Slide 4

• Substance covers a wide range of materials including single chemical

compounds or mixtures of these, simple or complex naturally occurring or
synthetically produced substances and micro-organisms.
• Substances may be chemically pure or contain additives or impurities and
may be in the form of solids, liquids, gases, dusts, fibres, fumes or
aerosols.
• Some (e.g. fumes, dusts and aerosols) may be difficult to identify.
They may be materials used or which arise during maintenance or repair of plants
or buildings, or they may be formed or used during research, development or
testing
Multi organ involvement

12/10/2023 1
Slide 5
Route of entry / absorption
The three main routes of entry of toxins into the body are via inhalation, the
skin and ingestion.
Ingestion: Ingestion is the least significant route of entry in industry while in
environmental toxicology it is the most. During evolution, mechanisms have
developed in the gut to regulate the uptake of essential elements. Toxic
elements may have to compete so that generally only a fraction of any
ingested dose is absorbed into the body (often 10% or less).
Possible causes of ingestion in industry are mouth pipetting in laboratories,
swallowing dust which has been inhaled and cleared by the mucociliary
escalator, smoking and eating at the workstation or simply having dirty hands
where the hand later comes in contact with the mouth.
Inhalation: In the lung there are no similar mechanisms for selective uptake.
Insoluble chemicals are relatively
safer, for example lead sulphide, whereas lead carbonate is highly soluble
and causes poisoning quickly. Larger inhaled particles are less of a risk as
absorption higher up the respiratory tract is less efficient.
It is important to remember that not only is the lung responsible for the uptake
of substances into the body it is also acted on as a target organ. Materials
which are not absorbed into the body can remain in the lungs and cause
physical and/or chemical damage to them.
The Skin: In the skin there is again no selective uptake. Percutaneous
absorption through healthy intact skin occurs with nitrobenzene, phenol, organic
mercury, and aniline. Absorption of phenol through just a few square inches of
intact skin can be lethal. Impervious protective clothing like gloves will
increase the rate of absorption if accidental contamination occurs on the
inside. Damaged skin also facilitates absorption of toxins.

12/10/2023 2
slide 6
Potency is a measure of a chemical's toxicity and determines its level of harm. A
chemical with higher potency is more toxic compared to a less potent one. For
example, sodium cyanide is more potent than sodium chloride (table salt), as a
smaller quantity of cyanide can cause poisoning.
The potency of a chemical can be influenced by its transformation within the
human body. When a substance is absorbed into the body, it may undergo
chemical changes or metabolism, resulting in a substance that is either more toxic
or less toxic. For instance, carbon tetrachloride, previously used as a solvent, is
metabolized into a more toxic chemical that can cause liver damage. On the other
hand, some chemicals undergo metabolism that converts them into a form that
can be more easily eliminated from the body.

Dose: The quantity of a substance that enters or comes into contact with an
individual is referred to as a dose. When assessing a dose, body weight is a crucial
factor to consider. If a child and an adult are exposed to the same amount of a
chemical, the child, due to their lower weight, can be more susceptible to its
effects. This is why children are administered smaller doses of aspirin compared
to adults, as an adult dose would be excessive for a child's body weight.
The likelihood of experiencing health effects increases with higher levels of
exposure to a substance. Even large quantities of a relatively harmless substance
can become toxic. For instance, taking two aspirin tablets can alleviate a
headache, but consuming an entire bottle of aspirin can lead to stomach pain,
nausea, vomiting, headaches, convulsions, or even death.
The term acute exposure refers to a brief and immediate contact with a chemical,
which can range from a few seconds to a few hours. Examples include using
ammonia to clean windows, using nail polish remover, or spraying paint from a
can. Inhaling the fumes during these activities is an instance of acute exposure.
On the other hand, chronic exposure entails continuous or repeated contact with
a harmful substance over an extended period, typically spanning months or years.
For instance, if a chemical is used daily in a workplace, the exposure would be
considered chronic. Certain substances, like PCBs and lead, can accumulate in the
body over time through chronic exposure, leading to long-term health effects.

