Hazards hygiene

Acrolein, acrylamide, hydroxyalkyl acrylates, and other functional derivatives can be more hazardous from a health standpoint than acryhc acid and its simple alkyl esters. Furthermore, some derivatives, such as the alkyl 2-chloroacrylates, are powerful vesicants and can cause serious eye injuries. Thus, although the hazards of acryhc acid and the normal alkyl acrylates are moderate and they can be handled safely with ordinary care to industrial hygiene, this should not be assumed to be the case for compounds with chemically different functional groups (see Industrial hygiene Plant safety Toxicology). 

The purpose of hazard analysis and risk assessment ia the chemical process industry is to (/) characterize the hazards associated with a chemical facihty (2) determine how these hazards can result in an accident, and (J) determine the risk, ie, the probabiUty and the consequence of these hazards. The complete procedure is shown in Figure 1 (see also Industrial hygiene Plant safety). 

The evaluation phase of industrial hygiene is the process of making measurements on some set of samples which permits a conclusion about the degrees of hazard. Before conducting an evaluation, it is necessary to make a number of choices of what and where to sample, when to sample, how long to sample, how many samples to take, what sampling and analytical methods to use, what exposure criteria to use in the analysis of the data, and how to report the results. These choices as a whole constitute the evaluation plan. The object is to find if one or more workers have an unacceptable probabiUty of being exposed in excess of some estabUshed limit. 

G. Cla57ton and F. Cla57ton, eds., Patty s Industrial Hygiene andToxicology, 3rd ed., Vol. 2A, John Wdey Sons, Inc., New York, 1981, pp. 2089—2091. "Aryl Sulfonic Acids and Salts," Information Profiles on Potential Occupational Hayards, Vol. II, Chemical Classes, Center for Chemical Hazard Assessment, Syracuse Research Corp., U.S. Dept, of Commerce, Washington, D.C., 1979. 

Industrial Hygiene Reviews These reviews evaluate the potential of a process to cause harm to the health of people. It is the science of the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards in the environment. It usually deals with chronic, not acute, releases and is involved with toxicity. 

Toxic hazards may be caused by chemical means, radiation, and noise. Routes of exposure are (1) eye contact, (2) inhalation, (3) ingestion, (4) skin contact, and (5) ears (noise). An Industrial Hygiene Guide (IHG) is based on exposures for an 8-h day, 40-h week, and is not to be used as a guide in the control of health hazards. It is not to be used as a fine hne between safe and dangerous conditions. 

Industrial hygiene potential hazards identified, baseline monitoring needs fulfilled, any special equipment obtained, PPE hazards assessments in progress... 

Toxicity information Toxic hazard rating Hygiene standard (e.g. OLE, TLV) Maximum allowable concentration (MAC) Lethal concentration (LC50) Lethal dose (LD50) ... 

Safe Handling of Colourants 2 Hazard Classification and Selection of Occupational Hygiene Strategies (1993) Safe Handling of Eonnaldehyde (2nd edn) (1995)... 

The first major objective for the inherent safety review is the development of a good understanding of the hazards involved in the process. Early understanding of these hazards provides time for the development team to implement recommendations of the inherent safety effort. Hazards associated with flammability, pressure, and temperature are relatively easy to identify. Reactive chemistry hazards are not. They are frequently difficult to identify and understand in the lab and pilot plant. Special calorimetry equipment and expertise are often necessary to fully characterize the hazards of runaway reactions and decompositions. Similarly, industrial hygiene and toxicology expertise is desirable to help define and understand health hazards associated with the chemicals employed. 

In addition, the DOE has issued a variety of publieations that pertain to hazardous waste. We will share some of the pertinent DOE and other information with you in a variety of plaees throughout this book. Mueh of the information that the DOE has published is useful when eonsid-ering work aetivities involving hazardous materials. Numerous other DOE orders that outline speeifie requirements on safety and health programs, industrial hygiene, eonstruetion safety, oeeupational medieine, and nuelear safety will also be eited as appropriate for eomparison. 

Besides lead, there may be a variety of other substances that a worker may be exposed to. Earlier in this chapter we mentioned the possibility of mobile laboratories. If your site does have a mobile lab, there are a variety of other regulations that should be considered. Of course, hazard communication comes into play. A typical laboratory can have volumes of material safety data sheets in its libraries. Besides hazard communication, you should determine whether a chemical hygiene plan is a requirement. In addition, we need to consider how the laboratory might affect the site emergency plan. 

