Chemical & Biological Health

Hazards and Risk Control

 Classification of
Occupational Health Hazards
Physical:
Machinery, Electricity, Heat, Noise
Chemical:
Acids, Alkalis, Asbestos
Biological:
HIV Virus, Legionella, Bacteria
Ergonomic:
Posture problems, Fatigue
Psychological:
Stress, Shock, Anxiety
 Definition of Hazards
Physical Hazard:-
“A Physical hazard is an environmental factor which threatens an
individual's physical safety without the individual touching it”

Chemical Hazard:-
“Chemical hazards are chemicals that can cause destruction on
anyone” It is not only found at workplaces but other places as well. It
can be from chemical burns to accidental inhaling.

Biological Hazard
“Biological hazards also known as biohazards refer to biological
substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms
primarily that of humans”

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Classification of Health Hazards
Hazard Type Example Effect on Health
Hearing
Impairment, Hypertension,
Physical Hazard Noise
disease, Annoyance, Disturbed
Sleep
Asbestosis,  Lung
Chemical Hazard Asbestos
Cancer, Mesothelioma

Biological Hazard Rats urine Leptospirosis / Weil’s Disease

Lifting or moving
objects and Work Related Upper Limb
Ergonomic Hazard
Twisting at the Disorders (WRULDs)
waist
 Biological Hazards
Biological hazards can be caused due to any bacteria or
viruses.

Diseases caused by biological agents include:

Anthrax, Cholera, Listeriosis, Melioidosis and Legionnaires

1.Legionnaires disease a type of pneumonia or Lung Infection

2.Anthrax is caused by the organism Bacillus anthracis
 Biological Hazards
Biological hazards can be bacteria or viruses

Weil’s disease is a fatal infection transmitted urine from

infected rats
1.Anthrax disease caused by the bacteria found in animal hides
2.Rabies Rabies is a virus transmitted bite from a wild infected
animal
 Biological Hazards Control Measures
• Cleaning / Disinfecting

• Water treatment programmes

• Vermin control A pest animal prohibited, controlled

• Procedures for handling, containment & disposal

• Maintaining Personal Hygiene

• Immunisation to build resistance to specific infections

• Health surveillance strategies and methods to detect and

assess systematically the adverse effects of work on the health
of workers.

• Job Specific Training

• Suitable PPE
 PHYSICAL FORMS OF
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
There are three basic physical forms:
1. Solids (dusts and fumes)
2. Liquids (Mists and Vapors)
3. Gases
• Gases (Co2)
• Vapour (Toluene)
• Mists and Aerosols (Deodorant)
• Smoke (Coal Burning)
• Fumes (Welding)
• Dusts (Floor Mill Dust)
• Liquids (Chemicals)
• Solids (Lead Ingot)
 Hazardous Substances Symbols (1)
Irritant:
A stimulus or agent which induces the
state of irritation is an
irritant. Irritants are typically thought of
as chemical agents (for
example phenol and capsaicin) but
mechanical, thermal (heat), and
radiative stimuli (for example
ultraviolet light or ionising radiations)
can also be irritants
Corrosive:
Destruction of living tissue at point of
contact (skin) strong acids or alkalis
i.e. H2 SO4, Caustic, ammonia
 Hazardous Substances Symbols (2)
Harmful: Substances which if swallowed, inhaled or
penetrate the skin may cause damage to health e.g.
Trichloroethylene

Very Toxic: Poisonous substances

Very toxic materials are substances
that may cause significant harm or
even death to an individual if even very
small amounts enter the body.
 Hazardous Substances Symbols (3)
Toxic:
Poisonous substances which in
low quantities may cause death,
acute chronic damage to health
e.g. Lead, Mercury, Arsenic

Carcinogenic:
Substances which cause
disorders in cell growth that may
lead to cancer or increase its
incidence e.g. Benzene
 Hazardous Substances Symbols (4)
Mutagenic: Substances which
induce hereditable genetic
defects or increase their
incidence

TERATOGENIC
“Teratology is the study of abnormalities
of physiological development”.
Teratogens are
substance, organism, or process that ca
uses malformations in a fetus.
They includecertaindrugs (such as thalid
omide), infections (such as German mea
sles), and ionizing radiation.
 TOXICOLOGY
Definition:
“It is the study of the adverse effects
of Chemicals on living organisms”

The factors to be considered are:

1) Route of Entry
2) Toxicity of Substance
3) Dose & Response
 TOXICOLOGY - Routes of Entry

a) Inhalation

b) Ingestion

c) Absorption

d) Injection (Direct Entry)