12/10/2023 3
Chronic exposures can also occur at home, where chemicals present in furniture,
carpeting, or cleaning products can serve as sources of ongoing exposure.
In addition, chemicals released from landfills have the potential to seep into
groundwater and contaminate nearby wells or enter basements. Unless
preventive measures are implemented, individuals may experience prolonged
exposure to chemicals through their drinking water or indoor air.

Sensit
Sensitivity Chemicals affect people differently due to variation in sensitivity.
Genetic factors influence how people’s bodies break down or eliminate specific
chemicals. This makes some people more susceptible to health effects than
others.
Low levels of chemicals can affect some individuals, who may develop allergic
reactions. Those with an allergic response will react to the same amount of the
same chemical in different ways to a non-allergic person.
Other factors which affect sensitivity include:
 age
 illness
 diet
 alcohol use
 pregnancy
 medication
Young children are usually more sensitive to chemicals, as their bodies have
reduced ability to eliminate certain chemicals compared to adults. They also
absorb higher amounts of certain chemicals into their bloodstream when
exposed, for example lead.

12/10/2023 4
Slide 7
The Globally Harmonized System for Hazard Communication

In 2003, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS includes criteria for the
classification of health, physical and environmental hazards, as well as specifying
what information should be included on labels of hazardous chemicals as well as
safety data sheets. The United States was an active participant in the
development of the GHS, and is a member of the UN bodies established to
maintain and coordinate implementation of the system. The official text of the
GHS can be found on the UN web page.

12/10/2023 5
Slide 8

What Does Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Mean?

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is an important document containing a

chemical product’s physical data, potential hazards, handling and required safety
precautions. The information is used as a starting point when developing
complete safety and health programs. It is a requirement for every manufacturer
to include this information with every chemical product.

Risk assessment

Address the following questions to itemize and assess the various risks of
exposure the onsite chemicals pose.
• How is the chemical used (e.g., sprayed, poured, painted)?
• How often is the chemical used?
• How will the user be exposed (e.g., inhalation, dermal contact)?
• How much of the chemical substance is used or generated in work
practices?
• How long is each user exposed to the chemical (e.g., full shift or a few
minutes)?
• Who uses the chemical (e.g., how many people)?
• Are any vulnerable groups potentially exposed? (E.g., identify if
reproductive toxins are in use.)
• Is the chemical mixed with other chemicals?
• Is the chemical exposed to high temperatures or pressure?
• Can people not actively working with the chemical be exposed (e.g., people
working nearby, visitors, cleaning, or maintenance staff)?

12/10/2023 6
Slide 9
Identify hazard
 Walk around and make an inventory of all the chemicals in the
workplace.
 Identify the chemical hazards. Use safety data sheets for comprehensive
information about the substances. Make sure these safety data sheets
are available onsite for workers.
 Ensure labeling and warning symbols are correct and visibly displayed.

Who might be harmed

• Can people not actively working with the chemical be exposed (e.g., people
working nearby, visitors, cleaning, janitorial or maintenance staff)?
Assess the risk
Address the following questions to itemize and assess the various risks of
exposure the onsite chemicals pose.
 How is the chemical used (e.g., sprayed, poured, painted)?
 How often is the chemical used?
 How will the user be exposed (e.g., inhalation, dermal contact)?
 How much of the chemical substance is used or generated in work
practices?
 How long is each user exposed to the chemical (e.g., full shift or a few
minutes)?
 Who uses the chemical (e.g., how many people)?
 Are any vulnerable groups potentially exposed? (E.g., identify if
reproductive toxins are in use.)
 Is the chemical mixed with other chemicals?
 Is the chemical exposed to high temperatures or pressure?
 Can people not actively working with the chemical be exposed (e.g.,
people working nearby, visitors, cleaning or maintenance staff)?

