HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SOURCES AND EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SOURCES AND EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

CHAPITRE ONE

1.0 INVESTIGATION

Chemicals can be found in any workplace, from cleaning chemicals to industrial production processes and welding gases. In general, a hazardous material is one that may endanger the health of everyone who comes into contact with it at work. The contract could be in the manufacturing, distribution, storage, transportation, or disposal of the substance.

To some extent, all chemicals represent a risk to the health and safety of workers in the workplace, which is why there are some basic criteria in occupational health and safety regulations.

Hazardous substances have the potential to endanger workers’ health and safety. Because of the nature of hazardous substances, they can be controlled in a variety of ways. (University of Uyo, Hazardous Health Manual, 2000).

Many substances are hazardous to both health and physiochemistry. Chemical manufacturers and suppliers are required to determine whether a substance is dangerous. They do so by referring to the global harmonized system (GHS) of chemical classification and labeling. If a chemical or chemical mixture is classified as hazardous, the label and safety data sheet will include applicable danger statements, precautions, and pictograms (Goldman et al., 1988).

Several years ago, the national health and safety commission (now known as the Australian safety and compensation commission – ASCC) estimated that approximately 2,300 workers died each year as a result of hazardous material exposure. Almost all workplaces contain hazardous compounds.

If possible, hazardous substances should be removed from the workplace. This eliminates the risk. If this is not practicable, the preferred order of hazardous control must be followed, as specified in the various sections of Chapter 4 (hazardous substances and materials) of the 2007 OHS regulation and as stated in the plan.

Knowledge of a chemical’s physical qualities can provide an indicator of the kind or extent of potential health impacts under certain environmental conditions, allowing producers to make decisions about proper usage and storage.