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What are chemicals?
Three main chemical states
Common chemical hazards
What does the law say?
Consumer product symbols
General tips for chemical safety
Controlling chemical hazards in the
workplace
What are chemicals?
Most people automatically associate chemicals with scientists in laboratories,
but chemicals are also found in many of the products we use at work and at home.
While they have a variety of beneficial uses, chemicals can also be extremely
harmful if they are misused.
Here are some examples of commonly used household products that can damage your
health or cause a fire or explosion if used incorrectly:
| • | cleaning products such as toilet
cleaners, disinfectants, mildew remover and chlorine bleach
| | • | art supplies, such as paint thinner and
pottery glazes
| | • | garage supplies, such as parts
degreasers and cleaning solvents
| | • | office materials, such as photocopier
toner
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Three main chemical states
All chemicals exist in one of three states: solid, liquid or gas.
| • | A solid has shape and form, whether
it's a dust particle or a steel pipe.
| | • | A liquid is a formless fluid. It takes
the shape of its container, but doesn't necessarily fill it. Solvents and
oils are examples of chemicals in liquid form.
| | • | A gas is a formless substance that
expands to occupy all the space of its container. Oxygen and carbon monoxide
are examples of chemicals in gaseous form. Gases are usually invisible, but
they may be detected in some cases by their taste or smell.
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Some chemicals move from one state to another with a change in temperature or
pressure. Water is a chemical which is normally a liquid but becomes a solid at
temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.
Knowing the physical states of hazardous chemicals is important factor in
understanding their health effects. The physical state of a chemical determines
which route it may use to enter the body. For example, a gas may easily enter
the body by inhalation, while liquids are more likely to be absorbed through the
skin. The fact that chemicals may change their state during work processes that
involve changes in temperature and pressure makes it all the more important to
take all the possible states of a chemical into account.
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Common chemical hazards
Specific types of chemicals have been associated with harmful health effects.
Common chemical hazards include:
| • | skin irritation, disfiguring burns,
eye injury or blindness caused by corrosive chemical products
| | • | toxic by-products, such as vapours and
fumes, caused by mixing incompatible chemicals
| | • | serious burns from flammable solvents
that catch on fire
| | • | injury from exploding containers, such
as spray cans
| | • | poisoning from accidental swallowing,
especially with young children
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What does the law say?
There are several laws that relate to chemicals in the workplace. Two of the
most important laws are:
WHMIS applies to "controlled products" that meet
the government's criteria for a hazardous material. The WHMIS regulation
requires labelling, material safety data sheets (MSDS) and training for staff
who work with controlled products. WHMIS applies only in the workplace and does
not apply to chemical products that you buy for your personal use from a grocery
or hardware store.
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Hazardous substances in the workplace will be labelled with these WHIMIS
symbols:
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The Consumer Products Act
and regulations outlines the requirements for chemical products that you buy for
your personal use. Consumer products can be dangerous, so make sure that you
read the label on the product and follow the manufacturer's directions for use,
clean-up and disposal.
Hazardous consumer products will have these symbols:
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General tips for chemical safety
| • | Always read the label on the chemical
bottle.
| | • | Always follow the directions and
precautions listed on the label.
| | • | Never use a chemical if you are unsure
what it is or how to protect yourself.
| | • | Always take the time to protect
yourself and those working around you.
| | • | Always dispose of a chemical properly.
Every municipality has a household hazardous waste drop-off location. For
safe disposal of chemical products at work, contact your health and safety
representative.
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Controlling chemical hazards in the workplace
| • | Reduce or eliminate the use of
hazardous chemicals whenever possible.
| | • | Maintain adequate ventilation systems
to reduce concentrations of airborne chemicals.
| | • | Practicing good personal hygiene (e.g.
washing hands) and maintaining regular workplace cleaning routines can
reduce the amount of a chemical substance that is absorbed by a worker’s
body. Learn how to avoid carrying hazardous
substances home.
| | • | Introduce administrative controls to
minimize exposure to chemicals (e.g. rotate workers through different jobs
or locations, perform maintenance work in off-hours so that accidental
release of toxic substances will affect fewer workers).
| | • | Use personal protective equipment and
devices.
| | • | Maintain equipment in good order to
prevent leaks and breakdowns that may release toxic substances.
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