International
Labour Organization

Your health and safety at work

CHEMICALS IN THE WORKPLACE

IV. Obtaining and using information about industrial chemicals

It is your right to know!

One of the biggest problems for trade union health and safety representatives and workers is getting adequate information about chemicals used at work. The good news is that there are various sources of information about chemicals in your workplace.

Some of these sources are:

• your employer;
• the chemical manufacturer or supplier;
• hazard data sheets;
• labels on containers; and
• training programmes.

Often a single source will not tell you everything you need to know, therefore it is best to try to get information from as many of these sources as you can. Health and safety information on chemical substances is public, so you have the right to ask for the facts! These sources of information are looked at in more detail below.

What other sources of information can you think of?

A. Management

Many countries now have some kind of hazard information or right-to-know legislation. These laws make it the employer's legal responsibility to provide workers with as much information and training as possible on all chemical substances used. Some unions have negotiated agreements which require that the union be given full information on all chemicals used in the workplace. Unfortunately, many employers do not have this information and may not know where to get it. If this describes your situation, then the health and safety representative should insist that the employer obtains information from the chemical manufacturer or the supplier and makes it available to the workers.

B. Manufacturer/supplier

If your employer cannot obtain the necessary information for you, then you or your union may want to write directly to the chemical manufacturer and request the information yourself. There follows a sample letter which you can modify for your own situation and use to request information directly from the chemical manufacturer or supplier.

Ask management for information. Make sure that the company fulfils its obligation to inform workers about workplace hazards.

Sample letter requesting hazard data sheet and other technical information from chemical manufacturer

Many manufacturers are willing to cooperate, but if you do not get a response from them after a reasonable period of time and have sent reminders, then it may be necessary to recommend that your employer stops using the chemical. This should be made clear in one of the reminders to the manufacturer. At that point, it may be necessary to look for safer alternatives to the original chemical.

How to find a safer alternative to a dangerous chemical

Source: Health hazards in the electronics industry, lnternationai Metalworkers' Federation, Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong, 1985.

1. You will need to know the generic name (See, how to find the generic name) of the chemical you wish to replace.
2. Determine which chemical group (See the chemical groups) the chemical belongs to. For example, methyl ethyl ketone belongs in general to the solvent group. Among the solvents, it belongs to a chemical category called ketones.
3. Identify the chemicals with similar properties by checking the Chemical Groups List. For example, methyl ethyl ketone is listed with other ketones, such as acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone.
4. Compare the health and fire risks of each of the chemicals in the group to see which is less hazardous. Among the ketones, for example, acetone is considered to be safer to use than other ketones. When comparing chemicals, it is absolutely essentiai (1) to consider how the chemical is to be used, (2) to review several medical texts which describe the toxicity of the chemical, and (3) to consult an expert on chemical toxicology.
5. If any chemical is associated with causing cancer, mutations (changes in cells), or birth defects, it should be replaced immediately with a chemical which does not pose these risks. See the lists of carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens.

For many chemicals, the evidence on toxicity is often not complete because of inadequate testing or failure to record all information about health effects. Thus, it is important to review every year or so the current literature on chemicals used at work. Always use the latest available edition of a textbook on toxic substances. The Internationai Registry of Potentially Toxic Chemicais (IRPTC), a division of the United Nations Environment Programme in Geneva, Switzerland, publishes the IRPTC Bulletin twice a year providing a summary of the latest news from dozens of countries on toxicity and legisiation with regard to specific chemicals.

If you would like information on chemicals and products that have been banned or restricted by governments, you can request the following United Nations document: Consolidated list of products whose consumption and/or sale have been banned, withdrawn, severely restricted or not approved by governments. Send your request to: United Nations Sales Section, New York, United States of America, or Geneva, Switzerland. Include the title and the international standard book number (ISBN 92-1-130145-9) and be sure to state that you would like the most recent edition of this document.

