Chemicals may enter the body through four significant routes:
- Inhalation (breathing) – The most common way workplace chemicals enter the body.
- Skin contact – Some chemicals by direct or indirect contact can damage the skin or pass through the skin and into the bloodstream.
- Ingestion – Workplace chemicals can be accidentally swallowed if food, drink or even cigarettes are contaminated.
- Injection – Injection may occur when a sharp object like a needle punctures the skin and injects a chemical directly into the bloodstream.
Once the chemical has entered the body, it can be distributed anywhere in the body by the bloodstream. Regardless of the way the chemical enters the body, it can attack and harm any organ.
Effects of chemicals on the body
Some exposure to chemicals may result in immediate injuries such as chemical burns, while some exposure takes a toll over time. If repeated over the years of employment, even relatively minor chemical exposures can lead to life-changing medical conditions.
What are common injuries due to chemical exposure in the workplace?
Harmful chemicals and substances in the workplace are responsible for a large number of chronic illnesses and deaths that can be untraceable. This is due to the symptoms appearing after many years after the exposure instead of suddenly. Other injuries include:
- Burns
- Rashes
- Throat or lung injuries
- Nerve and neurological injuries
Tips to help prevent chemical exposure
- Substitute irritating workplace substances with more skin-friendly substances.
- Implement technical measures to reduce skin contact, such as capsuling machinery to avoid splashes on the skin.
- Rotate job positions among employees to limit more intense exposure to harsh environments.
- Wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks to prevent skin contact.
What are your rights if you are exposed to chemicals in the workplace?
- Receive workplace safety and health training in a language that is understood
- Be equipped with machines and other forms of equipment that are safe. If you believe that your work environment is unsafe or unhealthful, you may file a complaint with OSHA and request an inspection.
- Employers are required to equip workers with safety equipment, such as gloves and harnesses, and lifeline for falls.
- Be able to report an injury or illness and get copies of medical records. In addition, have the ability to review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
- See results of tests taken to find workplace hazards
10 steps to prepare before conducting CHRA
- Find out whether your company has an existing CHRA report. Check the expiry date and make plans for renewal minimum 3 months before expiry.
- Compile a chemical list according to work areas including those in supporting activities such as maintenance and scheduled waste. Develop Chemical Register as per DOSH format. For those who already have the Chemical register, update the list. Check with process owners.
- Compile Safety Data Sheet all for chemicals that are listed in the updated Chemical Register.
- Compile any documents that may relate to chemical usage in your company such as process flow, lay out drawing, training records, exposure monitoring reports, medical surveillance reports etc.
- Identify a DOSH registered CHRA Assessor to conduct CHRA at your place. Criteria to check besides the PRICING, are (6), (7) and (8).
- Request a valid license of the assessor (request them to show the license)
- Put priority on an assessor that is familiar with your type of industry so that the assessment is more accurate and practical.
- Ask around your SHO network to recommend an assessor so that you can pick a quality assessor without having to experience the bad ones. Quality assessor means quality content of a report.
- During site assessment, check whether the assessor him/herself came to site for site walk and NOT sending his/her representative for site visit. REMEMBER: You are buying their skill to conduct CHRA. No replacement of skill is possible when it comes to qualitative assessment.
- After the assessment process is completed, ask the assessor to give a target date for their report presentation and submission. Don’t let them drag you too long unless you are the one that cannot furnish them with the information required to complete the report.
