When one thinks about chemical safety, images of fires, spills, explosions, and environmental damages appear. However, most chemical-related incidents are not as obvious and less dramatic like the health damage which is caused by long term exposures or sudden reactions due to short term exposures with caustic chemicals. Thus, it is necessary to recognize and to effectively communicate the presence of the most common kinds of chemical hazards that can be found in the workplace.
The potential for illness and injury as a result of improper storage, exposure, and handling of hazardous materials and chemicals is high, especially for manufacturing and industrial workers. It has been estimated by OSHA that there are more than 32 million workers who are being exposed to 650, 000 hazardous chemical products every year. And this in fact makes an effective hazard communication highly important to workplace safety, and by having a comprehensive and accurate hazard communication program would be essential for most manufacturing and industrial companies. In addition, to have a better understanding of an effective hazard communication, there is a need to know the types of the chemical-related hazards present in the workplace that workers might encounter. These hazards have three primary types: fire and explosion, reactivity, and health hazards.
The potential for illness and injury as a result of improper storage, exposure, and handling of hazardous materials and chemicals is high, especially for manufacturing and industrial workers. It has been estimated by OSHA that there are more than 32 million workers who are being exposed to 650, 000 hazardous chemical products every year. And this in fact makes an effective hazard communication highly important to workplace safety, and by having a comprehensive and accurate hazard communication program would be essential for most manufacturing and industrial companies. In addition, to have a better understanding of an effective hazard communication, there is a need to know the types of the chemical-related hazards present in the workplace that workers might encounter. These hazards have three primary types: fire and explosion, reactivity, and health hazards.
1.) Fire and Explosion - Most chemicals, depending on their makeup and composition to have the potential to easily ignite and explode under changing conditions such as temperature and pressure. The temperature is the flash point at which a chemical or substance would ignite. Through tests, the flash point of a product can be determined. For instance, a fire test using paint thinner-one of the most common flammable liquids-the paint thinner is easily ignited and the fire spreads rapidly.
2.) Reactivity - There are some chemicals that have the ability to violently react when mixed with other kinds of chemicals. And such reaction may produce toxic gases, fire, and explosion. One good example of reactivity is the mixing of chlorine and brake fluid. The reaction of these two substances is often violent, though there is no fire source that is present. Reactivity hazards are often accidentally encountered when chemicals spill or when someone unknowingly brings together two reactive substances.
2.) Reactivity - There are some chemicals that have the ability to violently react when mixed with other kinds of chemicals. And such reaction may produce toxic gases, fire, and explosion. One good example of reactivity is the mixing of chlorine and brake fluid. The reaction of these two substances is often violent, though there is no fire source that is present. Reactivity hazards are often accidentally encountered when chemicals spill or when someone unknowingly brings together two reactive substances.
3.) Health Hazards- A health hazard can be found in various forms and this refers to the ability of a chemical to cause an immediate or long term health effects after being exposed to it. The types of these health hazards may include sensitizers, irritants, toxic, and corrosive.
An effective training would enable the workers to readily recognize and understand the potential hazards in the workplace and of the products that are used everyday. At the same time, they would be able to take necessary actions to protect their own health and safety, and that of their co-workers. Moreover, having a healthy and safe workers would entail an overall success for the company and a good working environment for everyone. With an effective chemical hazard communication and training, other potential hazards would be avoided, thus people can work efficiently and effectively.