C. Hazard data sheets

Hazard data sheets (HDSs) (sometimes called material safety data sheets (MSDSs) or chemical safety data sheets (CSDSs)) are detailed information sheets on chemicals. They are generally prepared and made available by chemical manufacturers, or programmes such as the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS, which is a joint activity of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)). HDSs are important and accessible sources of information on chemicals, but their quality can vary. If you use or plan to use HDSs, be aware of their limitations. For example, they are often difficult to read and understand. Another serious limitation is that they often do not contain enough information about the hazards and the necessary precautions you need to take when working with certain chemicals. To overcome these limitations, whenever possible use other sources of information together with HDSs. It is a good idea for health and safety representatives to keep a hazard data sheet on each chemical used in the workplace.

The following pages will give you an idea of the kind of information you should expect to find when you read an HDS. Not all HDSs will contain all of the information here and the order of sections may vary on different HDSs. Definitions of some of the important terms commonly used on an HDS are given in the Glossary in the Instructor's guide to the Modules.

The following information must appear on all hazard data sheets. However, the order of the information may be different from that described below.

Remember: You can request a copy of the HDS for any chemical you are exposed to on your job.

Section I: Identification of product and manufacturer

The name of the product is listed here by chemical name or by trade name. The name listed should be the same as the name that appears on the label.

Hazard data sheets must also list synonyms for the product or substance. Synonyms are other names by which the substance is known. For example, methyl alcohol is also known as methanol or wood alcohol.

Manufacturer identification: Includes manufacturer's (or supplier's) name, address, telephone number, the date the HDS was prepared and an emergency telephone number to call after business hours. It is a good idea to call the manufacturer for information before an emergency occurs.

Section II: Hazardous ingredients

For products which are mixtures, only those ingredients that appear on specified lists of hazardous chemicals and which make up one per cent (1%) or more of the product need to be listed. Carcinogens are an exception and must be listed if they make up one-tenth of one per cent (0.1%) of the mixture. The hazardous ingredients must be listed by their chemical names.

For each listed ingredient, the concentration limit to which you may be exposed must be indicated. Both the enforceable permissible exposure limit (PEL) and the recommended threshold limit value (TLV) must be listed on the HDS.

• The PEL is the maximum amount of a substance allowed in workplace air. The PEL is legally enforceable.
• The TLV is a recommended limit and is not legally enforceable. TLVs, devised by a private agency, are supposed to represent the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed on a daily basis without adverse health effects.

For more information on PELs and TLVs, refer to the Glossary in the Instructor's guide to the Modules.

Section III: Physical data

This section lists boiling point, vapour pressure, vapour density, melting point, appearance, odour, etc. The information in Section III helps you to understand how a chemical behaves and the kind of hazard it presents.

Section IV: Fire and explosion data

Section IV lists the flashpoint and flammable or explosive limits, and tells you how to extinguish a fire. The information in this section is needed to prevent, plan for and respond to chemical fires and explosions.

Section V: Reactivity data

Section V tells you whether or not the substance is stable and, if it is not, what hazards the instability presents. Section V lists incompatibles (substances which must not be placed or used together). This information is important for proper storage and handling of the product.

Section VI: Health hazard data

Routes of entry (inhalation, skin absorption or ingestion), acute and chronic health effects, signs and symptoms of exposure, whether the product is carcinogenic, medical problems made worse by exposure, and recommended first-aid/emergency procedures are all supposed to be listed under Section VI. In reality, Section VI is often incomplete and inadequate.

Section VII: Precautions for handling

Information needed to devise emergency response plans, clean-up procedures, safe disposal methods and necessary storage and handling precautions must be detailed in Section VII. Frequently, however, manufacturers sum up this information with a simple (and inadequate) statement such as “Avoid breathing vapour” or “Avoid skin contact”.

Section VIII: Control measures

Recommended methods of hazard control including ventilation, work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) are detailed in Section VIII.

The type of respirator and the most resistant protective clothing and glove material for the product should be named. However, this information is often incomplete. Rather than recommend the most resistant protective material, the HDS may simply state that “impermeable” gloves and clothing should be used.

Section VIII tends to stress personal protective equipment rather than engineering controls.

Search the International Chemical Safety Cards

You can request HDSs from your employer, the chemical manufacturer, or from the International Programme on Chemical Safety Project, IPCS. You can write to the IPCS for hazard data sheets on specific chemicals at: International Programme on Chemical Safety, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.

