{"id":32314,"date":"2024-04-04T04:21:28","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T04:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sitemate.com\/?p=32314"},"modified":"2025-03-01T19:54:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:54:30","slug":"chemical-risk-assessment-example","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sitemate.com\/za\/resources\/articles\/safety\/chemical-risk-assessment-example\/","title":{"rendered":"Dashpivot Article \u2013 Chemical Risk Assessment Example"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chemical Risk Assessment Example<\/h1>\n\t

The focus of this article is to provide a chemical risk assessment example, and we also cover the most common harmful chemicals that are used every day in the industry and the exposure limits set by the governing bodies in most countries.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"chemical\n\t

Purpose and importance of chemical risk assessment<\/h2>\n\t

The purpose of chemical risk assessment is to evaluate the risks associated on a chemical being used. It is a detailed scientific evaluation that is done by determining its hazardous properties and exposure. Almost all workplaces use chemicals which means any worker can get exposed to paints, spray, inks and toners that when inhaled can cause bad effects to the workers.<\/p>\n

The target of chemical risk assessment is to ensure public health and safety, not only those that handles the chemicals but also the consumers. It involves what are the contents of the chemical, what processes are involved and what can happen and how severe it is and assesses how much exposure is too much and can cause harm then what situation and process can cause chemical reaction that poses more danger.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Chemical Risk Assessment is very important as it is an essential part of occupational health & safety, to create awareness to those workers that are at risk, help prevent injuries by implementing a plan of action and add or remove control measures.<\/p>\n

Chemical risk assessment involves different steps, but it generally starts with hazard identification, effect of the hazard, and risk categorisation.<\/p>\n\t

Common harmful chemicals that are used in the industry<\/h2>\n\t

One of the first few steps of chemical risk assessment is identifying the chemical present to identify the hazards. In this section of the article, we’ll provide some of the most dangerous chemicals that are common in most industries to further solidify the importance of chemical risk assessment.<\/p>\n

Construction binders<\/h3>\n

These are powdered substances that are used to make concrete, mortar or other materials that will become rock-hard strong and solid when mixed with water. Examples to this are: cement, lime and gypsum. \u00a0Exposure to these chemicals under humid environment is when in contact with the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin.<\/p>\n

Resin<\/h3>\n

These are synthetic plastic material commonly used in adhesives. The most harmful are epoxy resins which are widely used in construction and manufacturing, polyester resins which are used in fiberglass applications and polyurethane resins used for roofing and flooring because of their potentiality to cause skin irritation like dermatitis, allergic reaction, respiratory issues when uncured and when not handled properly.<\/p>\n

Mercury<\/h3>\n

This used in mining especially in artisanal gold mining and silver. These are also used in thermometers, dental fillings, some batteries, light bulbs, skin-lightening cosmetics, disinfectants, and liquid mirror telescope.<\/p>\n

Asbestos<\/h3>\n

This is a fibrous mineral that is resistant to heat and corrosion that is why it’s commonly found in soil and rock formations, and it is being used for insulation, fireproofing, friction products and building materials. Unfortunately, this is a toxic chemical that causes lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and other serious diseases but is widely used in construction.<\/p>\n

Sulfuric Acid<\/h3>\n

These are found in many places like mining and automotive industry. It is a cheap and easy-to-get liquid that is used to restore exhausted car batteries and in the leather industry. It is one of the chemicals that can cause acid burns, irritate and burn the skin and eyes and may lead to blindness.<\/p>\n

Ammonia<\/h3>\n

This is found in liquid fertilizers, it is used in the producing cotton defoliants and make antifungal agents for fruits. Common in agriculture, but it also can be found in mining and metal manufacturing industries. This can be harmful when inhaled, swallowed, or comes into contact with skin and eyes.<\/p>\n

The chemicals listed above are only the most common in some industries. It is important that when using a chemical in any of the process, it must be correctly labeled, Manufacturing Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are provided by the manufacturer and the risk of exposure is clearly communicated to the workers.<\/p>\n\t

Chemical Exposure Limits<\/h2>\n\t

How much exposure is too much exposure? This is one of the fundamental concerns that Chemical Risk Assessments should cover, in instances that it cannot be helped that these toxic chemicals are used in an industry there should be a set limit to it. Laboratory Standards from around the globe like the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Safe Work Australia, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has set exposure limits for hazardous substances.<\/p>\n

OSHA<\/strong> has HCS (Hazard Communication Standard) that established occupational exposure limits and standards to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. It specifies that manufacturers or importers of the hazardous chemical must provide the information about the chemical they manufacture and import, and it should include what is expected or may occur during normal conditions or unforeseeable emergencies and that this should be noted on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).<\/p>\n

Also, any employer regardless of if they are not the manufacturer of any of the identified hazardous chemical but the chemical is “known to be present” in their operations are required to convey the information on the hazards to their employees.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Employers will have to rely on the SDS provided by the manufacturer. The exposure limit will be provided as OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) or American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV\u00ae)<\/p>\n

As an example, OSHA has set Asbestos Exposure Limits. You can find an OSHA asbestos inspection checklist form here<\/a><\/strong> for your guidance. This is free and completely customisable.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

HSE<\/strong> has set Workplace Exposure Limits requiring employers to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances. Substances classified as carcinogensor asthmagens must comply with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), exposure must be controlled to as low as is reasonably practicable (ALARP). The Workplace Exposure Limits classifies time length of exposure as Long-Term and Short-Term exposure limits according to the nature of the substance and the effects it will cause upon exposure.<\/p>\n

CCOHS <\/strong>has a branch called occupational hygiene that specifies the occupational exposure limits (OEL) “indicates the level of admissible exposure, for a length of time (usually 8 hours), to a chemical or physical hazard that is not likely to affect the health of a worker”. You can find an example CCOHS specific risk assessment template here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Like other regulations, it also standardise the limit according to the chemical properties and the exposure time and uses “Threshold Limit Value” (TLV)\u00ae in four categories:<\/p>\n