What Are Some Common Chemical Hazards in the Workplace?

Organizations involved in manufacturing and a host of other industries need to be mindful of common chemical hazards in the workplace. These hazards might be obvious or hidden in plain sight. What matters is recognizing and adequately responding to their threats.

Historically, accidents involving hazardous chemicals in the workplace have been an indication of poor training and safety systems. These types of accidents not only impact employee health and well-being but erode organizational reputation in the long run. As a responsible workplace, dealing with these hazards can help foster a safer work environment.

Here’s all  you need to know about these hazards and what you can do to protect your company and employees against them.

What Are Chemical Hazards?

Recognizing common chemical hazards in the workplace begins with understanding what chemical hazards are. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), chemical hazards are any substance that can cause adverse physical and health effects to individuals and that can harm the environment. 

These chemical hazards are categorized based on the type of harm they cause and the mechanism through which that harm is caused. In particular, these categorizations take into account whether the harm is caused through simple exposure or through other reactions that make the chemical hazardous.

Types of Chemical Hazards

A variety of hazardous chemicals can be encountered in the workplace. Expert understanding and training are required to properly handle such chemicals. Here’s an overview of the different categories of hazardous chemicals.

• Health Hazards: These are chemicals that seriously impact health due to direct exposure. They include the following subcategories:
  (a) Carcinogens: Substances like benzene and formaldehyde that are known to cause cancer.
  (b) Irritants: Chemicals like nickel chloride and chromic acid that irritate the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract.
  (c) Asphyxiants: Dangerous substances like carbon monoxide and cyanide that suffocate by displacing oxygen in the air.

• Physiochemical Hazards: These are chemicals with harm-causing physical properties. They include the following:
  (a) Flammable substances: Chemicals like methanol, acetone, and propane that ignite easily.
  (b) Explosives: Chemicals like TNT that may explode under certain conditions.
  (c) Oxidizers: Chemicals contributing to combustion, such as potassium permanganate.

Examples of Chemical Hazards in Workplace

The first step toward fostering a culture of safety in the workplace, one must first identify the presence of common chemical hazards. This should occur through a systematic process and require expertise for successful identification. Here are some examples of such hazards:

1. Acids: Highly corrosive chemicals that can cause severe burns upon exposure. This category commonly includes sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.
2. Caustic Substances: These are common in cleaning products and can cause chemical burns. This category of chemical hazard includes  sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. 
3. Heavy Metals: This refers to toxic metals that have a long-term health impact and includes lead, mercury, and cadmium.

How to Prevent Chemical Exposure in the Workplace?

The potential of toxic chemicals to cause damage or harm in the workplace means that knowledge of how to mitigate or prevent such harm is vital. Recognizing the responsibility of all parties involved is the first step toward creating a harm-prevention system.

In particular, it is not enough that employers simply acknowledge their own responsibility. Instead, as an employer or manager, you should educate your employees about their own stake in  maintaining a safe working environment.

1. Employer’s Role: Your job as an employer is to foster a culture of safety. This involves engaging employees in proper training on how to handle hazardous materials both in everyday use and in cases of emergency.
2. Employee’s Role: Beyond participating in training programs, employees must follow all protocols clearly and report any incidents or irregularities regarding chemical hazards as soon as possible.

How Can Chemical Hazards Affect Human Health?

Chemical hazards can have a number of adverse health effects. These negative effects can result in potentially irreversible conditions and significantly impact the quality of life of affected individuals. Additionally, organizational fault or liability opens the door to costly personal injury litigation.

1. Short-Term (Acute) Effects: These effects occur immediately after exposure, and they may involve asphyxiation, chemical burns, and headaches.
2. Long-Term (Chronic) Effects: These develop over time due to repeated and prolonged exposure. They typically involve respiratory concerns, reproductive issues, and cancer.

How Does OSHA Regulate Worker Exposure to Chemicals in The Workplace?

California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal OSHA) plays a big role in regulating hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The organization achieves this by setting the proper legal frameworks for organization and penalizing organizations that do not comply.

Here is a list of standards that Cal OSHA regulates regarding the handling of hazardous chemicals: 

1. Hazard Communication Standard (HCS): Employers are required to maintain appropriate labels and safety data sheets, in addition to communicating all relevant information to employees.
2. Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs): Recognizing that certain exposure is unavoidable, Cal OSHA defines enforceable legal limits to determine safe exposure.
3. Organizational Exposure Limits (OELs): In tandem with PELs, OELs determine safe exposure limits for the organization as a whole, along with recommended guidelines.

Final Thoughts

The challenge of common chemical hazards in the workplace demands an effective response from all parties involved. Major accidents involving chemical hazards can have devastating impacts for both employees and organizational reputation. To avoid this, partner with experts to create a comprehensive hazardous material management plan. 

At CDMS, we have the expertise and experience to help you set up such a system. By delegating such responsibilities to us at minimal costs, you can comply with all the required Cal OSHA standards without disrupting the normal operations of your organization and maintain productivity. Contact us today to see how we can help.