For more details on the identification, classification and labelling of chemicals, see the Chemical Safety Training Modules

Make sure you read and understand labels before using chemicals.

D. Labels

Labels on chemical containers or drums are another important source of information. Labels should always be attached to the container, and the chemical listed on the label should be what is found in the container.

All chemical containers should have adequate labels on them.

Like hazard data sheets, labels have limitations. For example, they can be incomplete, or a label may be written in a language you may not know, depending on the country where the chemical is produced. To overcome these limitations, it is best to use labels together with other sources of information.

Figure 3 is an example of both an inadequate label and a better label. Compare the two. What differences do you find? The inadequate label does not give the actual ingredients of the substance or the possible health effects from exposure; it does not tell you how to use the chemical safely or the telephone number of the manufacturer.

Figure 3.
Example of an inadequate label and a better label.

Notice that this label includes the actual chemical ingredients (1,1,1-trichloroethane) and spells out the “appropriate health hazards” in terms of the damages they can cause.

Source: Your Right to Know, United Autoworkers' Union, Detroit, Michigan, 1988.

It is important to know that most industrial chemicals have two names: (1) a trade name by which the chemical is commonly known, for example “Wonderglu” or “Supabat”, which does not tell you anything about the chemical — it is simply the brand name used to advertise the chemical; and (2) the chemical name which tells you the exact ingredients (the ingredients are often in small writing on the label).
(See Figure 4.)

	SODIUMTRICHLOROACETATE (NaTA)
dangerous to health safety - hazards: dangerous to health, especially when swallowed! may decompose above 110ºC   (230ºF) and form poisonous gases	safety - directions keep container tightly closed and store in cool, dry area keep material away from food avoid contact with skin and eyes rinse contaminated articles and floors thoroughly with water avoid elevated temperatures in case of fire do not inhale smoke

The chemical name does not change unless the ingredients are changed, but the trade name can change anytime. (For example, if an advertising campaign for a new chemical pesticide is not going well, or if reports from another country suggest that the chemical causes adverse health effects in workers, then the manufacturer can change the trade name, but not the chemical name. Try to get both names, but the chemical name is more important.)

In many workplaces, the chemicals used are often mixtures of different chemicals, or they may be contaminated with small traces of other chemicals that may be toxic. Both cases make it more difficult to obtain information, since HDSs only give information for pure chemicals, not mixtures, and contaminants are rarely given on a label. Chemical mixtures can be particularly dangerous if the substances react together or if they produce synergistic effects.

A label in Spanish would not be suitable for English -speaking workers and vice versa.

E. Training

Effective training is an important means of providing information on chemical hazards. If you work with chemicals, your employer should provide you with training for the chemicals you use. Training should include:

• information on the possible or known hazards of specific chemicals, including any health effects;
• information on how to work safely with the particular chemicals;
• emergency and first-aid measures;
• use and care of any protective equipment that may be necessary;
• how to identify whether control measures are operating effectively;
• how to interpret labels, hazard data sheets and other hazard information provided on the chemicals.

Training is essential for new workers and existing workers should receive refresher courses periodically. It is recommended that your union work together with the employer in developing and planning company-sponsored training programmes to make sure they are effective.

Training is essential for new workers. Existing workers should receive refresher courses periodically.

F. Workplace inspection

One of the other ways of identifying chemical hazards in the workplace is by keeping a record of complaints from co-workers: an increased amount of sickness or strange symptoms among workers; etc. These indicators could tell you there is a need to identify and investigate particular chemical hazards in the workplace. Air monitoring can tell you what the levels of chemicals are in the workplace but it can be extremely difficult  to get both the monitoring equipment and the trained personnel. Another effective way to identify hazards is to do an inspection of your workplace, noting all chemicals used and the positions of workers, machines, ventilation (windows, etc.), storage areas, etc. (you may find it helpful to make a simple diagram of the workplace).

Note: Even if air monitoring is done, you should still do the inspection because it will provide you with information air monitoring cannot give you.

