved procedure.
 Handle in a vented fume hood designated for corrosive only.

Personal Protective Equipment

 Goggles and safety glasses.
 Rubber gloves designated for corrosive chemicals.
 Respirators designated for base/alkaline solutions.
 Corrosive resistant apron
 Corrosive resistant sleeves
 Face shield when handling large volumes of chemical
 Chemical resistant safety shoes

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 HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL/GASES IDENTIFICATION
All physical and health hazards of chemicals and gases must be identified with:
 Warning Label
 Material Safety Data Sheet

Label Minimum Requirement:

 Name of the Chemical / Solution.
 Hazard Warning / Precautions.
 Manufacturer’s name and address.
 Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Material Safety Data Sheet

 It is a standard summary of the result of health and safety research on chemical
product.

Section 1 - Product Information

 Product Name
 Manufacturer or Supplier’s Name
 Product Use
 Peparer’s Name
 Date (cannot be older than thre years)

Section 2 - Information of Ingredients

 Ingredients by name
 Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number - code identification
 LD50 an LC50 values if available; LD50 I the dose that kills half (50) of the animals tested
(LD = “lethal dose”). The animals are usually rats or mice, although rabbits, guinea pigs,
hamsters, and so on are sometimes used.

Section 3 - Hazards Identification

 Routes of entry
 Hazard symbols
 Potential health effects

Section 4 - First Aid Measures

Should indicate the first aid measures for each type of contact:
 Skin contact
 Eye contact
 Inhalation
 Ingestion

Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures

 Flash Point/Auto Ignition Temperature
 Fire Extinguishing Media/Procedures

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 Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
 Leak and Spill Procedures

Section 7 - Handling and Storage

 Handling Procedure and Equipment
 Storage Condition Requirements

Section 8 - Exposure Control/Personal Protection

 Exposure Limits
 Specific Engineering Controls
 PPE needed

Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties

 Form
 Appearance
 Odor
 Specific gravity
 Vapor pressure/Boiling point
 Vapor density
 pH

Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity

 Chemical Stability
 Incompatibility to other substances
 Reactivity under certain conditions
 Hazardous Decomposition Products

Section 11 - Toxicological Information

 Effects of Acute Exposure  Embrotoxicity
 Effects of chronic exposure  Respiratory sensitization
 Irritancy of Product  Respiratory sensitization
 Skin sensitization  Carcinogenicity - ACGIH
 Carcinogenicity  Teratogenicity
 Reproductive Toxicity  Mutagenicity

Section 12 - Ecological Information

 Aquatic Toxicity

Section 13 - Disposal Considerations

 Waste Disposal

Section 14 - Transport Information

 Shipping Information

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 Section 15 - Regulatory Information
 Government Agency Regulations

Section 16 - Other Information

HAZARD COMMUNICATION CARD

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY (NFPA) DIAMOND - What is it?

It is a warning sign placed prominently in areas of potential hazards

Responsibility of User
 Read label on the container of every chemical you use.
 Check the MSDS whenever you need additional information about how to control
material’s hazard or when in doubt.
 Follow instructions contained in the MSDS.

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 HEIRARCHY OF SAFETY CONTROLS

ENGINEERING CONTROLS
 Control Hazard from source (e.g. scrubber, exhaust hoods, alarm/monitors/computer
controls and ventilation)
ADMINISTRATIVE
 Trainings
 Procedures
 Audits
 Disciplinary action

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

 Safety glasses/goggles
 Chemical gloves
 Face shields
 Respirator
 Safety shoes

CHEMICAL SPILLS

Chemical spills can cause:

 Health hazards to workers
 Environmental damage
 Fire and explosions

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 Chemical Spill Response Plan: Know Chemical
1. Identify the chemical
2. Check the precautions and the hazards on the MSDS
3. Block off the are with safety cones, barricade tape or rope and report the spill to your
supervisor or other workers.
4. After determining that the chemical isn’t flammable or a health hazard, shut off the
source of the spill.
5. Use Qsorb absorbent materials, sandbags, pads, or sawdust to protect any nearby
drains.
6. Check the MSDS and Emergency Response Guidebook for spill containment and
clean-up information.
7. Build a dike around the spill to prevent further spreading.
8. Again, use Qsorb, sand bags, pads or sawdust adsorb spill material
9. If the spilled substance is an acid or caustic, neutralization maybe necessary.
10. Cleanup now can begin. When using absorbent such as Qsorb, start at the outer edge
and work towards the center.
11. After the spilled material has been absorbed, it can be swept up and placed in a
properly labeled disposal container.
12. Store damaged or leaking drums or other containers inside a salvage drum.
13. Read the MSDS for final disposal instructions.

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF CHEMICALS

Proper Storage
1. Chemicals should be stored according to their characteristics. Corrosive chemicals
should not be stored together with flammable chemicals.
2. Stored chemicals should be properly labeled and covered.
3. Storage area should have spill containment and spill kit available.
4. List of approved chemicals should be available in the storage cabinet or room.
5. Cabinets and storage room should be compatible with the chemical being stored.
6. Chemicals should be transported in trolleys with spill containment and spill kit.
7. Chemicals should not be transported using elevator.
8. Empty chemical containers should be considered as full until they are
decontaminated.
9. Chemical storage room should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
10. Know location of emergency exits inside chemical storage room.
11. Ventilation should be available inside chemical storage room.
12. Flammable containers should be grounded.
13. Chemicals in each area must be limited to minimal storage enough for the approved
chemical storage or chemical cabinet capacity in the area.

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 Do’s in Chemical Handling
1. Check location of eye wash and shower. Verify from supervisor if they are functioning.
2. Always wear the required protective equipment.
3. Contain chemicals that previously contains.
4. Handle chemicals under fume good designated for such.
5. Discard containers that have crack or chips.
6. Mix or dilute chemicals only in strict accordance with manufacturing specification.
7. Store chemicals in cabinets/enclosures intended for such.
8. Clean up spills when they happen.
9. Use chemicals for their intended use only.
10. Read labels on chemical containers.
11. Label shows vital information for safe handling such as:
a) dangerous properties of chemicals and its precautions
b) type of storage and proper PPE
c) emergency action for spills and disposal

Don’t’s in Chemical Handling

1. Do not be afraid to ask questions regarding chemicals.
a) If you need to ask question or need assistance, contact your supervisor.
b) If frequently occurring safety problems are not resolved in a reasonable time,
discuss these problems with your safety engineer.
2. Never mix acids with caustics, cyanides, solvents, flammables, nor oxidants.
3. Never add water to certain chemicals. Instead add chemical slowly to water
4. Never store acid containers together with flammable, cyanides, or caustics.
5. Never pour waste acid into waste solvents cans.
6. Never use chemicals without wearing the proper requirement on protective
equipment.
7. Never carry chemicals in an open air.
8. Never put chemical on an elevation more than 3 feet above the floor.
9. Never put mix trash with chemicals.
10. Never use flammable solvent such as acetone or methanol for cleaning.
11. Do not use chemicals improperly.
12. Foods are not allowed inside chemical cabinets and inside laboratories where
chemicals are being used.

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 EXPLAIN

Activity 1: Safety
Self-Assessment No. 1

Write an essay discussing how important safety is to your engineering profession. Also,
identify and explain the Hazard Communication processes and procedures commonly
found in your engineering profession.

To be submitted in Google classroom on:

ELABORATE & EVALUATE

Activity 2: Case Study

Self-Assessment No. 2

Research on a chemical spill accident and conduct a simple case study on it.

To be submitted in Google classroom on:

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