A Safety Promotion Approach for Handling of Chemicals in the Working Environmental Management

Abstract

The rapid growth of chemical industries has led to an increase in the risk of occurrence of accidents associated with hazardous chemicals. Since, the amount of chemical substances increases and manufacturers of chemical substances are also increased globally. The fact that the need of chemical substances has increased globally, the manufactures exponentially increase the production of chemicals. As a consequence, increased utilization of chemicals and its raw materials, proportionally increases the probability of danger during the handling, storage, and production of chemicals in their regular activities. So it is necessary to avoid accidents in the industry by providing proper safety measures and maintenance rules to save the human life, the environment and also to make better productivity. Accidents occurred in the chemical industries impose severe damages on living things, make the environment agonizing, endanger the health and life of humans, animals, and plants. A small accident occurring at the local level may be a prior warning signal for impending disaster. Chemical disaster, though low in frequency, has the potential to cause significant immediate and/or long-term damage. The aim of the present work is to explain the safe handling of chemicals and prevention methods to avoid accidents in the working place and protect the environment.

Appendix I

Terminologies

Explosive: It is a solid or liquid substance which by self is capable of explosive chemical reaction producing gas at such a temperature and pressure at such a speed leading to damage of the surroundings.

Flammable gases: A flammable gas is a gas having flammable range with air at 20 °C and a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa.

Aerosols: Aerosol is any nonrefillable receptacle made of metal, glass, or plastics and contacting a gas compressed, liquefied, or dissolved under pressure, with or without a liquid, paste or powder, and filled with a release device allowing the contents to be ejected as solid or liquid particles in suspension in a gas as a foam, paste, or powder or in a liquid state or in a gaseous state. Aerosol may contain flammable liquid, gases, or solids.

Oxidizing gases: Oxidizing gas is any gas which may generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does.

Gases under pressure: Gases under pressure are gases which are contained in a receptacle at a pressure of 200 kPa or more at 20 °C or which are liquefied or liquefied and refrigerated.

Flammable liquids: Flammable liquids are liquids having a flash point of more than 93 °C.

Flammable solids: Flammable solids are solids, which is readily combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction.

Self-reaction substances and mixture: Self-reaction substances and mixture are thermally unstable liquid on solid substance or mixture liable to undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition even without participation of oxygen (air).

Pyrophoric liquid: Pyrophoric liquid is a liquid, which even in small quantities it is liable to ignite within 5 min after coming into contact with air.

Pyrophoric solid: Pyrophoric solid is a solid, which even in small quantities it is liable to ignite within 5 min after coming into contact with air.

Self-heating substances and mixtures: Self-heating substances and mixtures are solid or liquid or mixture, other than a pyrophoric liquid or solid which by reaction with air and without energy supply is liable to self-heat; this substances or mixture differs from a pyrophoric liquid or solid in that it will ignite only when in large amount and after long periods of time.

Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases: Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases are solid or liquid substances or mixtures which by interaction with water are liable to become spontaneous flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities.

Oxidizing liquids: Oxidizing liquids is a liquid which while in itself not necessarily combustible, may generally by yielding oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material.

Oxidizing solids: Oxidizing solids is a solid which while in itself not necessarily combustible, may generally by yielding oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material.

Organic peroxides: Organic peroxides are liquids or solid organic substances which contain the bivalent –o-o- structure and may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxides, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals.

Corrosive to metals: Corrosive to metal is a substance or a mixture which by chemical action it will materially damage or even destroy metals.

Acute toxicity: Acute toxicity refers to those adverse effects occurring following oral or dermal administration of a single dose of a substance or multiple doses given within 24 h or an inhalation exposure of 4 h.

Skin corrosion: Skin corrosion is the production of irreversible damage to the skin, namely, visible necrosis through the epidermis and into the dermis, following the application of a test substance for up to 4 h.

Skin irritation: Skin irritation is the production of reversible damage to the skin following the application of a test substance for up to 4 h.

Serious eye damage: Serious eye damage is the production of tissue damage in the eye, or serious physical decay of vision, following application of a test substance to the anterior surface of the eye, which is not fully reversible within 21 days of application.

Eye irritation: Eye irritation is the production of changes in the eye following the application of test substance to the anterior surface of the eye, which are fully reversible within 21 days of application.

Respiratory sensitization: Respiratory sensitization is a substance that will lead to hypersensitivity of the airways following inhalation of the substance.

Skin sensitization: Skin sensitization is a substance that will lead to an allergic response following skin contact.

Germ cell mutagenicity: Germ cell mutagenicity denotes a substance primarily concerned that may cause mutations in the germ cells of humans that can be transmitted to the progeny.

Carcinogenicity: Carcinogenicity denotes a substance or a mixture which induces cancer or increases its incidents.

Reproductive toxicity: Reproductive toxicity includes adverse effects on sexual function and fertility in adult males and females, as well as developmental toxicity in the offspring.

Specific target organ toxicity single exposure: Specific target organ toxicity single exposure denotes the substances and mixtures that produce specific, nonlethal target organ toxicity arising from a single exposure.

Specific target organ toxicity repeated exposure: Specific target organ toxicity single exposure denotes the substances and mixtures that produce specific, nonlethal target organ toxicity arising from a repeated exposure.

Aspiration hazard: Aspiration hazard denotes the substances or mixture that may pose an aspiration toxicity hazard to humans.