Working with Chemicals: Hazards and Control Measures - MentorHealth

Summary

This webinar, hosted by Les and presented by Michael LB, explores the safe handling of chemicals in the workplace. Michael, a highly qualified safety professional and chemist, guides participants through the identification of hazardous substances, ranging from solvents and acids to dusts and used engine oils. Emphasizing a risk assessment approach, he explains how to evaluate hazards, implement control measures, conduct monitoring, and ensure employee safety. The session highlights both obvious and subtle dangers, such as chromic acid handling and allergic reactions to latex, offering practical insights to minimize exposure and promote health-conscious workplace practices.

Takeaways

• 😀 The webinar is focused on working safely with chemicals in the workplace, including hazards and control measures.
• 😀 Michael Nav is the presenter, a highly qualified safety professional, chemist, and lawyer with extensive training and consultancy experience.
• 😀 The session follows a risk assessment-based approach, starting with understanding risks, deciding on precautions, and implementing them effectively.
• 😀 Chemicals encompass a wide variety of substances, including solvents, acids, resins, paints, water-treatment chemicals, oils, cleaning materials, dusts, and fumes.
• 😀 Even common substances like bleach, latex gloves, or engine oils can pose health hazards such as allergies, sensitization, or cancer risks.
• 😀 Some materials, like chromic acid, are extremely hazardous, being toxic, corrosive, and potentially carcinogenic or mutagenic.
• 😀 Safe handling practices, including proper use of gloves and preventing contamination of surfaces, are crucial to reduce exposure to hazardous substances.
• 😀 Monitoring, health surveillance, and sharing information with employees are essential steps to ensure workplace chemical safety.
• 😀 Many hazards are not immediately obvious, requiring careful assessment and awareness of both visible and implied risks in workplace chemicals.
• 😀 Participants were instructed to mute their microphones during the webinar and hold questions until the designated Q&A session to maintain clarity and order.

Q & A

Who is presenting the webinar on working with chemicals?

The webinar is presented by Michael Nav, a chartered safety professional, chartered chemist and scientist, and a certified trainer in health and safety.

What is the main approach Michael recommends when working with chemicals?

Michael recommends a risk assessment-based approach, which involves understanding and assessing risks, deciding on necessary precautions, implementing them, monitoring the workplace, and sharing information with employees.

What types of substances are considered chemicals in this webinar?

Chemicals include solvents like acetone, acids like sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid, resins like styrene, paints and varnishes, water-treatment chemicals, oils and greases, cleaning materials, dusts including hazardous ones like silica, epoxy resins, fumes from soldering, aerosol lubricants, caustic soda, diesel exhaust fumes, and substances hazardous to health such as latex and welding fumes.

Why is it important to consider substances like latex gloves as chemicals?

Latex gloves are considered under substances hazardous to health because they can cause allergic reactions, which emphasizes that even common materials can pose health risks.

What hazards are associated with chromic acid as described in the webinar?

Chromic acid is toxic, a strong oxidizing agent, can cause severe skin burns and allergic skin responses, may cause genetic defects, cancer, fertility damage, and harm to the unborn child, and is fatal if inhaled or ingested.

What is the purpose of muting participants during the webinar until the Q&A session?

Muting participants ensures continuity and allows the presenter to speak clearly so that everyone can take maximum benefit from the webinar without interruptions.

Why does Michael emphasize sharing information with employees after implementing control measures?

Sharing information ensures that employees are aware of the risks, understand the precautions in place, and can follow safe practices, which helps prevent exposure to hazardous substances.

What are some common hidden chemicals in buildings mentioned in the webinar?

Hidden chemicals include water-treatment chemicals like sodium hypochlorite and oils and greases used in machinery and maintenance processes.

How can general dust in the workplace be hazardous even if not classified as a chemical?

General dust can be hazardous because it may contain substances that cause respiratory issues, skin sensitization, or other health problems depending on its composition.

Why is monitoring and health surveillance important after implementing control measures for chemicals?

Monitoring ensures that control measures are effective and health surveillance helps detect early signs of exposure-related health issues, ensuring ongoing safety for employees.