GNED 126 - Occupational Health and Safety: Chemical Hazards Report

This report examines the critical issue of chemical hazards within the workplace environment, emphasizing their potential adverse health effects on employees. The introduction highlights the diverse forms of chemical hazards, including gases, liquids, and solids, and underscores the importance of proper handling and employee awareness to mitigate risks. The report delves into the necessity of managing and controlling chemical hazards, aligning with occupational health and safety standards to ensure a safe work environment. It defines chemical hazards, categorizes different types, and outlines control strategies such as hazard control programs, material safety data sheets (MSDS), labeling, proper storage, personal protective equipment (PPE), and employee training. The report also offers recommendations for enhancing communication frameworks, frequent evaluations of employee understanding, and strict policy implementation to foster a robust safety culture. Concluding with the acknowledgment of the adverse health impacts of chemical hazards and reinforcing the importance of employee safety, the report summarizes the key elements of effective hazard management, including training, proper storage, and the use of PPE, to create a safer and healthier workplace.

Running head: CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE 1
Chemical Hazards in the Workplace
Occupation Health and Safety
Name of Author
Institution

CHEMICAL HAZARD IN THE WORKPLACE 2
Chemical Hazards in the Workplace
Introduction
Chemical substances are used in many daily applications in the workplace. The degree of
individual exposure to chemical hazards would determine their health impacts. It should also be
noted that chemical hazards have varying degrees of strength in regards to their potential to
cause harm. Further, the chemical hazards at the workplace can take the forms of gases, liquids,
and solids. Any chemically classified to be hazardous has the potential of causing adverse health
impact to any employee exposed to them. Some of the possible health impacts caused by
chemical hazards include skin irritations, poisoning of the employees, health complications of
the lungs, the kidney, and liver. Regulatory requirements stipulate that hazardous chemicals
should be handled properly and that adequate awareness is created to all employees on their use
to avoid the adverse health impacts (Jilcha & Kitaw, 2016).
Controlling Chemical Hazards at Workplace
Is the Management and Control of Chemical Hazards in the Workplace necessary?
According to Phneah, Hassim, and Ng (2017), occupational health and safety demand that
employees are provided by a safe and optimum environment to work. All workplaces have
associated chemical hazards that may affect the health of employees negatively when not used
properly. It is the right of the employees to work in a safe environment free from hazardous
chemicals that may affect their lives and wellbeing. Moreover, during the orientation of new
employees at the workplace, they should be shown all the possible chemical hazards that they
may interact with during the execution of their roles. They should then be trained and equipped

CHEMICAL HAZARD IN THE WORKPLACE 3
with the right protective equipment to reduce their exposure to the dangerous chemicals at the
work environment.
What are chemical hazards?
Chemical hazards are the groups of chemicals existing in different forms that have the
ability to cause mild to serious health complications to individuals upon exposure. They are a
major concern when they exist in the workplace environment and require careful handling to
ensure safety of the employees. The health risk levels of the chemical hazards depend on their
strengths, degree of exposure, their form if solid, liquid, or gaseous as well as the availability of
personal protective equipment and awareness (Stave & Wald, 2016). The chemical hazards are
often well labeled on the packaging by the manufacturers to inform the end users about any risks
in their usage. These chemical hazards can cause harm to both animals and plants when not
handled carefully in the environment.
What Types of Chemical Hazards Exist in the Workplace?
There are different types of chemical hazards. Some of the most common chemical
hazards available at the workplace include paints, acids, cleaning products, petroleum products,
heavy metals, and solvents. When chemicals are not used or stored properly, they can cause fire,
skin irritation, chemical burns, and explosion, illnesses such as lung or kidney disease, and
headache. All this occurs when someone or something is exposed or come in contact with
chemical substances (Stave & Wald, 2016).
How are work-related chemical hazards controlled?
As noted, chemical hazards have a great potential of affecting the health of employees
adversely. Hence, regulation of chemical hazards in the work environment is essential to sustain
the wellbeing of employees at all times. One of the many ways chemical hazards are controlled

