Techniques for protecting operatives against hazards encountered in many factories. Many industries still use organic solvents or preparations containing them in a range of products, including adhesives, primers, cleaners, degreasers, inks and finishing agents.
Exposure to these solvents can have serious health effects on the human body. Factory managers and supervisors need to be aware of the hazards involved and know how to ensure workers are protected from them. While the health risk will partly depend upon the toxicity of a particular solvent, the way in which a product is handled is also critical.
The specific legislation, which governs the maximum solvent exposure limits, will vary from country to country. The three ways that solvents can enter the body are by inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. Volatile solvents will rapidly form a vapour in air, which can be inhaled and then passed into the bloodstream through the lungs. Solvents may also be ingested when a worker touches food or cigarettes with contaminated fingers.
The skin may also absorb solvents on contact and these will travel through the bloodstream, possibly affecting the whole body.
Once inside the body, solvents can cause short-term effects or long-term problems after repeated exposure. The typical effects of a single short-term exposure can include headaches, drowsiness, poor co-ordination, nausea and dermatitis.
The exact solvents in each product will be listed on its material safety data sheet MSDS as well as on the label. They can harm many parts of your body including your brain, skin, liver, kidneys and respiratory system. Like drinking alcohol, most are central nervous system depressants. Exposure over many years may also harm your liver. Autobody workers are usually exposed to solvents by inhaling them but you can also be exposed if solvents come in direct contact with your skin. Many solvents will pass right through your skin.
Solvents will also remove the oils in your skin, leaving your hands very dry and cracked, if your skin comes in direct contact with a solvent, or is immersed in solvent. Skip to Main Content Solvents. Open cans, spills and contaminated tools can all put solvents into the air. How to prevent harmful health effects from chemicals: You should eliminate or reduce the hazard to prevent harmful heatlh types. Some preventative measures include: Engineering Controls isolating or removing the hazard : Enclose process Provide local exhaust Administrative Practices Time work so fewer workers are exposed Work upwind of mixing operations Shower after shift Change clothes No food or smoking in work areas Personal Protective Equipment Eye Protection Depending on the job you are doing and the type of material you are handling, you may need various levels of eye protection including: safety glasses chemical safety goggles a face shield, or some combination of these.
No single material acts as a barrier to all chemicals. Selecting the best respirator for you can be quite complicated. Creating Respiratory Protection Guidelines: A qualified person must carry out a detailed assessment of your workplace including all chemicals used and their airborne concentrations and forms. Complete respiratory protection guidelines generally cannot be given on the SDS. Acute and Chronic Effects of Workplace Hazards Workplace hazards can have serious effects on the body, both immediate and long-term, referred to as acute and chronic.
Chronic effects become apparent only after many years and are not treatable. Chronic disease becomes evident only after severe damage has occurred.
Exposure limits Exposure limits have been developed for various hazardous materials to protect workers, but they should not be treated as a fine line between safe and unsafe workplaces. Not all individuals react in the same manner to the same amount of harmful materials. Want to learn more about chemical safety? Check out our chemical safety online course! Sign up now. Tags chemical handling chemical routes of entry chemical safety health and safety.
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