Try to answer the following questions during your inspection:

1. What chemicals are used in your workplace, including the various work processes and in maintenance work? Try to get information from container or drum labels and hazard data sheets.

2. What are the exact names of the chemicals? Try to find out both the trade names and the chemical names.

3. How long has each chemical been in use and how often is it used? For example, is it used only on certain shifts? This information is important because you may find a connection between the use of a chemical and certain workers who have health complaints.

4. How many workers are exposed to the chemical and for how long?

5. Have any workers noticed any health changes that might be connected to the use of certain chemicals?

6. Where is the chemical used and how is it stored?

7. What is the chemical used for cleaning, spraying, etc.?

8. Is it a solid, liquid, gas? Does it change its form during use (from wood to sawdust, for example)?

9. What do your senses tell you — can you see, smell or feel the chemical? Does it irritate your eyes, give you headaches, etc.?

10. What measures have been introduced to prevent exposure to the chemical hazard?

G. Medical surveillance

If you work with chemicals, your employer should make sure that you are in a company-sponsored medical surveillance programme.

• An effective medical surveillance programme should detect any early signs of health effects that may be related to the substances you work with. Medical surveillance includes pre-employment and periodic medical examinations.
• Pre-employment medical examinations help to identify “vulnerable” workers who should then be assigned to jobs or workplaces where their health will not be at risk. For example, workers with a history of lung diseases should not be employed in dusty areas. (As stated earlier, all jobs should be safe enough so that even “vulnerable” workers will not suffer ill health effects.)
• Periodic examinations help detect early symptoms of occupational diseases (which will be a clear sign that control measures are not effective).
• Medical examinations (pre-employment and periodic) should include biological monitoring, which includes blood and urine testing for traces of chemicals and biological indicators of chemical exposure.

If your employer will not sponsor a medical surveillance programme, then your union may want to take on this responsibility.

If you work with chemicals then you should be in a company-sponsored medical surveillance programme.

H. Other sources of information

Besides your employer, the chemical manufacturer or the supplier, there are other sources that may be able to help you get information on specific chemicals:

• your union
• the local factory or labour inspectorate
• local colleges or universities
• the local fire department
• your local library
• the Ministry of Labour
• International Trade Secretariats (ITSs)
• the International Labour Organization (ILO)

See the links to international and national information sources.

CHEMICALS

Reference books are another source of information. Texts on occupational health and safety may be available at your union headquarters, a labour college, public libraries or at the Ministry of Labour. Three books in particular are useful reference sources:

1. ILO encyclopaedia of occupational health and safety, 4th edition, Geneva, ILO, 1993, 2 volumes.

2. N.I. Sax: Dangerous properties of industrial materials, New York, Van Nostrand, 7th edition, 1988.

3. J.M. Stellman and S.M. Dawn: Work is dangerous to your health, New York, Random House, 1973.

I. Using information

Once you identify the chemical hazards in your workplace, the next step is to reduce or eliminate them altogether. There are a number of ways to work towards this goal using the information you collect.

• Discuss the results of your inspection with your co-workers or the health and safety committee. Do you see any patterns? Are there any gaps in your information? Can you think of ways to fill those gaps?
• Use the information to educate your co-workers about chemical hazards.
• A safety committee can use the information to set priorities.
• You can use information on chemical hazards as the basis for collective bargaining demands.

The role of a health and safety representative dealing with chemicals.

Points to remember about obtaining and using information about industrial chemicals

