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Chemical Hazard

Hazardous chemicals in the workplace are substances, mixtures and materials that can be
classified according to their health and physicochemical risks and dangers. Health
hazards include skin irritants, carcinogens or respiratory sensitisers that have an adverse
effect on a worker's health as a result of direct contact with or exposure to the chemical,
usually through inhalation, skin contact or ingestion. Physicochemical hazards generally
result from a substance's physical and chemical properties, as is the case with flammable,
corrosive, oxidising or explosive substances (Australian Government Comcare, 2016).

While the approach to defining hazardous chemicals varies by regulatory agency, consider these four basic
types of chemical hazards:

Definition Examples
Hazard Types

Flammable Material that will burn or ignite, causing fire or

combustion. An ignitable chemical has a flashpoint Flammables:methanol, acetonitrile,
less than 100° F. A combustible material will burn, but spray adhesive/mount
require a flame or elevated temperature plus a spark Combustible: diesel fuel, mineral
to start them; and has a flashpoint greater than 100° F spirits
but less than 200° F.

Corrosive
Chemical that causes visible destruction of, or
irreversible alterations in, living tissue by chemical
acetic acid, sodium hydroxide,
action at the site of contact.
photographic fixer
pH < 2 and pH > 12.5

Reactive
Material that reacts violently or explodes under either
ambient conditions or when in contact with air,
Oxidizers: nitric acid
water, or other chemicals.
Organic Peroxides:benzoyl
peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone
Oxidizers: materials that react strongly with organic
peroxide
materials, sometimes strongly enough to start fires
Water Reactive:sodium metal,
Organic Peroxides: form friction and shock-sensitive
sodium borohydride
explosives
Air Reactive: silane, t-butyl lithium
Water Reactive: react violently with water
Explosive: TNT, picric acid
Air Reactive (pyrophoric): react violently with air
Explosive: designed to explode violently
 Definition Examples
Hazard Types

Material that may cause harm to an individual if it

Toxic enters the body.
Carcinogen:benzene, carbon
tetrachloride
Carcinogen: a substance or agent that may cause
Mutagen: bromine
cancer
Poison: sodium azide, powdered
Mutagen: An agent that can induce or increase the
pigments and inks (may contain
frequency of mutation in an organism
toxic metals such as chromium and
Poison: any substance that can impair function,
barium)
cause structural damage, or otherwise injure the body
Sensitizer:formaldehyde, phenol
Sensitizer: a substance that causes hypersensitivity or
Teratogen: PCBs, mercury
reactivity to an antigen, such as pollen, especially by a
second or repeated exposure.
Teratogen: An agent that causes malformation of an
embryo or fetus.

Irritant Material that can cause harm to an individual in the

following ways:

Irritant: a substance that can irritate the skin or eyes Powdered substances often have
Skin Sensitizer: a substance which can cause an the irritant symbol.
allergic response following skin contact
Acute Toxicity (harmful): a substance that may be
fatal or cause organ damage from a single short-term
exposure
Narcotic Effect: A substance that can cause
drowsiness, lack of coordination, and dizziness
Hazardous to Ozone Layer (Non-Mandatory)

Environmental
Hazard

Oils and oily debris can be in this

Toxic to aquatic animals.
class of hazards.
Biological Hazard
Biological hazards are organic substances that pose a threat to the health of humans and other
living organisms. Biological hazards include pathogenic micro-organisms, viruses, toxins (from
biological sources), spores, fungi and bio-active substances. Biological hazards can also be
considered to include biological vectors or transmitters of disease. Worldwide, it is estimated that
around 320 000 workers die each year from communicable diseases caused by work-related
exposures to biological hazards (Driscoll et al. 2005; OSHA 2007).

 Human blood and blood products. This includes items that have been
contaminated with blood and other body fluids or tissues that contain visible
blood.
 Animal waste. Animal carcasses and body parts, or any bedding material used
by animals that are known to be infected with pathogenic organisms.
 Human body fluids. Semen, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, vaginal
secretions, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva, and peritoneal fluid.
 Microbiological wastes. Common in laboratory settings, examples of
microbiological wastes include specimen cultures, disposable culture dishes,
discarded viruses, and devices us ed to transfer or mix cultures.
 Pathological waste. Unfixed human tissue (excluding skin), waste biopsy
materials, and anatomical parts from medical procedures or autopsies.
 Sharps waste. Needles, glass slides and cover slips, scalpels, and IV tubing
that have the needle attached.

Sources: https://www.comcare.gov.au/preventing/hazards/chemical_hazards

http://www.uvm.edu/safety/lab/chemical-hazards

https://www.comcare.gov.au/preventing/hazards/biological_hazards

https://www.aftermath.com/content/biohazard-examples

Date Retrieve: July 7, 2018