A medical surveillance program is designed to protect the workers health. Given the limitations of industrial hygiene monitoring data and the many hazards involved in hazardous waste activities, medical surveillance data may provide the only indication that worker exposure to toxic substances has occurred. 

The hazardous waste standard requires employers to make certain that when showers are a necessary step in the decontamination process, their employees shower at the end of their work shift and when leaving the hazardous waste site. Sanitation-related showers (unlike decontamination showers) are understood to be voluntary. Decontamination and emergency showers should be located close to the worksite. Sanitary showers may be located at some distance from the worksite. A statement in the safety plan encouraging good personal hygiene and daily showers is a good idea. In addition, workers should be encouraged to shower daily even if no shower is available at the worksite. 

Functions such as industrial hygiene (the protection of worker health against occupational hazards) and hazardous waste mcmagement involve the control of hazards arising from processes. As with process safety, you can attempt to use engineering-based solutions alone, but will find that ongoing control of hazards is difficult to achieve. Designing-in hazard control and... 

Process risk management Industrial hygiene risks should be periodically reviewed as are process safety risks. Some of the process hazard assessment techniques used for PSM can be expanded to include consideration of industrial hygiene issues... 

Training and performance Training can be expanded to include coverage of industrial hygiene hazard awareness and protective measures... 

Even a quick examination of Exhibits 2-5 and 2-6 points out the considerable duplication that exists within Xmple, Inc. Not only are there separate management systems delivering their three programs (PSM, occupational safety and industrial hygiene, and environment) there are also several duplicate programs. For example, storage of hazardous chemicals and spill response are covered by all three systems. The lists are also incomplete undoubtedly Xmple, Inc. implements all requirements of Responsible Care , but it is listed only under occupational safety and industrial hygiene. 

In Exhibit 2-8 the need for new, or modified, control programs or elements could arise either because you have introduced a new process or facility, or modified an existing one. These changes may introduce new process hazards, new occupational safety or industrial hygiene issues or new environmental concerns. Any new hazards need to be assessed so that the company can decide whether they are tolerable or require new controls to... 

It should be made clear to people exposed to lubricants that good standards of personal hygiene are a most effective protection against potential health hazards. However, those individuals with a history of (or thought to be particularly predisposed to) eczema or industrial dermatitis should be excluded from work where, as in machine-tool operation, contact with lubricants is virtually unavoidable. 

The non-toxicity of aluminium coatings and freedom from taste or taint means freedom from health hazards during application and provides hygienic finishes for contact with foodstuffs, e.g. baking tins, oven trays, containers. 

Occupational Diseases and Hazards in Explosives and Ammunition Plants. See under Industrial Hygiene in Vol 7,193-R... 

Of these sources, Kirk-Othmer s Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology is particularly recommended for questions on chemistry and on end uses. For information on properties and on toxicity and handling hazards, Patty s Industrial Hygiene, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and the Aldrich catalog are very nseful. Questions on industrial chemistry should be directed to Ullman s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, and the texts by Chenier, Heaton, and White. Hawley s Condensed Chemical Dictionary is valuable as a source for dehnitions of the terms (language) of chemistry. 

Familiarization with plant hazards, rules and safety practices, security Clear delineation of work, responsibilities and handover (See also maintenance, permit-to-work systems, personal protection, site restrictions, access, modifications, personal hygiene etc.)... 

Table 13.16 sets out the major waste disposal methods, and potential hazards from toxic waste deposition are indicated in Table 13.17. The range of precautions required at land tips depends upon the risk, e.g. the nature and degree of contamination and the work to be undertaken. It will, however, encompass personal protective equipment a high standard of personal hygiene enclosure, possibly pressurization, and regular cleaning of vehicle cabs vehicle washing facilities site security, and control of designated dirty areas. Air monitoring and medical surveillance may be required.

The hazard of the transfer of microorganisms from humans to pharmaceutical preparations may be reduced by comprehensive training in personal hygiene coupled with regular medical checks to prevent carriers of pathogenic organisms from coming in contact with any product. 

Explosives, See also Explosive chemicals Transportation carriage, 447, 460, 594 compatibility groups, 456 hazard classification, 447, 455 Exposure limits. See Hygiene standards Eye protection, 435... 

---