 TOXICOLOGY - Routes of Entry
Inhalation
•Most important route of Absorption
•Through the skin
entry
•Eg: Solvents may
•Substances can directly
penetrate unbroken
attack lung tissue skin
•Responsible for 90% of
all cases of industrial
poisoning

Injection
•When skin is damaged Ingestion
•Puncture of the skin Via Mouth
•Contact with liquid or Often Accidental
gas under pressure
Poor Hygiene
 Toxicity, Dose & Response
Toxicity: It is the degree to which a substance can
damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect
on a whole organism, that can cause harm to living
things

Dose: How much of a substance you are

exposed to and how long the exposure lasts

Response: How the body reacts to the

exposure
Factors Affecting Response
 Body Weight
 Age
 Skin Type
 Sex
 Diet
 Health
 Ill-health Definitions
Acute :
Is an immediate or rapidly produced adverse
effect, following a single or short-term
exposure to a hazardous substance, usually
with a rapid or immediate response which is
normally reversible.

Chronic:
Adverse health effect resulting from prolonged,
repeated exposure to a hazardous substance
the response being gradual is often
irreversible.
 Toxic Effects
Acute:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea
Inflammation
Eye irritation
Unconsciousness

Chronic:
Cancers
Local
Systemic
Sensitisation
 Dermatitis
Removal of natural oils from skin which causes
reddening, soreness, cracking and bleeding of exposed
skin. Usually occurs to arms and hands

Causative Agents:

Solvents, Detergents,
Mineral oils, Kerosine,
Diesel fuel, Cement, Dusts, etc.

Dermatitis from exposure to kerosene

 Measures to Prevent Dermatitis
• Substitute/change process
• Clean working conditions & Properly planned
safe systems
• Careful attention to skin problems
• Prompt attention to cuts etc.
• Use of PPE
• Barrier creams
• Pre-employment screening
• Information, Instruction and Training
 Target Organs
A Target Organ is defined as:
An organ within the human body on
which a specific toxic material exerts its
effects.

Brain
Lungs
Lead, Mercury
Asbestos, Coal dust
Occupational Exposure Limits
(OEL)
“An occupational exposure limit is an upper
limit on the acceptable concentration of a
hazardous substance in workplace air for a
particular material or class of materials”

• Threshold Limit Values (TLV) USA

• Indicative Limit Values (ILV) Europe
• Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) UK

High Risk substances

Other hazardous substances
 Action If OEL Exceeded
1) Stop the process
2) Remove employees from area
3) Make area safe
4) Investigate cause
5) Assess existing controls
6) Monitor procedures
7) Check workers health
8) Record incident
 Various Agents
Asbestos
Types Diseases
White (Chrysotile) Asbestosis
Brown (Amosite) Mesothelioma
Blue (Crocidolite) Lung cancer
Blue and brown
asbestos are more
hazardous than white
 Asbestos Uses
Protective Clothing
Insulation boards
Pipework Lagging
Cement Boards
Gaskets, Filters Blue asbestos cloth on a boiler flue
Brake Linings
Plasterwork
Sprayed for Insulation
Asbestos insulating board in a wall
Workers at risk: partition
Maintenance, & Demolition workers
 Other Agents (1)
Ammonia: A colourless gas with a pungent
odour
• Irritation to the eyes and upper respiratory tract
• Used in printing and fertilisers
Chlorine: A greenish gas with a pungent odour
• Irritant to respiratory tract, abdominal pain,
nausea (sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach)
• Used as a disinfectant in drinking water and
swimming pool water
 Other Agents (2)
Carbon Dioxide: A colourless, odourless gas
Increases the rate of respiration,
unconsciousness
Produced in fermentation, Fire protection
Carbon Monoxide: A colourless, odourless
and tasteless gas
Headaches, drowsiness, asphyxiation
Incomplete combustion in boiler, vehicle
exhausts
 Other Agents (3)
Isocyanates: Volatile organic compounds
Irritation of skin and mucous membrane, asthma
Spray painting vehicles, manufacture of
footwear
Lead: A heavy, soft and easily worked metal
Nausea, headaches, nervous system, death
Batteries, Plumbing and roofing work
 Other Agents (4)
Silica: Found in sand, sandstone, granite
Silicosis
Building industry
Organic solvents: Dissolve other substances
Irritant to the eyes, skin, throat and lungs,
headaches, nausea, dizziness, Damage to
Kidneys.
Used as a base in paint manufacturing, PVC,
etc
 Other Agents (5)
Leptospirosis or Weil’s: Caused by
bacteria from rats’ urine
• Attacks kidneys and liver
• Found in rivers, sewers, ditches, canals
Legionella: An airborne bacterium found in
water sources e.g. cooling towers,
stagnant water
• Breathing difficulties, pneumonia
Hepatitis: Hazardous substances, viruses
• Diseases of the liver, high temperature,
jaundice
• Health workers and workers handling
bodily fluids
 AIRBORNE DUST
Respirable dust:
Airborne dust of such a size about 0.5 microns that
it is able to enter the lungs during normal breathing

Respiratory diseases:
• Asbestosis (chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting
the tissue of the lungs)
• Silicosis (occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of
crystalline silica dust)
• Asthma chronic …the airways occasionally constrict
• Bronchitis (an acute inflammation of the air passages within the lungs)
• Lung Cancer
• Farmer’s lung (a disease of dairy farmers who handle
contaminated hay)
 Body Defences against dust
• The Nasal Hairs
• Coughing and Sneezing
• Eyes Watering
• The Ciliary Escalator “The ciliary escalator, better known
as the mucociliary escalator, is found in the respiratory tract leading from
the pharynx to the lungs”
 Indicators of Dust Problems

 Visible signs
 Complaints by employees
 Monitoring
 Health problems
 Equipment problems
 Blocked filters
Assessing levels of dust
 Visual examination
 Sampling for dust
 Personal samplers
 Fixed samplers
 Filters attached to pumps
 Sample for a fixed time
 Dust lamps
 Direct reading instruments
 Dust accumulation
Control Measures to Reduce
Exposure to Dust
 Eliminate at source
 Substitute with pellets
 Change process
 Use liquid process
 Enclose the complete process
 Ventilation
 Control by suppression
 Housekeeping
 Maintenance
 BODY’S DEFENCES
The body’s defences to hazardous
substances are:
•Respiratory (Inhalation)
•Gastrointestinal (Ingestion)
•Skin (Absorption)
•Cellular mechanism (Injection)
 Respiratory (Inhalation)
Defences
• NOSE : Wetness & nasal hair
• RESPIRATORY TRACT : Natural
reflexes activate sneezing and coughing
• CILIARY ESCALATOR – A barrier
against infection. Pushes mucus and
foreign bodies out through throat
 Body’s Defences (2)
Gastrointestinal (Ingestion) Defences
• Taste and smell
• Saliva
• Acid, enzymes and bacteria
• Vomit and diarrhoea

Skin Defences
• Sebum
• Sensory nerves
• Melanin
• Blisters, rashes, inflammation
 Body’s Defences (3)
Cellular Mechanisms (Injection)
• Scavenging Action
• Secretion of defensive substances
• Prevention of excessive blood loss
• Repair of damaged tissues
• The Lymphatic system
Other Defences
• Tears and blinking of the eyes
• Pain
• Hormones e.g. adrenalin
Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet (1)
 Identification of substance/preparation
 The manufacturer/supplier
 Composition/information on ingredients
 Hazard identification
 Health effects
 First Aid measures
 Fire fighting measures
 Accidental release measures
 Handling and storage
 Exposure controls
Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet (2)
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Environmental/Disposal
considerations
 Physical and chemical properties;
 Stability and reactivity;
 Toxicological information;
 Ecological information;
 Disposal considerations;
 Transport information;
 Regulatory information;
 Other relevant information.
 Risk and Safety Phrases
Risk Safety
R3 Extreme risk of S2 Keep out of the
explosion by shock, reach of children
friction, fire S20 When using do
R20 Harmful by not eat or drink
inhalation S25 Avoid contact
R30 Can become with eyes
highly flammable in S41 In case of fire and
use or explosion do not
R45 May cause breathe fumes
cancer
Hazardous Substance Assessment
1) IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS
 How much of the substance is in use or
produced by the process
 What is the activity at risk
 How long and how often is the exposure
 Who can be exposed and how
 How can the substance enter the body
 In what form is of the substance
 What is the concentration of the substance
 Is the substance assigned an exposure
limit
 Are there any ill-health reports
 Look at the results of health surveillance
Hazardous substance Assessment
2) Decide who might be harmed and how
 Operators, Others, Pregnant and young worker

3) Evaluate the Health risk & existing

precautions
 Likelihood and Severity
 Existing control measures
 Judgement about need for further control measures

4) Record the significant findings

 Number of affected people
 Adequacy of existing controls
 Further precautions, if necessary
Hazardous substance Assessment
5) Review the Assessment
New process or substance is introduced

Exposure limit is changed

Someone contracts a disease

Complaints of ill health from workforce

New guidance is published on control measures

Increase in use of hazardous substance

Prevention and Control of Exposure
1) Eliminate the hazard

2) Reduce the risk by substitution

3) Isolate the people from the hazard

Total enclosure, Segregate the people

4) Control
Maintenance of controls, Change the work pattern,
Hygiene, Housekeeping

5) Personal protective equipment

6) Discipline

7) Also information, Instruction, Training

Remember - ERIC PD
 Emergency Procedures
First aid facilities
Relevant safety drills
Suitable warning devices
Suitable training of staff
PPE
Emergency showers
and eye-wash facilities
Spillage and leakage
procedures Evacuation procedures
Warnings to other people
 Spillage Procedures
 Isolation of the area
 Evacuation of employees
 Suitable PPE
 Bunds to contain
spillage/absorbent material
 Contact with emergency services
 Safe disposal of spilled material
 Ventilation
“Ventilation is a primary engineering control available to
reduce the concentration of gases, dusts, vapours, smoke,
and fumes in the air”

There are two types of ventilation systems:

1.General Ventilation System

2.Local Exhaust Ventilation System

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 General Ventilation System
• They supply of clean air that mixes with the air in the workplace,
diluting the concentration of the contaminant.
• They are not suitable to control exposure to toxic substances
because these systems actually spread the contaminant throughout
the workplace before exhausting it.
• They require large amounts of air and may be costly to operate
during the winter because of additional heating.
• General ventilation systems are used primarily to control temperature
and humidity, to remove odours, and sometimes to remove traces of
toxic substances and microorganisms emitted from carpeting,
paneling, furniture, and people

General Ventilation System

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 Local Exhaust Ventilation
Local exhaust system is used to control air contaminants by trapping them
at or near the source, in contrast to dilution ventilation which lets the
contaminant spread throughout the workplace.

This type of system is usually the preferred control method if:

1.Air contaminants pose serious health risk.
2.Large amounts of dusts or fumes are generated.
3.Increased heating costs from ventilation in cold weather are a concern.
4.Emission sources are few in number.
5.Emission sources are near the workers' breathing zones.

There are four elements that make up a local exhaust ventilation system:
the hood, the duct work, the air cleaning device, and the fan.
 Hazards of Poor or No Ventilation
Depending upon workplace conditions and activities, the hazards
of poor or no ventilation could include:

•Lack of oxygen (headache, fatigue, asphyxiation), particularly in

confined spaces
•Excessive heat, cold, and humidity
•Toxic fumes (e.g., lead, cadmium, zinc)
Some Ventilation Methods at Workplace
Ducted System
Sawdust Extraction
Machine Shop Extraction
Portable Extraction
Dilution Ventilation
Vent Air drawn
from clean
Extract air supply
or Fan ???
Fan

Contaminant
 When dilution ventilation
may be used
• Very low toxicity substance
• Steady rate of release
• Small quantity of contaminant
• Not practicable to use LEV
• Rate of evolution known
• Non specific point of release
• Type of contaminant (not dust)
• Heat loss or gain not a problem
Measurement of Health Hazards
1) Initial appraisal

2) A basic survey

3) A full survey
Measurement of Health Hazards
1) Initial Appraisal
• What substances are being used
• What are their hazards
• Do they have Occupational Exposure Limits
• Where are they used
• Who could be affected by them
• How could they be released
• If RPE or other forms of PPE is necessary
 Basic Survey
1) Smoke tube
2) Dust lamp Observer, or
Lamp - either traversed camera, viewing
by hand to illuminate towards lamp
dust source or mounted whilst shielding
on a stand eyes from glare
Dust cloud
Pumps and Stain Tubes
Chemical Stain Detector Tube
(Grab Sampler)
Stain Detector Tube: Advantages
• Cheap
• Simple to use
• Immediate result
• Useful during emergencies
e.g. spillages
• Good for rough reading of
hazard
Stain Detector Tube: Disadvantages
a) Contaminant must be known
b) Rough guide – within 20% accuracy band
c) Reading a specific moment
d) Results depending on positioning
e) May be affected by other substance
 FULL SURVEY
Two principal methods of longer term
sampling are :

a)Direct reading instruments

b)Indirect reading instruments