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Business 2000
Seventh edition
HEALTH AND SAFETY
AUTHORITY
Routes of Entry of Dangerous The Restaurant – Example One
Substances into the body
Chemical safety in
Patrick works in a restaurant washing dishes. He is responsible for loading and
unloading the dishwasher and handwashing all the glasses and large kitchen
Ingestion – this may be through handling food without having
equipment with a cleaning agent. He also cleans the kitchen counters and
washed your hands after using chemicals or by touching
the workplace your mouth, or chewing pen tops after handling
chemicals without washing your hands
appliances. His supervisor, Bob supplied him with a pair of gloves as part of his
uniform but Patrick doesn’t wear them everyday. He notices that he has a skin rash
on his arms that keeps getting worse, so he goes to the doctor.The doctor gives him
Inhalation – this happens when the chemical is in gas, vapour or fume
form and you breathe it in a prescription for dermatitis and tells him he must wear
Dangerous or Hazardous Substances in the Workplace Absorption – this happens when the chemical comes into contact with gloves at work everyday.
and passes through the skin, eyes or mucus membranes
What should have Bob
Chemicals (dangerous substances) are used in almost every workplace.
and Patrick done to
We all use or come in contact with chemicals everyday, sometimes
without even being aware of them. But do you know that if they are not The Dangers prevent this chemical
used correctly, chemicals can seriously affect your health? safety issue?
Contact with, or exposure to, hazardous substances at work can result in
Common examples include adhesives (e.g. epoxy resins), cleaning discomfort, pain, and in extreme cases, death. If not used properly,
agents (e.g. oven cleaners), paints and even exhaust fumes from cars. hazardous substances can:
A splash from a caustic substance can cause loss of sight. Vapours ◗ catch fire or explode
from solvents, such as adhesives, paint strippers and aerosols, can
◗ cause burns
cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system.
◗ damage your health including asthma, dermatitis, cancer, damage to
the central nervous system, mutations
The Health and Safety Authority is responsible for ensuring that
employers look after the safety of their employees including those ◗ cause environmental damage
working with dangerous substances.
The effects of hazardous substances may be seen or felt immediately with
symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and itchy eyes or skin; or the damage
may occur gradually over a number of years, such as in the case of asthma,
What are Hazardous or dermatitis or cancer. Dermatitis (or skin rashes) is one of the most
Dangerous Substances? common health problems as a result of chemical exposure.
In legislation relating to chemical safety, any substance in gas, liquid The Precautions What an employer must do What you must do as an employee
or solid form that can cause harm, is referred to as a hazardous
or dangerous substance. Sometimes a dangerous substance is only Labels Make sure all chemicals are correctly labelled in the Read the label and ask if you’re not sure
one of a product’s ingredients and these are called preparations. workplace
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)† Provide all safety information from the SDS to Take all precautions advised on SDS
A Few Examples of Dangerous Substances/Preparations employees
Waste – Fume from a soldering iron Safe Operating Procedures (SOP) Provide SOP for all employees using chemicals Comply with SOP for handling, using chemicals.
Carbon monoxide from car exhausts No horseplay
Toxic – Certain varnishes and paint removers Training Training must include safe use of, emergency Follow the procedures taught in training
Caustic – Oven cleaner procedures and first-aid treatment in case of
Harmful – Xylene, which is used in accidents involving chemicals
printing inks Irritant Supervision Ensure that adequate and regular supervision is Comply with supervisors instructions and report to
(Sensitiser) – Hair dyes, bleach carried out with employees using chemicals supervisor of any injury, defect or hazardous situation
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Provide and replace all necessary PPE as Wear the PPE provided when appropriate and look
recommended by the manufacturer of the chemical after it when not in use. Report defects.
†Safety Data Sheets must be provided by the manufacturer of the dangerous substance or preparation.
Business 2000 Health & Safety Authority - Chemical safety in the Workplace www.business2000.ie
seventh edition
the language of the countr y in which the product is sold.
D o s a n d D o n ’t s w h e n u s i n g c h e m i c a l s i n t h e wo r k p l a c e The Hairdressing Salon – Example Three This informs the user about t h e d a n g e r s o f t h e product
Do: Don’t and how to use it safely. Next time you see a box of firelighters
It’s Jennifer first day of her new Saturday job washing hair in her local
…read and understand the label and ask questions if you don’t understand …transfer chemicals into unmarked containers hairdressing salon. The manager, Dave, is very busy, so he asks one of the fire look at the orange flammable symbol on the s i d e o f t h e
…follow safe work procedures …use flammable chemicals near sources of ignition hairdressers, Marie, to discuss with Jennifer the details of her job. Marie talks b o x . I n addition, chemicals should never be poured into another
…read and follow instructions before use …throw aerosols onto fires to Jennifer about cleaning the salon and the procedure for washing hair. Jennifer container unless it is suitable and a new copy of the label is
…use and look after any personal protective equipment, which is …mix chemicals unless you are sure they don’t react washes hair for a number of customers and later on she starts to clean up transferred as well.
