Chemical Hazards: What You Need to Know

Some of the chemical hazards that I might have come across at my place of employment as an industrial hygienist include benzene and carbon monoxide among several others. However, the industrial safety and hygiene measures, in this case, would mainly focus on the two substances namely benzene and carbon monoxide. As an industrial hygienist, I would have keen interest in ensuring that the health effects associated with these chemical hazards are properly mitigated. In this this regard, the approach the would be adopted would involve the prevention and control where effective measures of control would be put in place to ensure that workers are adequately protected accidents, diseases, illnesses and injuries. Considering that benzene is highly toxic and carcinogenic, it would be appropriate to ensure that all safety measures are properly observed when handling and storing it at the workplace. 

As such, it would be necessary to ensure that containers carrying benzene are tightly closed and stored in secure places away from hot surfaces and open flames. This measure would assist in preventing accidental explosions that might result in injuries and death of workers. It would be necessary to apply the guidelines provided by permissible exposure limits (PELs) in determining the appropriate occupational exposure limits (OELs) associated with benzene since it is carcinogenic. To that extent, the health effects such as blood cancer associated with benzene would be effectively mitigated. For carbon monoxide, that there are adequate ventilations to the workplace to ensure free circulation of air. Measures would also be put in place to have exhaust systems and equipment that expel carbon monoxide gas directly outside the workplace area. To this extent, any health effects or complications that are associated with carbon monoxide would be mitigated through the general approach of hazard prevention and control initiated by the industrial hygienist or safety officer at the organization.