Chapter 8 - Working with hazardous materials

Abstract

Working with hazardous materials and wastes pose serious safety and health threats to workers and the environment. Any health and safety program in a work environment should define the exposure of workers to chemical, biological hazards, and exposure to physical stresses (such as noise, heat, and mechanical dangers) as well as affording the necessary safeguards and protection. Work environments have either potential or actual hazards requiring recognition, identification, measurement, monitoring, and/or protection. Evaluating the occupational environment requires recognizing potential hazards, conducting field surveys, and data interpretation prior to implementing protection and control methods. Risks or hazards require knowledge of raw materials, how materials are handled and modified during processing, materials evaluation, and conditions that exist during manufacturing. The first step in recognizing environmental factors from which occupational hazards arise is familiarization with the materials, plant, and work operations. Processing and handling must be assessed under normal conditions as well as anticipated or even catastrophic conditions. The potentially hazardous nature of conditions and materials must be determined before, during, and after their use.