recommended and provided around the sink, where there are lots of empty and half empty bottles. Within
…keep chemicals out of the reach of children …eat, drink or smoke while working with a hazardous substance a few minutes her hands start to burn and itch and running water on them conclusion
…wash your hands and face and other exposed areas with soap and …keep food or drink near hazardous substances doesn’t make it any better. Dave is horrified to see Jennifer’s hands when she
water before going to the toilet or eating and drinking approaches him and he asks her why didn’t she wear gloves while cleaning up. Through the promotion of the importance of chemical safety,
Jennifer said she didn’t know she had to wear gloves. HSA intends to prevent accidents and ill health involving
dangerous substances occurring in the workplace.
The Safety Statement in Transporting What could have Dave, Marie and Jennifer done to prevent this
the Workplace and Storing Chemicals chemical safety issue? This study focused on the importance of chemical safety in the
workplace. It addressed the importance of improved safety to
A Safety Statement is a legal working document to safeguard the health Just as much care needs to be taken when transporting or storing the organisation from an operational perspective, but above all it
and safety of all at work. It should state how the employer will ensure dangerous goods. Chemical Safety indicated the importance of providing a safe environment for an
employee health and safety, including the use of chemicals, and outline the legislation & Europe organisation’s employees, contractors and customers.
resources that will be provided for maintaining standards and reviewing Transporting: The main aim of several health and safety
risks in the workplace to comply with legislation. regulations is to ensure that chemical substances are European Directives have driven comprehensive legislation in the EU
member states. Managers need to be familiar with and understand this
A Safety Statement must be prepared by employers
appropriately packaged and labelled for transport
legislation and how it relates to their workplace so that they can create and
TASKS & ACTIVITIES
and drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous
and the self-employed under Section 12 of the Safety, maintain a safe working environment. If a manager does not ensure the safety
chemicals are qualified in how to handle 1) In your opinion, why does it make good business sense to
Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989. of their employees through the implementation of safety procedures when
chemicals. The certified driver will know how to ensure employees are kept healthy and safe?
handling chemicals, they can be held personally responsible for failure to
manage the chemicals during transportation and in 2) Having clear labels on chemical products is important, not
The safety statement must be based on a risk assessment the steps of control health and safety in the workplace. This means that the manager may
the event of an accident. For an only for employers and employees, but also for consumers.
which are outlined below: have to pay a fine or even go to jail if convicted under the legislation.
33 example of transport labelling see if Explain the importance and relevance of consumer
you can spot the red flammable labels and orange information.
Chemical Risk Assessment The EU, Chemical Safety and Labelling
3) The EU’s policies and directives have an impact on Irish
Managers should review the steps involved in managing chemical safely with
1203 signs opposite indicating the type of load on the
The European Union has been instrumental in introducing standard hazard
next petrol tanker you see. business. Why is it beneficial to the Irish economy to have
their employees. The seven steps involved in managing chemicals safely are: symbols for
similar health and safety standards to other EU members?
chemical
4) The role of a manager is important, not only in large
products,
The Building Site – Example Two operations but also in small businesses. How do you think the
which must
managers in the three examples above could have improved
Joe is working as a labourer on a building site. Bill, his supervisor, has asked be used on
under the following headings;
him to mix some cement. Bill tells him what he needs and how to mix the containers
a. Effective communication
cement. Joe gets the sand, water and cement additive required. The cement containing
b. Organising staff
additive has symbols on the container that Joe doesn’t understand and the dangerous
c. Supervision
product has instructions but they are not in English so Joe doesn’t understand substances to
d. Training
these either. He decides to continue anyway but unfortunately gets some of indicate key
e. Controlling procedures
the cement additive in his eye. He goes to Bill who takes him to the casualty infor mation
department in the local hospital. about the
hazard. It is
also a legal
What should Joe and Bill have done to prevent this chemical
requirement
safety issue?
that specific
safety and risk
Storing: How chemicals are stored depends on the specific substance, information is HEALTH AND SAFETY
so employers need to check the label and SDS for advice about storage. included on AUTHORITY
Generally storage areas should be well ventilated, lockable and not liable the label for a
to flooding. Importantly, incompatible chemicals should be separated and hazardous
the chemical storage area should be used for chemicals exclusively. substance in
www.hsa.ie
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this case study, no liability shall attach to either The Irish Times Ltd. or Woodgrange Technologies Ltd. for any errors or omissions in this case study.
Business 2000 www.business2000.ie
seventh edition
