User:SpiderBrooke./Chemical hazard

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The Four Major Routes of Exposure[edit source]

 * Inhalation

The most common exposure route to chemicals in the work environment is inhalation. Gas, vapor, mist, dust, fumes, and smoke are all chemicals that can be inhaled. Chemicals are inhaled when a worker breathes in contaminated air through their mouth and or nose and then subsequently into their lungs. Occupations where workers are involved in physical work inhale higher levels of chemicals. Workers who do physical work exchange over 10,000 liters of air over a 8-hour day, while workers who don't do physical work exchange only 2,800 liters. More air exchange means if the air is contaminated workers will be inhaling higher amounts of chemicals.


 * Ingestion

Ingesting chemicals occurs when a worker has chemicals enter their mouth and that chemical is swallowed. Ingesting chemicals commonly occurs when food and drink is contaminated by unwashed hands and personal protective equipment or clothing.


 * Contact with Skin and or Eyes

Chemical exposure to workers skin is a common workplace injury. Chemical exposure to skin most often results in local irritation to the exposed skin. In some exposures the chemical is absorbed through the skin and results in poisoning. Eyes are of high concern for chemical exposure due to their strong sensitivity to chemicals. Chemical exposure to eyes results in irritation and in a large amount of instances loss of vision and burns.


 * Injection

Injection is the most uncommon method of chemical exposure in the workplace. Chemicals can be injected into the skin when a worker is punctured by a sharp object, such as a needle, resulting in the chemical entering directly into the bloodstream.

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Controlling Exposure[edit source]

 * Elimination and Substitution

Chemical exposure has been estimated to have caused approximately 190,000 illnesses and 50,000 deaths of workers annually. The majority of these illnesses and deaths are thought to be caused because of the unknown link between chemical exposure and subsequent illness and or death. The best method to controlling chemical exposure within the work environment is eliminating or substituting the chemical thought or known to cause illness and or death.


 * Engineering Controls

Although eliminating and substituting the chemical thought to or known to cause illness and or death is the best method to controlling exposure, there are other methods that can be implemented as well. Implementing engineering controls is when a physical change is made to the work environment to eliminate or reduce the risk to the targeted chemical exposure. For example, enclosing or isolating the process that creates the chemical hazard.


 * Administrative and Work Practices Controls

If the process that creates the chemical hazard can not be isolated or enclosed the next best method to implement is administrative and work practices controls. This is establishing work practices that reduce the amount of time and how often workers are exposed to the chemical. For example, establishing a work schedule which has workers rotating job assignments.


 * Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Employers should provide personal protective equipment to protect workers from chemicals used in the workplace. The use of PPE prevents workers from being exposed to chemicals through the routes of exposure which are inhalation, absorption through skin and or eyes, ingestion, and injection. For example, to prevent chemical exposure through inhalation a worker would wear a respirator.