Hazards life-threatening

Because of its acidity phenol was known as carbolic acid when Joseph Lister intro duced It as an antiseptic in 1865 to prevent postopera tive bacterial infections that were then a life threatening hazard in even minor surgi cal procedures... 

The risk of potentially serious side effects should be enough to preclude the prescription of antidepressants for their placebo benefit, but this is not the only hazard associated with these medications. On 19 July 2006 the FDA issued a public-health advisory warning that, when taken in conjunction with other drugs that can affect serotonin levels, antidepressants can induce a life-threatening disorder called the serotonin syndrome .5 The serotonin syndrome is caused by an excess of serotonin in a person s body. 

Gupta S, Ashrith G, Chandra D, Gupta AK, Finkel KW, Guntupalli JS (2008) Acute phenol poisoning a life - threatening hazard of chronic pain relief. Clin Toxicol 46 250-253... 

The study of case histories is important in the area of safety. To paraphrase G. Santayana, one learns from history or is doomed to repeat it. This is especially true for safety anyone working in the chemical industry can learn from case histories and avoid hazardous situations or ignore history and be involved in potentially life-threatening accidents. 

Treatment of life-threatening injuries should almost always take precedence over measures to address radioactive, chemical, or biological contamination or exposure. Injured individuals should be stabilized if possible and immediately transported to a medical facility. It is recommended that an individual with training in the areas of radioactive, chemical, and biological hazards accompany the first patients to the hospital and serve as an advisor to the medical team. 

When an explosive device is used to disperse radioactive, chemical, or biological materials, the treatment of casualties is more difficult because of the presence of contamination. In this situation, emergency responders could face a life-threatening situation unless appropriate precautions are taken. These precautions include using screening instruments (see Section 6.12) to assess hazard conditions before responding, then selecting the appropriate level of personal protective equipment (see Section 6.7) to provide protection from the hazard. 

The majority of us are exposed to low levels of solvents every day. Millions of workers around the world are exposed to high levels of solvents on a daily basis that can adversely affect health. Workers often come in contact with more than one solvent during a day s work. Health hazards from solvent exposure range from mild to life threatening, depending on the compound involved and the level and... 

Withdrawal from narcotics is also less hazardous than withdrawal from sedative-hypnotics. Alcohol, downers, and the minor tranquilizers can produce violent withdrawal, marked by convulsions and, sometimes, death. Narcotic withdrawal can be intensely unpleasant, but it is not life-threatening. 

The chemical release into a confined space is life threatening. High-pressure liquid, falling objects, and slippery surfaces in a confined space are all potential hazards. The limited space, inadequate ventilation and light, and excessive noise are also physical hazards that increase the confined space hazards. The chemical waste and useful chemicals are also life threatening. 

Industrial plants may have their own medical staff, or a physician can be called and ambulances may be available in the nearby hospital for rapid transportation. First-aid measures can be taken until the arrival of qualified staff. In addition, medical assistance and firefighters may be requested as soon as possible, while the injured person should be given first aid and moved from the dangerous point. Normally it is not advisable to move any injured person if there is no nearby life-threatening hazard. This is to avoid aggravating any injury. If it is desirable to move a person, care should be taken that there should be no stress or strain imposed on the injured part of the body. 

Evidence from appropriate studies in experimental animals can furnish much more detail, in the form of clinical observations, and macroscopic and microscopic pathological examination and this can often reveal hazards that may not be life-threatening but could indicate functional impairment. Consequently all available evidence, and relevance to human health, must be taken into consideration in the classification process. 

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