Chemical hazards fall into two categories: (1)acute chemical hazards and (2)chronic chemical hazards. Acute chemical hazards are immediate dangers and effects caused by contact with chemicals that can cause explosions, fires, chemical burns and toxic inhalation Chronic chemical hazards are long-term or overtime of exposure to a chemical that can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, neurological problems and respiratory diseases.
Acute chemical hazards are immediate dangers and effects that occur as a result of exposure to a chemical. These types of hazards are typically caused by a single exposure or event and can have significant health effects. Chronic chemical hazards are typically caused by prolonged or repeated exposure to harmful chemicals and their effects can often develop over months or years.
It Is important to note that some chemicals can pose both acute and chronic risks, making proper safety precautions and controlling exposure to chemicals even more essential. Employers and employees should both be vigilant in identifying and addressing potential chemical hazards in the workplace to prevent both acute and chronic hazards to personnel and the environment. Additional chemical hazards training must be provided to employees:
Chemical hazards fall into two categories- acute and chronic
It is important to identify the presence of acute chemical hazards and implement appropriate safety measures to prevent them. Employers must ensure that employees are properly trained in handling and disposing of chemicals to minimize acute chemical hazards in the workplace.
Acute chemical hazards
Chemical hazards fall into two categories. One is acute hazard effects often disappear as soon as exposure ceases and are frequently reversible. An example of an acute effect is nausea, headache or vomiting that a worker may experience after using a solvent to clean car parts. Acute effects can be localized to one part of the body (for example, a skin reaction to a chemical), but they can also be systemic (if, for example, that chemical is also absorbed into the bloodstream, they can produce effects in target organs).
Acute chemical hazards can include:
- Chemical burns: Contact with a strong acid or base can cause a chemical burn, which can lead to significant damage to the skin, eyes, and respiratory systems.
- Explosions and fires: Combustible chemicals that are exposed to heat or ignited can cause explosions and fires.
- Toxic inhalation: Exposure to toxic gases or fumes can cause respiratory problems, lung damage, or even death.
- Corrosive chemicals: Exposure to strong acids or bases can corrode or erode materials and surfaces.
- Poisoning: Ingesting or absorbing a poisonous chemical can cause acute poisoning and lead to immediate health problems, including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even death.
Chronic chemical hazards
Chemical hazards fall into two categories, second one is chronic chemical effects. Some hazardous substances cause chronic effects, which usually appear long after exposure has taken place and persist for a long time. Chronic disease usually only occurs after a long time because of its latency period (the period between exposure and the first signs of the disease). Chronic diseases, like many occupational cancers, can take 20 to 30 years to develop.
Some chronic diseases are contracted immediately after a brief exposure, while others appear only after repeated contact with a substance or work procedure. Like acute effects, chronic effects can be localized to one part of the body (for example, a chronic lung disease that develops over years), but they can also be systemic.
For all diseases, it is better to prevent than to treat the disease once it has developed, but when it comes to chronic diseases such as cancer, prevention is the only cure. In chronic diseases it is difficult to determine the cause of them and even more difficult to obtain compensation; therefore, it is important to document all exposures to which workers have been subjected and to keep careful records for at least 30 years
Chronic chemical hazards typically pose a greater risk than acute chemical hazards because their effects often develop slowly and may not be immediately apparent. Chronic chemical hazards can include:
- Cancer: Exposure to certain chemicals can cause cancer, and over time, repeated exposure to these chemicals can increase the risk of developing cancer.
- Reproductive disorders: Exposure to certain chemicals can interfere with fertility and cause reproductive disorders in both men and women.
- Neurological disorders: Long-term exposure to certain chemicals can damage the nervous system and cause neurological disorders, including memory loss, mood changes, and vision problems.
- Respiratory problems: Exposure to certain chemicals can cause respiratory problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Skin disorders: Exposure to some chemicals can cause a range of skin disorders, including dermatitis and skin cancer.
What are chemicals?
A chemical is a substance made up of different molecules that have a defined composition, properties and structure. It can be in a solid, liquid, or gas state and can undergo chemical reactions and changes to form new substances and molecules. See the hazard chemical definition by OSHA.
Chemicals can be found in a range of products, from everyday materials like plastics, textiles, and cleaning products to industrial chemicals used in manufacturing and production processes. They can also include hazardous chemicals that may pose a risk to human health and the environment.
When we talk about chemical products that cause invisible chemical hazards, we are referring to all types of harmful material, which during its manufacture, storage, transport or use, can generate or release fumes, gases, vapours, dust or fibres of a dangerous nature.
Pesticides, herbicides, toxic food additives, lubricants and inks, toxic inorganic contaminants, disinfectants… and even antibiotics. All of these and many more are hazardous chemicals, whose material forms can be solid, dust, liquid, vapour, and gas. Depending on its shape, it will change how it penetrates the body and to some extent the damage it causes.
Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards refer to the potential danger or risk posed by exposure to a chemical substance. Chemical hazards can exist in various forms, including solids, liquids, gases, and vapours. They can be found in many different types of materials and products, including cleaning agents, solvents, pesticides, and industrial chemicals.