It is important to obtain adequate information about the chemicals you work with and use it to improve conditions in the workplace. There are various sources of health and safety information on the chemicals in your workplace: your employer, the chemical manufacturer or supplier, hazard data sheets, labels, training programmes, inspections, reference books, your union, the local factory or labour inspectorate, local colleges or universities, the local fire department, your local library, the Ministry of Labour, International Trade Secretariats (ITSs), or the International Labour Organization (ILO). It is best to use a combination of information sources. Health and safety information on chemical substances is public, so you have the right to ask for the facts. Your employer should provide you with the information you need to work safely with chemicals. Health and safety representatives should try to insist that the employer obtains information from the chemical manufacturer or supplier and make it available to the workers. If your employer will not get the necessary information you need, then you or your union may want to write directly to the chemical manufacturer and request the information. Hazard data sheets are good sources of information on chemicals but they have limitations. Labels on chemical containers or drums are another source of information. However, labels may also have limitations. Effective training is an important means of providing information on chemical hazards. Your employer should provide you with training specific for the chemicals you use. Training is essential for all workers. Your union should try to work together with the employer in developing and planning company-sponsored training programmes. An effective way to identify hazards is to do an inspection of your workplace. If you work with chemicals, your employer should make sure that you are in a company-sponsored medical surveillance programme which includes pre-employment and periodic examinations. If your employer will not sponsor a medical surveillance programme, then your union may want to take on this responsibility. Once you have identified chemical hazards, the next step is to reduce or eliminate them altogether. There are a number of ways to work towards this goal using the information you collect.

V. Role of the health and safety representative

Health and safety representative

If there are hazardous chemicals in your workplace, it is particularly important for you to work proactively (to take action before there are health problems or accidents) to help prevent workers from being exposed. Actions should be directed at making sure that proper control measures are in place, ensuring that workers are informed and trained on how to work safely with chemical substances, and at reducing or eliminating chemical hazards altogether.

Use the Chemicals check-list at the back of this Module to help you assess the chemicals used in your workplace. Here are some steps to help you reach your goals:

1. You have a better chance of protecting workers and eliminating hazards if you work with an informed employer. Therefore, as you learn more about chemical hazards in your workplace, you may need to educate your employer as well as your co-workers.

2. Health and safety information on chemical substances is public, therefore it is your right to ask for the facts.

3. If you have written to a chemical manufacturer for information on substances they produce and have not received a response after a reasonable period of time, then you may want to recommend to the employer that he or she stops using the chemical. At that point you may want to start looking for safer alternatives to the original chemical.

4. It is recommended that health and safety representatives keep a hazard data sheet (HDS) on each chemical used in the workplace, as well as HDSs or other information on any possible contaminants or chemical by-products.

5. Try to work together with the employer in developing and planning the content of company-sponsored worker training programmes. Some unions have been able to negotiate contract language that requires their approval on the content and teaching methods used in company training programmes. Your union's involvement will help to ensure good quality training programmes and help to protect workers' health in the long term.

6. Work with the union and the employer to make sure the atmosphere in the workplace is monitored regularly for levels of hazardous chemicals. Ask for the results of the monitoring. If the employer or union does not have personnel trained to do air monitoring, then the local factory inspectorate may be able to help you.

7. There are a number of ways to determine whether workers are being exposed to unsafe levels of chemicals. You can consult a variety of resources, request air monitoring to be done, check labels and HDSs, request the results of biological and medical monitoring (with the permission of the workers being monitored), conduct worksite inspections, talk to co-workers and find out if they have health complaints that may be related to chemical use, etc.

8. Work together with your union and employer to make changes based on the results of your investigations.

9. Are workers paid “dirt” or “danger” money to do particularly hazardous jobs in your workplace? If so, is the money a substitute for health? Unions should try to eliminate this practice. Particularly hazardous jobs should either be eliminated altogether or made safer with engineering controls.

10. Try to get your employer to provide laundry facilities so workers do not have to launder their work clothes at home. Workers should be educated about the importance of washing work clothes separately and not with the family's clothes. This is particularly important if workers receive laundry money from the employer.

VI. Summary

Chemicals are used in virtually every occupation today, even though very little is known about the damaging effects they may cause to humans and the environment. Toxic substances come in many different forms and can cause a variety of health effects, from skin rashes to cancer. Working with chemicals can be dangerous, therefore all workers should be well protected against hazardous substances. However, eliminating hazardous substances from the workplace is still the best method of prevention, even if adequate control measures are used. Information on industrial chemicals is vital and should be obtained from your employer or from the manufacturer of the chemical. Get the facts on chemicals from as many sources of information as possible because most sources have some limitations. Unions can use information in different ways. They can use information to educate workers about hazards, to help a health and safety committee set priorities, or to form the basis for collective bargaining demands. These uses of information are steps towards creating workplaces that are safe for all workers.

