Working with Chemicals: Hazards and Control Measures – Webinar

Chemicals in the Workplace

Michael Ellerby  (Director at LRB Consulting) is a Chartered Chemist and a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has recently delivered a Webinar on the subject of Working with Chemicals: Hazards and Control Measures.

If you are interested in finding out more about how to control chemicals in the workplace, then click here

Overview of the Webinar (from 18 March 2014) – available as a recording

A solid introduction to the hazards associated with chemicals and substances in the workplace and the ways in which these hazards may be controlled and managed. Chemicals are an integral part of modern our lives and so we are likely to encounter them every day – from the substances used at work, to products used in the home such as paint, and detergents and the pesticides used in the garden. These chemicals and substances may include cleaning materials, laboratory reagents, decorating materials, degreasers, process chemicals and substances that are generated by processes and operations (such as welding fume, wood dusts, silica dusts, etc).

Worker exposure to chemicals in the workplace can lead to a variety of short and long term health effects, such as: poisoning, skin rashes, dermatitis, loss of sight, respiratory ill-health, as well as disorders of the lung, kidney and liver. Many workers regularly use hazardous substances such as chemicals, flammable liquids and gases in their work. A hazardous substance can take many forms – gas, powder, liquid, solid or dust. The product may be pure or diluted.

Consideration is given on how to determine the hazards associated with the substances that you have (or generate) within your workplace and how people may be exposed to these substances. There is an emphasis on avoiding exposure to chemical hazards and on measures to control and reduce the risks from such exposures. The control measures that are introduced need to be proportionate to the risk (this is a core part of the risk assessment process). You can prevent or reduce workers exposure to substances hazardous to health by:

• Finding out what the health hazards from chemicals in the workplace are;
• Deciding how to prevent harm to health (risk assessment);
• Providing proportionate control measures to reduce harm to health;
• Making sure that these control measures are used ;
• Keeping all control measures in good working order;
• Providing information, instruction and training for employees and others;
• Providing monitoring and health surveillance in appropriate cases;
• Planning for emergencies

The role of personal protective equipment (PPE) as a control measure for chemicals in the workplace will be analysed. The risk assessment process for chemicals and substances is discussed along with examples of different types of control measures. Consideration is given to the role of monitoring of exposure levels in the workplace and to health surveillance for employees. There is a discussion on how to make workers aware of the hazards associated with the substance to which they may be exposed as well as the measures to be employed to control these risks.

Full details and sign up information may be found by clicking here.