Here Are the Types of Chemical Hazards and How to Manage Them

The industrial sector is one of the most valuable to the delivery of goods and services across the world. After all, the needs of humanity continue to evolve, and there has been no change in the fact that they need to be met.

Unfortunately, this does not come without a risk of increased chemical hazard exposure. Human health concerns will arise when considering the employees who must handle these compounds in bulk before they get to their eventual destination. Larrimer & Larrimer can consult on a hazmat trucking guide in Ohio.

Considering this risk, there must be policies made to address the classification of toxic substances and how exactly they are to be managed. The information below will provide extensive insight into these areas, as well as what employees can and should do if their occupational safety is compromised. Larrimer & Larrimer has more insight on workers' comp for inhaling dangerous chemicals at work as well.

How Might Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals Happen?

Several key routes of chemical exposure exist, which will all cause worrisome health hazards to find their way into the human body. Note their differences below.

Inhalation

This speaks to the breathing in of small chemical particles or toxic vapors, which allows them direct entry into airways.

Injection

Hazardous substances can be present on sharp objects, such as needles. Injection occurs when one of these contaminated objects pierces the body. Typically, this will mean that a health hazard can find its way into the bloodstream.

Ingestion

In this case, toxic chemicals are accidentally swallowed, allowing them to pass through the digestive system, which can then lead to severe damage throughout the body.

Absorption

When personal protective equipment isn't worn or doesn't cover a particular area of the body, workplace chemical hazards can make direct contact with the skin.

What Categories Can a Hazardous Chemical Fall Under?

Sensitizers

These chemicals are so named as they can trigger allergic reactions in those they affect. This will typically happen when exposure has occurred over a period. The reactions that people have to sensitizers will often differ. While some persons will experience acute symptoms, others may end up with chronic ailments, such as lung disease.

Asphyxiants

Employee exposure to asphyxiants is incredibly worrying, as these compounds are known to deprive the body of oxygen. Effectively, oxygen is meant to enter the body and move around freely, as it is carried by the bloodstream to areas of need. The properties of asphyxiants mean that they can hamper both the transfer and usage processes.

Corrosives

Chemical corrosives are incredibly dangerous, as direct contact results in irreversible changes to material composition. These alterations are usually visible. Some of these materials are very sturdy, which means that human exposure poses an even greater risk.

Bear in mind too that some corrosives can also cause systemic exposure when combined with other substances away from the point of contact.

Carcinogens

This class of hazards refers to compounds that are known to have cancer-causing properties. Unfortunately, it only takes a small amount of such substances to present incredibly severe consequences to human health. The results of exposure will often not present themselves for years after the incident occurred, which makes treatment difficult.

Mutagens

Whenever a chemical is classified as a mutagen, it has the potential to cause changes to a cell's DNA or RNA. In other words, it can cause genetic mutations to occur. These can be very dangerous, as the results are often cancer, organ malfunction, or the prevention of certain standard biological functions.

Irritants

Chemical substances that are classified as irritants can cause damage to the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract. These compounds will usually be water soluble to some extent. While some are only slightly so, others are at a moderate or high level. Hemorrhaging, rashes, inflammation, coughing, etc., can occur after exposure, though the conditions will usually be short-term.

Teratogens

These chemicals pose a severe threat to unborn children. While they may not affect the mother adversely, they can drastically disrupt what would be the standard development process of a fetus. This could mean that the advancement of the birth is compromised, or it could mean that there are birth defects observed when the child is born.

Flammable

The name here makes this one very straightforward. Effectively, these chemicals are likely to ignite or burn once they are exposed to oxygen.

Reactive

On their own, reactive chemical hazards are not too much of a cause for concern. However, they can become very problematic when they come into contact with certain other substances. Note that while they will sometimes react to other chemicals, water or air is often enough. The results can be as impactful as an explosion.

What Is the Best Way to Control Chemical Hazards?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guides employers in the form of regulations of chemical and physical hazards, alongside other concerns. There are several recommendations to ensure control, which are as follows:

1. Personal protective equipment (PPE) - This categorization includes items such as body suits, gloves, respirators, etc. Such items can be worn or used to ensure that the exposure limits associated with chemicals are not breached, as there would be a lack of direct contact.

2. Engineering controls - Employers are expected to make physical changes to the workplace where necessary to ensure that they reduce employee exposure to harmful substances.

3. Administrative and workplace controls - This refers to an adjustment to the way that a work task is performed. There may also be the implementation of processes, protocols, policies, and the like to ensure that there is adequate control and monitoring of exposure.

4. Elimination/substitution - Sometimes, the best option is to cease usage of a particular chemical or to replace it with a less harmful alternative.

Other steps can be taken to help too, which include proper hazard communication and the maintenance of safety data sheets on compounds. For more information, Larrimer and Larrimer may be able to help.

Have You Suffered Chemical Exposure on the Job in Ohio? Talk to Larrimer & Larrimer Today!

While there is an expectation to have dangerous substances controlled in the workplace, this is not always the case. Have you been exposed to harmful chemicals while on the job? You may be entitled to compensation.

Schedule a free consultation with an expert workers' compensation attorney today by calling Larrimer & Larrimer!