Chemical industry

Chlorine is a toxic gas. Nevertheless, it is used for many tasks, e.g. for disinfection in swimming baths. Changing the gas cylinders has to be done very carefully, but without fear. This short safety instruction can be used to highlight specific aspects of handling gas cylinders especially in public swimming bath. The safety briefing set enables superiors to share their knowledge about safe working to their subordinates and colleagues, especially with vulnerable groups.

Working with hazardous substances may be dangerous for safety and health. Therefore, at least some basic information is required. This short safety instruction can be used to highlight specific aspects of handling hazardous substances at the workplace, in particular for small and mediumsized enterprises. The safety briefing set enables superiors to share their knowledge about safe working to their subordinates and colleagues, especially with vulnerable groups.

This booklet provides useful information about: 

• use of carcinogenic and/or mutagenic chemicals at workplaces
• management of the risks related to exposure to such chemicals.

Maintenance is part of the usual business in process plants. As indicated in various legal and technical standards, the instruction of workers for safety topics is crucial. In practice, it is very difficult to ensure safety. The accident rate of maintenance work is still a major focus point. 

Several national institutions have developed specific operational tools to support – especially SMEs – in carrying out a correct evaluation and management of chemical risk . These tools make the necessary information for an effective implementation of the two current EU reference regulations available  (1907/2006 - REACH  Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals and 1272/2008 CLP - Classification, Labelling, Packaging).

The factsheet regards exposure to chemicals by dermal absorption.  

Chemicals, even if not irritating and corrosive, may be absorbed in significant amounts through large contact areas of non-damaged skin: their systemic toxic effects cannot be prevented only by environmental monitoring; besides, damaged skin requires more precautions. 

Safe storage of chemicals is not only relevant in chemical plants; the products in the following examples are also chemicals:

• Paint and varnishes of a painter workshop,
• Cleaning and disinfecting agents of a cleaning company,
• Oils, solvents and thinners in a repair shop,
• Building foams, cement residue remover of a construction company,
• Gas bottles with acetylene, oxygen, liquefied gases of a locksmith.

As indicated in various legal and technical standards, the instruction of workers for safety topics is crucial.

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are important evaluation criteria for determining possible exposure of dangerous chemical substances and the appropriate technical, organisational, and, in certain cases, personal protective measures at the workplace. Depending on the hazard potential of substances or on the possible exposure route, different states and communities have developed different procedures for determining limit values and additional notations.

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The characterization/labeling of chemicals is an important requirement for an unambiguous hazard communication. However, there are differences between putting chemicals on the market and the activities with chemicals in the enterprise. In the brochure the legal duties of the entrepreneur regarding both fields as well as recommendations for the practical implementation for the user have been put together.

Sorry, this article is only available in the original german version.

The information “buy extraction units – but in the right way!” (I 7006-2) is very new and supports enterprises to consider important data before buying extraction units.

How are chemicals stored safely? This question is not only relevant in chemical plants. The products in the following examples are also chemicals:

• Paint and varnishes of a painter workshop
• Cleaning and disinfecting agents of a cleaning company
• Oils, solvents and thinners in a repair shop
• Building foams, cement residue remover of a construction company
• Gas bottles with acetylene, oxygen, liquefied gases of a locksmith

This brochure shall give a practical guide to where and how chemicals should be kept, in particular for small and mediumsized enterprises.

Mis-Identification of chemicals is a key problem for production plants specialising in batch processing, such as are commonly encountered in the fine-chemicals and pharmaceutical industries. In this publication, hazards resulting from the mis-identification of chemicals are presented and preventive measures are described.

The "Dangerous Substances" working group within the Chemistry Section of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), in cooperation with BG RCI Prevention Section, has prepared several posters based on the European draft regulation. These posters show the new hazard pictograms and a comparison of existing and future hazard communication in terms of both physical hazards and health risks.

This brochure is focussed on hazards that are associated with maintenance and changes. It presents case studies and practical solutions to control such hazards.