Hazards recognition

The toxicity of a substance is its capacity to cause injury once inside the body. The main modes of entry into the body by chemicals in industry are inhalation, ingestion and absorption through the skin. Gases, vapours, mists, dusts, fumes and aerosols can be inhaled and they can also affect the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Ingestion is rare although possible as a result of poor personal hygiene, subconscious hand-to-mouth contact, or accidents. The skin can be affected directly by contact with the chemicals, even when intact, but its permeability to certain substances also offers a route into the body. Chemicals accorded a skin notation in the list of Occupational Exposure Limits (see Table 5.12) are listed in Table 5.2. Exposure may also arise via skin lesions. 

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Hazard recognition and assessment always start from a knowledge of the individual properties of a chemical. What this may include is exemplified by Table 1.3. Additional properties, including those in Table 1.4, are relevant to environmental hazards, e.g. relating to behaviour on spillage or emission, and determination of permissible levels for disposal to air, land or water systems. Other properties may be relevant, e.g. odour which can serve as an, albeit often unreliable, means of detection. (Refer to Table 5.12.)... 

Refresher course on fundamentals of safety, hazard recognition, procedures Participation in hazard and operability studies on existing operations and procedures... 

Exactly what type of lessons are learned cannot be foreseen. The size and diversity of site activities give rise to a wide variety of health and safety hazards. Individual sites need to document and disseminate information that could enhance their hazard recognition and mitigation. Effective documentation is an important concept that everyone needs to buy in to if the safety program is going to be effective. Wliy workers fail to document potential problems has been the subject of much debate. 

These iiicchanisnis can affect the near-term and ultimate fate of a chemical hazard. Recognition of these inechanisms can significantly assist in the identification of a chemical agent as a health hazard. In recent years, the understanding of chemical transport, chemical manipulation in the body, and response by animals luid humans to cheniicals has advtmccd to a point where it is possible to determine whether a chemical is indeed a health hazard. 

For the purpose of hazard recognition, it is sufficient to check the following expressions ... 

Process operations, 20 760-763 in hazard recognition, 14 205-207 Process optimization... 

In its NEP, OSHA points out that for workplaces not covered by 1910.272, but where combustible dust hazards exist within dust control systems or other containers, citations under section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act (the General Duty Clause) may generally be issued for deflagration (fire) or explosion hazards. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards should be consulted to obtain evidence of hazard recognition and feasible abatement methods. Other standards are applicable to the combustible dust hazard. For example, if the workplace has a Class II location, then citations under 29 CFR 1910.307 may be issued to those employers having electrical equipment not meeting the standard s requirements. 

Do operations personnel receive any training in hazard recognition ... 

Committee of Experts has been allocated a unique four-digit number, called the Substance UN Number (or simply the UN Number). Thus a hazardous substance can be distinctly identified by the Substance UN Number (also called the Substance Identification Number or SIN). UN Serial number 0001 to 1000 are reserved for Class 1 items, that is, explosives and ammunition. The nine classes of dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals with a distinctive diamond shaped label bearing a pictorial diagram for quick hazard recognition are ... 

If health hazards are to be controlled, they must be recognized and evaluated. A logical place to initiate the process of health-hazard recognition is with a total... 

Hazard recognition prevention of injury, loss of life, and property/ environmental damage. 

Five levels of emergency response team members, hazard identification, evacuation, notification, hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, control and containment, and decontamination. 

Research has shown that inspections are most effective in identifying permanent fixed physical and environmental hazards that do not vary over time. Inspections are not very effective in identifying transient physical and environmental hazards or improper workplace behaviors because these hazards may not be present when the inspection is taking place (Smith et al. 1971). A major benefit from inspections, beyond hazard recognition, is the positive motivational influence on employees. Inspec-... 

Kathleen. M Kowalski-Trakofler. 2003. The concept of degraded images apphed to hazard recognition training in mining for reduce of lost-time injuries. Journal of Safety Research (34) 515-525. 

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