Exposure to chemical hazards can pose significant risks to human health, including skin and eye irritation, chemical burns, respiratory problems, and even cancer. The severity of the hazard depends on the type of chemical, level of exposure, and the mode of exposure, such as inhalation, ingestion, injection and absorption.
A chemical hazard is a risk produced by uncontrolled exposure to chemical agents, which can produce acute or chronic effects and the appearance of certain diseases. Today, almost all workers in the industry are exposed to some type of chemical risk because dangerous chemicals are used in almost every branch of the industry.
Incredible as it may seem, on numerous occasions, chemicals are thrown into nature by many companies. Generally, with serious consequences for human beings and the natural environment. Depending on the product, these invisible chemical hazards can become serious health problems and permanent damage to the natural environment.
Are chemical hazards always visible?
Did you know that we are exposed to hundreds of chemical compounds that alter our hormonal system and cause diseases? We live surrounded by them, but on many occasions, we do not realize their possible harmful effects on health. We talk about invisible chemical dangers and their constant presence. Always on the lookout.
They do not have a head and four legs, but their existence is inevitable. And it is that a small chemical particle has enough power to cause unprecedented damage. Daily, workers in more technical sectors come face to face with this volatile and invisible danger and are exposed to all kinds of injuries of different degrees.
Classification of chemical substances
Chemicals can be classified based on their properties and may include acids, bases, solvents, detergents, oxidizers, and many others. According to their danger, they are classified as:
- Explosives: They are products that can spontaneously release gases at such a temperature, pressure and speed that they cause damage to their environment.
- Flammable: Substances and preparations that can heat up and finally catch fire in contact with air. Benzene, Ethanol or Acetone are examples of this.
- Extremely flammable: The difference, concerning flammable substances, is that their flash point is between 21 °C and 55 °C.
- Oxidizers: Substances that, generally by releasing oxygen, can cause or facilitate the combustion of other substances to a greater extent than the presence of air.
- Corrosive: Its chemical action causes irreversible lesions on the skin or mucous membranes. We are talking about the well-known hydrochloric acid or hydrofluoric acid.
- Annoying: In this case, the lesions on the skin or mucous membranes are reversible in less than four hours. An example of this is ammonia, which you can find out in depth in the Safety Regulations for refrigeration installations with ammonia.
- Harmful: Substances and preparations that, by inhalation, ingestion or skin penetration, may imply temporary or allergic health risks.
- Toxic: Although it is also by inhalation, ingestion or skin penetration, here the risks are serious, acute or chronic to health.
- Very toxic: They are those that cause serious health problems and even death. Cyanide or nicotine are two of the most common.
- Radioactive: Substances that emit radiation harmful to health.
- Dangerous for the environment: The contact of these substances with the environment can cause damage to the ecosystem in the short or long term.
Use of chemicals in petrochemical companies
The petrochemical Industry relies heavily on the use of chemicals in the processing and production of various petrochemical products. Chemicals are used in many stages of the petrochemical production process, from extracting crude oil to processing the chemicals. In the petrochemical industry, chemicals are used to transform crude oil and other raw materials into a range of products used in various industries, including plastics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and automotive products.
Some of the chemicals commonly used in the petrochemical industry include:
- Ethylene: This chemical is used as a starting material in the production of many other chemicals, including plastics and synthetic rubbers.
- Propylene: This chemical is used to manufacture acrylics and other types of plastics.
- Benzene: This chemical is used as a starting material in the production of many chemicals and plastics.
- Toluene: This chemical is used as a solvent and for manufacturing chemicals such as benzene.
- Xylene: This chemical is used in the production of polyester fibres and plastics.
- Styrene: This chemical is used in the production of plastics such as polystyrene.
- Methanol: This chemical is used as a solvent and in the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, and other chemical intermediates.
What is the safest solution to protect yourself from chemical hazards in the work environment?
Chemical hazards fall into two categories. To prevent both categories, of acute and chronic chemical hazards, appropriate safety measures must be implemented to control exposure to hazardous chemicals. Employers and employees must follow appropriate safety protocols to manage and prevent chemical hazards in the workplace, including proper storage, handling, labelling, and disposal of chemicals.
Regulatory agencies also set standards and regulations for the safe use of chemicals to minimize chemical-related hazards and risks to human health and the environment. Proper handling and management of chemicals in the petrochemical industry are essential to ensure the safety of workers and protect the environment.
Now, what to do in these circumstances? How to prevent invisible chemical hazards? Well, first of all, I have to tell you that the most dangerous thing is always ignorance, with good training in this regard and clear knowledge, the risk is much lower. On the other hand, take note of these valuable tips. That life can go to you in it!
- Always keep the work environment clean and free of dust.
- Establish a hazard communication program.
- Ensures good ventilation or extraction in places where there is welding work and when gasoline and engines are running.
- Avoid direct skin contact with wet concrete.
- When working with solvents and degreasers, wear the proper Personal Protective Equipment.
- It is essential to use this equipment correctly to guarantee maximum effectiveness.
- Store chemicals and toxic products correctly.
- Engineering controls, following safe work practices,
- Utilizing appropriate handling and disposal procedures for hazardous chemicals.
- Always follow SDS instruction
