Chemical Poisoning and Workplace Exposure Article by Dr.Yashoda Tammineni., HOD,HSE Sr.Faculty NIFS

Chemical Poisoning is exposure to toxic chemicals that can damage their health or endanger their life. Toxic industrial chemicals (TCI) are industrial chemicals that are manufactured, stored, transported, and used throughout the world. Toxic industrial chemicals can be in the gas, liquid, or solid state. They can be chemical hazards (e.g., carcinogens, reproductive hazards, corrosives, or agents that affect the lungs or blood) or physical hazards (e.g., flammable, combustible, explosive, or reactive).

An unexpected release of hazardous substances, or a substantial threat of a hazardous substance release, can pose a significant health and safety risk to workers. Exposures to toxic chemicals pose a wide range of acute (i.e., immediate) and chronic (i.e., long-term) health effects.

How do toxic industrial chemicals affect workers? Many toxic industrial chemicals are highly toxic and may rapidly affect exposed individuals. Toxic industrial chemicals (whether as a gas, aerosol, or liquid) enter the body through inhalation, through the skin, or through digestion. The time that it takes for a toxic industrial chemical to begin working is dependent mainly on the route that the agent enters the body. Generally poisoning occurs more quickly if a chemical enters through the lungs (because of the ability of the agent to rapidly diffuse throughout the body).

Health Effects Adverse health effects are dependent on the factors of the exposure. Factors that play a part in whether or not adverse health effects may result from an exposure are:

- the type of chemical; - the amount or dose (the amount or level of a chemical a person was exposed to); - the duration (how long did exposure occur); and - the frequency (how many times the person was exposed).

Information related to how the chemicals affect humans and symptoms of exposure to specific chemicals can be found in material safety data sheets (MSDS) or chemical information cards.

Ensure protection from toxic industrial chemicals

If you are exposed to a toxic industrial chemicals attack, get away from the impacted area quickly without passing through the contaminated area.

A good way to protect yourself from a toxic industrial chemicals is to wear suitable chemical protective clothing and respiratory protection. However, it must be stressed that this protective equipment does not always work against toxic industrial chemicals. The effectiveness is determined by the materials of construction, the type and level of exposure, and duration of exposure. If you have been exposed to a toxic industrial chemical, consult with your physician as soon as possible. Personal decontamination can be performed by removing contaminated clothing and washing exposed skin with soap and water.

Eye wash during Chemical emergency

Use the emergency eye wash immediately if your eyes are exposed to a hazardous chemical. The first few seconds after exposure to a hazardous chemical (especially a corrosive chemical) are critical. Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may result in irreparable eye damage.

Some kinds of chemical accidents or attacks may make going outdoors dangerous. Leaving the area might take too long or put you in harm's way. In such a case it may be safer for you to stay indoors than to go outside and advise Shelter-in-place.

"Shelter-in-place" during chemical emergency "Shelter-in-place" means to go indoors, close up the building, and wait for the danger to pass. If you are advised to shelter in place, close all doors and windows; turn off fans, air conditioners, and forced-air heating units that bring in fresh air from the outside; only re-circulate air that is already in the building; move to an inner room or basement; and wait until help arrives.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) during chemical emergency During a chemical release, or after a release has occurred with no information available about the duration of the release or the concentration of toxic industrial chemicals, at a minimum, level B protection should be used.

Level B - The highest level of respiratory protection is necessary but a lesser level of skin protection is needed.

The following constitute Level B equipment; it may be used as appropriate.

1. Positive pressure, full-facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), or positive pressure supplied air respirator with escape SCBA . 2. Hooded chemical-resistant clothing (overalls and long-sleeved jacket; coveralls; one or two-piece chemical-splash suit; disposable chemical-resistant overalls). 3. Coveralls. 4. Gloves, outer, chemical-resistant. 5. Gloves, inner, chemical-resistant. 6. Boots, outer, chemical-resistant steel toe and shank. 7. Boot-covers, outer, chemical-resistant (disposable). 8. