Risk Assessment for Use and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals and Substances

What Does Chemical or Substance Mean?

Any form of liquid or solid that has the severe fatal potential capacity or ability to cause harm is referred to be hazardous substances or chemical e.g., petroleum or gasoline or its products, acids etc.
A huge variety of chemicals may be stored or kept and used for cleaning, usage for multi-purposes. The most leading examples could be diesel, petrol, LPG, hydraulic oils, greases, de-greasers, paints, thinners and chemicals.

If we look forward regarding the chemicals and or substances, certain chemicals and or substances may be produced such as fumes during commercial welding activities, variety of dust during sanding or grinding, carbon monoxide (CO) gas from a poorly vented engine exhaust or hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) from rotting fish.

Now let us discuss its consequence and health and safety issues. Some of these chemicals (e.g., H2S), if you get exposed to them, maybe very dangerous to your health. At the same, other chemicals may also have very critical physical-chemical hazards impacts, e.g. flammable (LPG), explosive or have additional critical hazards negative impacts on human or animal’s and or other living objects and if these mixed or stored with contradictory chemicals. Chemicals can also hurt the environment along with human if they are utilized, stored or disposed of incorrectly.

How Chemical Exposure Occurs

Now let us discuss how Chemicals can enter or penetrates in the body. Most of the chemicals could be penetrated by the following ways:

1. Inhalation

When we get breathing in the chemical exposed environment, it will affect our breathing system and will enter in our body.

2. Absorption

The second source of these substances or chemicals occurs through skin contact or a splash in the eye.

3. Ingestion:  

The third source of penetration of these gases and or substances is via contaminated food or hands.

4. Injection: 

This source of penetration occurs when a sharp object such as a hook or needle punctures the skin of the body or object.

How to Avoid its Harm on Health?

• Always identify what chemicals are being or will be used by you.

• Before the use, store or service of the chemical or substance, collect all sort of information about each substance and or what harm or impact it can do and how it can happen.

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and or the chemical instructional labels are the most important sources of information on the chemical or substances hazards. Almost all chemical manufacturers and suppliers are legally required to provide Safety Data Sheets which give detailed information on the chemicals' and or substance’s associated safety and health risks and tell how to store and use the chemical safely and to avoid all health and safety issues.

• The most important aspect of these chemicals usage and or storage or service is looking how the work is done and consider how workers are exposed to the chemical and or substances or how a chemical and or substances may be produced. Try to avoid chemical usage or storage, if not possible to eliminate or isolate the chemicals or substances from the human/employees to minimize exposure to it. 

Some Common Hazardous Substances

The following types of Hazardous Substances can be discussed with details for your ease in the process of promoting health and safety on your worksite and or warehouses:

1. Biological Agents

Biological agents include but not limited to fungi, bacteria, viruses

2. Natural Substances

In natural substances include grain, flour or enzyme dust.

3. Substances Generated by Work

Some of the substance is generated by carrying out the services e.g. soldering or welding fumes, or wood dust in wooden manufacturing companies.

4. Chemical Products

Such type of chemicals include adhesives or cleaning agents.

How these Chemicals you found at your Workplace?

These substances and or chemicals could be found or generated from a variety of sources, including:

A. Gas

Include as chlorine or carbon monoxide (CO)

B. Liquid

Such as de-greasing solvent or cleaning chemicals

C. Spray or Mist 

In such categories include as paint and epoxy sprays & acid mists

D. Fumes

Such as welding, hot rubber, soldering, galvanizing fumes

E. Vapour

In vapors include as solvent vapour released from adhesives, paints or inks

F. Dust, Powder or Paste 

Dust, powder or paste includes as wood, cement, metal, flour, grain, rubber or stone dust.

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Risk Assessment for Use and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals and Substances