CHEMICAL HAZARD IN THE WORKPLACE 4
in the workplace is through the implementation of a hazard control program. “A hazard control
program takes all steps necessary to protect workers from exposure to a substance or system, the
training, and the procedures required to monitor worker exposure and their health to hazards
such as chemicals, material or substance (CCOHS, 2019).
What are the control Measures of Workplace Chemical Hazards?
There are many ways through which chemical hazards can be effectively managed at the
workplace to reduce any chances of negative health impacts. Firstly, all the information about
the chemicals at workplace should be provided in a well-prepared document referred to as
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The document often contains adequate information about
the chemical hazard and often kept at the disposal of all employees. The information would
contain all facts based on the risk assessment of the chemical hazard in question.
Labeling is also a major control measure against exposure to chemical hazards. All the
chemical hazard warning signs and labels should be well placed on the containers of the
chemicals for the easy identification of the chemicals before use. The warnings can be
accompanied by pictures on the walls and working stations showing graphical illustrations of
safety while handling chemicals at the workplace. Similarly, the storage of hazardous chemicals
should be well planned and executed to avoid incidents of accidents or chemical reactions that
may put the lives of the employees at danger. All the manufacturer instructions about chemical
hazard storage should be implemented to the latter.
Consequently, all organizations where employees are exposed to chemical hazards should
acquire employee Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). These pieces of equipment are used by
an employee while working in an environment where they are likely to come into contact with
the chemical hazards. This PPE include face masks, filters, lab coats, gumboots, and hoods. The

CHEMICAL HAZARD IN THE WORKPLACE 5
type of PPE acquired depends on the nature of the chemical hazard in question. Proper inventory
system should be adopted to ensure all chemicals are in the right condition and within the
stipulated half-life by the manufacturer. The inventory control would also ensure frequent
inspections of the chemical hazards to reduce toxic accumulations and escalation of accidental
leakages that may occur (CCOHS, 2019). Finally, there is need for employers to organize for
training and retraining of employees on safety issues regarding the chemical hazards at the
workplace. The training would reduce levels of ignorance regarding the adverse health impacts
of the chemical hazards at the workplace (Hathaway & Proctor, 2014).
Recommendations
1. Need for the development of effective chemical hazard communication framework.
Employers are expected to adequately and effectively communicate to all employees
about the chemical hazards available at their places of work. Safety should be a
fundamental aspect of the orientation process. The communication should also
include new information about certain chemicals kept by the organization that may be
significant to employees wellbeing.
2. There is a need for employers to undertake frequent and consistent evaluation and
assessment of employee understanding of the workplace chemical hazards.
3. Need for employers to implement strict policies and regulations. The regulations of
the employer should be strict on issues of employee safety so that it can grow a strong
occupational safety and health culture that is respected and implemented fully. Strict
implementation of the safety regulations would reduce any chances of safety lapses
that could expose employees to chemical hazards.

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Conclusion
As noted above, chemical hazards exist in workplaces and cause numerous adverse health
effects to employees. It is the right of the employees to work in a safe environment that
guarantees their health and wellbeing. Chemical hazards which are chemical components with
high risk of causing adverse health effects exist in many forms at workplace. They can exist as
gases, liquids and solids. These include petroleum products, acids, cleaning products and paints.
It also noted that the best management strategy of the chemical hazards at work place is the
implementation of a hazard control program. The program identifies the key areas that would
minimize the occurrence of negative health impacts on employees. Components of the program
include training and retraining, proper storage, inventory control, labeling and acquisition of the
personal protective equipment. For instance, training and retraining of employees on the existing
chemical hazards at the workplace, the dangers involved, and proper use would create adequate
awareness to them. Some of the recommendations include follow-up assessments, and evaluation
of their understanding about the chemical hazards at the workplace would help achieve the
hazard control program, effective chemical hazard communication framework, and development
of policies to ensure compliance.

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References
CCOHS. (2018, January 3). OSH Answers Fact Sheets. Retrieved from ccohs.ca:
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard_control.html
CCOHS. (2019, June 18). OSH Answers Fact Sheets. Retrieved from ccohs.ca:
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/toxic_safe.html
Hathaway, G. J., & Proctor, N. H. (2014). Proctor and Hughes' chemical hazards of the
workplace. John Wiley & Sons.
Jilcha, K., & Kitaw, D. (2016). A Literature Review On Global Occupational Safety And Health
Practice & Accidents Severity. International Journal for Quality Research, 10(2).
Phneah, S. L., Hassim, M. H., & Ng, D. K. S. (2017). Review of chemical hazard based
occupational health assessment methods for chemical processes. Chemical Engineering
Transactions, 56, 1813-1818.
Stave, G. M., & Wald, P. H. (Eds.). (2016). Physical and biological hazards of the workplace.
John Wiley & Sons.