Exercise 1: Mapping the chemical risks
in your workplace and planning for action

MAKE A MAP OF YOUR WORKPLACE

Note to the instructor

The purpose of this exercise is:

• to identify the locations in the workplace where workers may be exposed to chemicals;
• to discuss how chemicals are used during specific work activities and what control measures are or should be in place;
• to discuss how chemicals get into the body while at work;
• to discuss strategies for action that workers and unions can take to prevent exposure to chemical hazards;
• to develop an action plan.

For this exercise, you will need to provide trainees with large pieces of paper, some markers and some tape to stick the maps to the walls.

For this exercise, you can choose one of these models or make up one of your own:

1. Workers from the same workplace can work together on one map.

2. If everyone is from the same workplace, then trainees can work in groups of three to five people and create several maps of the same workplace.

3. If everyone is from a different workplace, then trainees can make their own individual maps, or they can work together in small groups and make group maps of the chemical risks in their workplace and their plan for action.

Instructions

Ask the trainees to draw a map (a floor plan) of their work area, indicating the major work processes and where chemical hazards might be located.

Ask trainees to write or draw answers to the following questions on their maps:

1. In which locations are workers exposed to chemicals?

2. If you know what chemicals are used in the different work processes, write them on the map next to the place(s) where they are used.

3. How are the chemicals used during specific work activities?

4. What control measures are in place?

5. What control measures should be in place?

6. What are the different ways these chemicals can get into the body during the work process?

7. Have you or any of your co-workers experienced any health problems which you think may be related to chemicals? Write the symptoms next to the work process which may be causing the problems.

8. Which areas do you think are the most hazardous?

9. What actions can you and your union take to make these areas safer?

Once trainees have completed their maps, ask for volunteers to put their maps on the wall and indicate to the class which areas may be hazardous. Ask trainees to describe any controls that are used or that should be used. Discuss with the class strategies for action to improve the most hazardous areas. Trainees should then move on to develop an action plan.

PLAN A STRATEGY FOR ACTION

Instructions

Each trainee or small group of trainees should complete an action plan. For this exercise you will need to give each trainee or group of trainees a copy of the list of questions below.

Having identified the most hazardous areas, trainees should choose one problem that they want to work on first. The first step is to analyse the problem and answer the following questions:

1. What obstacles might you face when you try to make improvements in the situation?

2. Who will support you?

3. What can you do to involve other union members in your plan or to convince the union leadership to help you?

Answer the following questions to help you develop your action plan.

1. What are your immediate goals?

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2. What are your long-term goals?

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3. Who might help you?

(a) What information do you have access to?

(b) Is there a network for communicating with workers and the union?

(c) What are your chances for success?

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4. What barriers might you face in working with management?

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5. What are the first few steps you plan to take toward achieving your goals?

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Exercise 2: Case-study on chemical hazards

Note to the instructor For this exercise, you will need to give each trainee or each group of trainees a copy of the following materials included in the exercise: the case-study; the list of facts about TCA; Figures 1 and 2 (either give out copies or pass your copy around the class); the list of suggested solutions. If you cannot make copies, then read the case-study and other information to the class. Instructions Trainees should work in small groups of three to five people. They should read the case-study with their group, then answer the questions together with the group. Ask them to write down possible solutions and then look at the list of suggested solutions attached to the case-study. Can they add to the list? The problem In workplace XYZ, a number of workers dip machine parts into a degreasing tank for eight hours a day. The process uses a common solvent called 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA). There are no engineering controls around the degreasing tank, there is no local exhaust ventilation, and workers are not provided with any personal protective equipment. The workers have never received any information or training about the substance in the tank. A number of workers on the degreasing process have complained of headaches, dizziness, nausea and drowsiness. Most of the workers say that the symptoms disappear in the evening but return when they go back to work in the morning. They also notice that they do not experience these symptoms during weekends and holidays. The health and safety representative is very concerned because the management has threatened to dismiss several of the workers, claiming that they have been drunk on the job. What short-term and long-term solutions can you suggest for this problem? Facts about TCA TCA looks like water and has a mild sweet odour similar to that of chloroform or ether. TCA is much heavier than air, so it can collect in very high concentrations in the degreasing tank. TCA most commonly affects the nervous system, causing headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and symptoms similar to drunkenness. TCA can also irritate the eyes, nose and skin.

