Workplace processes

In general the workplace processes that can be used to limit or prevent potential exposure to hazardous chemicals are ... 

Unsafe workplaces, processes, and machinery and eliminating hazards. 

Sometimes engineers assume that when they apply their skills and knowledge to the best of their ability, then situations are safe enough. They assume that the products, equipment, workplaces, processes, and environments they design, implement, and manage are safe. They see themselves as professionals, people who know what they are doing. But incidents do... 

Common causes of major fires >- Fire risks associated with flammable, combustible and explosive substances >- Fire risks associated with common workplace processes and activities, including those associated with construction and maintenance operations > Arson... 

The risk assessment must be maintained. This means that any significant change to a workplace, process or activity, or the introduction of any new process, activity or operation, should be subject to risk assessment. If new hazards come to light, then these should also be subject to risk assessment. The risk assessment should in any case be periodically reviewed and updated. This is best achieved by a suitable combination of safety inspection and monitoring techniques, which require corrective and/or additional action where the need is identified. Typical monitoring systems include ... 

The use of workplace inspections makes it necessary to have or develop written safety and health audit instruments. These instruments need to be tailored to meet the specific needs and intended purposes. Those using audit instruments need to be trained on their use and application. This means that they should be able to identify the hazards that are recorded on the audit form and must understand the workings of the workplace, process, equipment, etc., that they are to audit. These completed instruments are a record and documentation of one facet of your safety and health effort. A written sample safety and health audit policy is found in Figure 7.4. In Figure 7.5, you can find a sample jobsite inspection that can be altered and tailored to meet the unique needs of a particular company. 

The role of chemical technology in printing is also changing. Whereas a need exists for hard copy, whether for visual, legal, or historical reasons, the hard copy must meet new standards of performance, including visual and environmental. Many traditional printing processes have become unacceptable in the workplace, and are being replaced by processes that are water-based, dry, desktop, or in some other ways more convenient. 

Scientific and Technological Literacy. There is increasing concern within the business community about the effectiveness of the precoUege education system (K—12) in preparing students for an increasingly technically sophisticated workplace. This issue is of special importance to the chemical enterprise, which will find it more difficult to operate effectively in a society that does not understand science and the scientific process (42). 

Solveat users and formulators may choose to avoid notification requirements for their workplaces and products by selecting solvents that do not contain Proposition 65 substances. As a result. Proposition 65 considerations can also influence the composition of solvents used ia iadustrial processes and solvent-containing products. 

Beryllium, beryllium-containing aUoys, and beryUium oxide ceramic in soHd or massive form present no hazard whatsoever (31). SoHd shapes may be safely handled with bare hands (32) however, care must be taken in the fabrication and processing of beryUium products to avoid inhalation of airborne beryUium particulate matter such as dusts, mists, or fumes in excess of the prescribed workplace exposure limits. Inhalation of fine airborne beryUium may cause chronic beryUium disease, a serious lung disease in certain sensitive individuals. However, the vast majority of people, perhaps as many as 99%, do not react to beryUium exposure at any level (33). The biomedical and environmental aspects of beryUium have been summarized (34). 

BTX processing has come under steadily increasing pressure to reduce emissions and workplace exposures (see Industrial hygiene). Reductions in the permissible levels of both benzene and total aromatics (BTX) in gasoline have been legislated. Whereas all BTX components ate to be controUed, the main focus is on benzene because it is considerably mote toxic than the others and is classified as a known carcinogen (42). 

Avoidance of use of solvents, abrasive powders or process chemicals for skin cleaning. Provision of overalls of an appropriate type and their frequent laundering either in-house or by an approved contractor, with a prohibition on their unauthorized removal from the workplace or use in e.g. canteens. Disposable overalls are appropriate in some situations. 

Cylinders within workplaces should be restricted to those gases in use. Specially designed compartments with partitions may be required to protect people in the event of explosion. Take into account emergency exits, steam or hot water systems, the proximity of other processes etc. Consider the possibility of dense gases accumulating in drains, basements, cable ducts, lift shafts etc. 

Diatomaceous earth, widely-known and long-used as a filteraid in process and waste filtrations, has a high microcrystalline silica content. As well as being a respiratory hazard in the workplace, the silica is being scrutinized in some jurisdictions as a potentially hazardous dust in landfills in which spent filter cakes are deposited. 

Hydrocarbon fuels used solely for workplace consumption as a fuel (e.g., propane used for comfort heating, gasoline for vehicle refueling), if such fuels are not a part of a process containing another highly hazardous chemical covered by this standard... 

VDI 2262/ Blatt 2, August 1997. Luftbeschaffenheit am Arbeitsplatz, Minderung der Exposition durch luftfremde Stoffe Verfahrenstechnische und organisatorische Mafinahmen. Entwurf. (Workplace Air, Reduction of Exposure to Air Pollutants — Process Technological Measures). 

The first step is to identify the substances present at the workplace. As a starting point, knowledge of the process is needed in order to formulate a list of all chemical agents used in the establishment. The list should include not only primary products but also intermediate and final products, as well as reaction products and by-products. For the chemical agents in the list, it is necessary to know their chemical properties, especially hazardous ones their OEL values, including biological limit values and, where these are not available, other technical criteria that can be used to evaluate the risk. It is also helpful to include any information on the safety and health risks of those substances provided by the supplier or other readily available sources. This information on dangerous substances and preparations, in the form of safety data sheets, is intended primarily for industrial users, to enable them to take the measures necessary to ensure the safety and health of workers. 

The next step is the determination of workplace factors that have to be considered in estimating the potential for exposure to chemical agents. This includes all points related to work processes and procedures which may be relevant to exposure, such as... 

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