12/10/2023 7
Establish controls
 Elimination: Is there an essential requirement for the hazardous
chemical to be used in the work processes? Could it be removed
altogether?
 Substitution: Could an alternate, non-hazardous or less hazardous
chemical be used in its place?
 Engineering controls: Can the employer implement physical changes to
the work environment that may help to reduce exposure of workers to
hazardous chemicals?
 Administrative controls: Can the employer change how a work task is
performed to reduce exposure to chemicals and associated risk? Have
they established efficient workplace policies, protocols, processes, and
control-and-monitoring mechanisms?
 Personal protective equipment (PPE): Has the employer provided
appropriate PPE to workers to reduce their direct contact with
hazardous chemicals? These may include respirators, gloves, and
protective full-body suits.
Next steps
Record and communicate findings
All findings of the chemical risk assessment should be written down and
distributed to workers.
Workers' perspectives should have been sought during the assessment process,
and the findings discussed with them on completion. Worker input is especially
critical to successfully implementing controls based on the chemical risk
assessment findings.
Create an action plan
This action plan should detail who is responsible for each specific control action,
and when and how these actions will be carried out.
Review regularly
The risk assessment should be reviewed at least once a year as standard, and
whenever changes that may affect how chemicals are handled are introduced.
This could include recruitment of new employees, or adoption of new machinery,
12/10/2023 8
equipment, and materials. A review should also be prompted by changes to work
patterns and practices, for example relating to overtime or shift work. The needs
of pregnant workers, those who are nursing infants, and those with special needs
must also be included.

12/10/2023 9
Slide 10
Manual Handling
Talk to slide content. Use supporting notes if required.
Manual handling relates to the moving of items either by lifting, lowering,
carrying, pushing or pulling. But it's not just a case of 'pulling something' due to
the weight of the item, although this can be a cause of injury. Injuries can be
caused because of the Number of times you have to pick up or carry an item, the
distance you are carrying it, the height you are picking it up from or putting it
down at (picking it up from the floor, putting it on a shelf above shoulder level)
and any twisting, bending stretching or other awkward posture you may get in
whilst doing a task

Slide 11
Ask the following question: Given this basic explanation of manual handling and
your experience what are the factors that can increase the risk of injury during
manual handling?
Explore key factors for risk of injury with class and then display suggested
answers. Scientific literature and guidance from regulators indicate that these are
the primary risk factors for injury.
Display dialogue box which lists four tools that can be used to assess repetitive /
manual handing activities. These tools are all accessible on the worldwide web.
They are straight forward to use. Guidance on use is readily available.

12/10/2023 10
Slide 12
Principles for addressing risks associated with workplace manual handling are to
avoid hazardous manual handling where possible, assess the risk from operations
that cannot be avoided, and reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable.
Steps in a manual handling risk assessment are task observation and description,
collection of task data, identification of risk factors, development of solutions and
action plan, and review of control measures.
Reducing risk may involve making changes to the task, the load, the working
environment, or a combination thereof.
Involve employees, committee, ESH personnel, manager is good why for budget,
provides confidence from workers

Slide 13
Break Out Room 2: Battery charging area

Slide 14

Ask the following question: Based on what you can see what the
ergonomic/manual handling issues are associated with this task.
Explore task with class and then display potential issues. If necessary, steer
delegates to the following:
How often is the task undertaken – It is a repetitive task. Batteries are handled 6
times through the entire process.
How heavy is the load (battery) – Batteries can weigh between 14 – 20 kg.
How far do the batteries have to be carried – Batteries carried from 4 – 10m
(medium risk).
Do operators have to work in an awkward posture. Operators work with bent
back and have to reach forward. Twisting and bending occurs whilst carrying
batteries. Work surface is low.
Ask the following question: What would you do to reduce the risk of injury to the
operator?
Explore potential interventions with class and then display actual improvements
made.

12/10/2023 11
Slide 15

• Workplace drug and alcohol testing can be conducted as part of pre-

placement or routine health assessments, as well as in accordance with “for
cause” or “due cause” factors. Groups and individuals can be tested.
• Workers are usually contractually obliged to partake in any drug or alcohol
testing demands stipulated by the employer. This should be clearly outlined
in the contract of employment.
• It is vital that employers and occupational health physicians conduct drug
and alcohol testing in line with appropriate policies and procedures to
ensure any result and outcome is legally defensible.
• Samples that can be tested include urine, saliva, hair, breath, and blood.
Urine is the most common testing type in occupational settings.
• It is essential that proper chain of custody procedures are followed. This is
particularly important where there is a positive drug screen, or where the
results could prove contentious.
• A comprehensive drug testing program should have a medical review
officer (MRO) to confirm the final results.
• Where there is a positive result, the MRO should examine all relevant
documentation and interview the specimen donor to explore medical
justifications for the laboratory results.

12/10/2023 12