Chemical agents are substances that can cause harm to humans and other living organisms. They can be found in a variety of workplaces, including manufacturing plants, laboratories and hospitals.

Health and safety at work is the responsibility of all employers. They must ensure that workers are not exposed to any toxic substances in their working environment.

Employers must also provide employees with personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect them from exposure to hazardous chemicals, including chemicals in the workplace.

Many substances can pose a risk to the health of workers. These include:

• toxic chemicals (e.g. lead and mercury)
• plastics containing harmful chemicals (e.g. BPA),
• pesticides and herbicides,
• biological hazards, such as the bodily fluids of people with infectious diseases.

Chemical agents in the work environment can cause health problems in the workplace. The most common effects of chemical exposure are irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, skin irritation and rash. Long-term effects can include cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

It is necessary to determine the health effects of exposure to specific chemicals. Risk assessments should contain the following information:

• routes of exposure (ingest, inhalation or absorption through the skin),
• duration of exposure (short-term or long-term),
• frequency of exposure (daily, weekly or seasonal)
• identify what risks exist and how they can be controlled,
• identification of hazards associated with exposure to chemicals.

Risk assessments are information needed to determine whether there is any risk. If you use a chemical that is listed as hazardous, you need to evaluate how it can be controlled so as not to harm workers or the environment.

The use of personal protective equipment is crucial to protect workers from chemical hazards. When working with chemicals, use protective clothing such as overalls or laboratory coats. Safety glasses are also a good idea, especially if there are fumes or dust in the air. Protective clothing should be removed before leaving for home after the end of the shift, so as not to bring home any dangerous chemicals on the clothes.

Risk assessment is a systematic approach to identifying and assessing risks related to chemical agents in the workplace. The four-step risk assessment process is as follows:

• Identify hazards associated with chemicals in the workplace, such as flammability and toxicity.
• Determine the likelihood of these hazards occurring (the frequency with which they occur).
• Assess what would happen if these risks occurred (consequences).
• Reduce or eliminate risks by implementing control measures such as personal protective equipment, technical control measures, administrative control measures and working practices.

The use of measurements of harmful factors and preparations must comply with current standards and regulations, as well as with detailed instructions given by the responsible manager or supervisor.

In addition, the employer must check that employees have been properly trained in their safe use.

Risks can be mitigated by applying appropriate engineering controls and administrative controls, such as specific procedures and training of employees.

In order to determine the level of risk when using agents harmful to health, a risk assessment must be carried out. This can be done by analysing information such as the characterisation of the substance (including its toxicity), its uses and use, the concentrations at which it is used and the potential for occupational health exposure.

Source: https://www.bhp-center.com.pl/czym-sa-czynniki-chemiczne-w-srodowisku-pracy/

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.