Chemicals

Management of Hazardous Substances

This brochure presents the consequences of legislation on the handling of hazardous substances with the focus on health protection in the workplace.

Starting from the European legal framework for the handling of hazardous substances at the workplace, the respective national legal implementations in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain will be shown. The most important laws, regulations, and rules will be briefly outlined.

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Carcinogenic substances

Occupational cancers are the leading cause of death at work in the EU. For more on carcinogenic substances and how to handle them safely see the explainer video of the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board AUVA (www.auva.at/youtube).

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Ready to use hazardous substances?

This brochure explains the most relevant aspects when handling hazardous substances. Using hazardous chemical agents can lead to risks to the safety and health of workers, such as irritation, poisoning, and burns. Long-term effects, emanating, for example, by carcinogenic agents, can cause occupational diseases. Furthermore, chemical agents with physical hazards have the potential to cause accidents like fire and explosion. Chemical agents with hazards for the environment can constitute risks for aquatic life and the ozone layer.

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ISSA-Instruction “Handling hazardous substances: occupational hygiene measures”

This safety instruction points out some important aspects for the safe handling of hazardous substances which may endanger health. In particular, the lessons describe basic occupational hygiene measures and complement the safety instructions on the topic of “Handling hazardous substances". The training tool is intended to assist managers for the personal instruction of employees and to start an open discussion on the topic of occupational safety. The safety briefing set enables superiors to share their knowledge about safe working to their subordinates and colleagues, especially with vulnerable groups.

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ISSA-Instruction “Reactive chemicals and chemical reactions”

This safety instruction points out some aspects of plant and process safety. Chemical reactions often release energy – they are exothermic and produce heat. If this heat is dissipated in a controlled manner, the process is safe. Deviations in the course of the reaction or insufficient cooling may lead to a dangerous runaway reaction. The prerequisites for a safe implementation and management of chemical processes therefore include knowledge and control of the process parameters.

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Formidable Formaldehyde

A HUMAN CARCINOGEN: Formaldehyde — a colourless, highly toxic and flammable gas at room temperature — is a toxic substance widely used in many industries. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in Washington, D.C, formaldehyde is used in glues and resins, dyes, textiles, disinfectants, building materials, automobile parts, embalming and laboratories.

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Operating instructions for enterprises in the pyrotechnic sector

The pyrotechnic sector – including manufacturing, storage and selling of fireworks – is particularly risky and affected by frequent accidents and injuries (usually fatal). Inail, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense, has drawn up the following booklet, whose aim is helping pyrotechnical enterprises – mostly small-sized and artisan ones – to manage occupational safety and health (OSH).

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Occupational exposure to chemicals in dismantled industrial sites

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

Click here for an abstract in English.

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ISSA-Instruction "Handling Chlorine Gas Cylinders"

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.

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ISSA-Instruction "Hazardous Substances"

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.

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IVSS-Video GHS

The "Dangerous Substances" working group within the Chemistry Section of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), in cooperation with BASF SE, has prepared a short video clip explaining the hazard pictograms in terms of both physical hazards and health risks. The video enables superiors to share their knowledge about safe working to their subordinates and colleagues, especially with vulnerable groups.

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ISSA-Instruction Storage of Chemicals

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.

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Dermal absorption of chemicals

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. 

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Occupational Exposure Limits

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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Safe nanotechnology on workplaces

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

Click here for an abstract in English.

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Chemical risk in the building sector. If you know it…you avoid it

This booklet deals with exposure to chemical agents (cement, solvents, adhesives, mineral oils, bituminous products and so on) in the building sector and the related, often underestimated, risks for health and safety of workers. 

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Dangerous chemical agents: instructions for workers

This informative product illustrates the hazards related to the usage of dangerous chemicals, in the light of the latest European and Italian regulations. The product may be used for information and training of workers about chemicals, especially with regard to the new classification and labeling of dangerous substances and mixtures (European Regulation n°1272/2008 - CLP).

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Labelling of Chemicals

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.

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Buy extraction units – but in the right way!

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.

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Storage of Chemicals

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.

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Mis-Identification of chemicals

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.

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ISSA Posters GHS

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.

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Maintenance and Changes in Plants with High Safety Requirements

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

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