Figure 1. An uncovered degreasing tank releasing vapours into the work area and a covered degreasing tank which contains the vapours.

Figure 2. A degreasing tank before and after local ventilation is applied.
	BEFORE	AFTER

You can refer to the Module Controlling hazards for information to apply to this case-study.

Here are some suggested solutions.

Short-term solutions

1. Find a safer substitute for the chemical. Something as simple as soap solutions may work in the short term.

2. Isolate the work process by moving it to a well ventilated area.

3. Enclosure: cover the tanks when they are not being used. This will prevent vapours from escaping into the air.

4. Install fans behind the tank so that the vapours will be pushed away from the workers' breathing area.

5. Insist that the employer provide respirators and protective clothing, including gloves, aprons and face shields for protection against splashes, for the workers.

6. Administrative controls: rotate workers so their exposure time is decreased.

Long-term solutions

1. Eliminate the chemical altogether.

2. Engineering controls: effective local exhaust ventilation - hoods or flexible suction hoses - should be installed to draw the vapours away from the worker.

3. Make sure the work process is performed only in a well ventilated area.

4. Ask management for information on the chemical.

5. Write to the chemical manufacturer for information on the chemical.

6. Insist that the employer provide information and training to the workers.

7. Negotiate contract language that gives workers the right to refuse extremely dangerous work.

Exercise 3: Making a hazard data sheet

Note to the instructor For this exercise, you will need to give a copy of the list of questions to each trainee. Trainees can do this exercise individually or in groups. Instructions Using any reference material available (books, labels, etc.), trainees should make up a hazard data sheet on any chemical they work with by answering as many of the following questions as possible. When everyone has completed the form, discuss some of the hazard data sheets with the whole class. Some trainees may need to report back to the class at a later time after they have talked to fellow workers or even management for some of the answers. Questions 1. Trade name of chemical ............................................................................................................................... 2. Chemical name ............................................................................................................................... 3. Manufacturer (address) ............................................................................................................................... 4. Has the supplier or manufacturer provided information on use of chemical? If so, try to get a copy ............................................................................................................................... 5. Brief description of way in which chemical is used ............................................................................................................................... 6. What form is the chemical in (dust, liquid,etc.)? ............................................................................................................................... 7. How long has it been used? ............................................................................................................................... 8. How many workers are exposed? ............................................................................................................................... 9. Have any complaints been received? If so, how many? ............................................................................................................................... 10. Are any recommendations given for the safe use of the chemical? (Give details) ............................................................................................................................... 11. What precautions are recommended for transportation, handling or safe storage? ............................................................................................................................... 12. Is the substance toxic? (Give details) ............................................................................................................................... 13. Is the substance flammable? (Give details) ............................................................................................................................... 14. What are the likely routes of entry? ............................................................................................................................... 15. What are the known or suspected acute and chronic effects of the chemical? ............................................................................................................................... 16. What are the recommended control measures? ............................................................................................................................... 17. Have all workers been informed of the dangers of using this substance and the precautions they need to take? ............................................................................................................................... 18. What first-aid procedures are necessary? ............................................................................................................................... 19. What waste disposal methods are recommended? ..............................................................................................................................

Chemicals check-list

Note to the instructor Provide each trainee with a copy of the check-list and instructions. Instructions Read through the check-list and spend some time familiarizing yourself with the workplace before starting to check. Decide on the work areas to be checked. If your workplace is a small enterprise then the whole production area can be checked. If it is a larger enterprise, particular work areas can be selected which you may want to check separately. You may want to make copies of this check-list if you have different work areas to check. Read each item on the check-list. As you fill out the check-list, ask fellow workers (and the foreman) questions if necessary. After you have completed the check-list, look at the items you marked “NO”. Identify those items that require immediate attention and mark them as “PRIORITY”. Discuss the priority areas with your union and with the health and safety committee if you have one. Try to plan strategies for improving the high-priority problem areas.

When evaluating your workplace, check for the following: