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Chemical Safety

Chemical Safety. Walking the walk NOT Talking the talk!. Chemicals are a hazard. Hazard: Potential to cause harm Risk: Likelihood that harm will arise Perception of risk is critical Risk depends on exposure Minimise EXPOSURE & reduce the RISK!. Hazardous Substances.

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Chemical Safety

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  1. Chemical Safety Walking the walk NOT Talking the talk!

  2. Chemicals are a hazard • Hazard: Potential to cause harm • Risk: Likelihood that harm will arise • Perception of risk is critical • Risk depends on exposure Minimise EXPOSURE & reduce the RISK!

  3. Hazardous Substances • Physico-chemical Hazards • include flammable, explosive and oxidising • Toxicological Hazards • include toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, harmful, irritant, corrosive and sensitising • Environmental Hazards

  4. Flash-Point • The flammability of Liquids defined by its flash-point • The lowest temperature at which a fuel-air mixture present above the surface of a liquid will ignite if an ignition source is introduced • 21-55 0C ~ Flammable • <21 0C ~ Highly flammable • < 0 0C ~ Extremely flammable

  5. Toxic

  6. Adequate Risk Assessment • Should be commensurate with the risk and complexity of the process • Competent person • Must take into account the substances, nature of the work, human variability and the nature and degree of exposure

  7. Chemical Risk Assessment • Step 1: Collect the relevant information • Step 2: Assess the risk • Step 3: ID prevention and protective measures • Step 4: Plan for an emergency • Step 5: Audit and review • Step 6: Communicate the RA

  8. Chemical safety Minimise EXPOSURE and reduce the RISK!

  9. Chemical reality I • 30th January 2003 - Irish Independent • 34 year old worker habitually exposed to excessive dust and fumes • “Such a character and such concentration as to be likely injurious to his health” • Contracted asthma • €165000 plus costs against the company

  10. Chemical reality II • Research laboratory – Spring 1988 • Safe systems of work • Solvent stills • Water pressure • ‘Pulling capillaries’ • Presence of mind is good – absence of body is better!

  11. Chemical reality III • 9th September 1993 • Amino alcohol production • Ester formation • Thionyl chloride leak • €16,000 per day

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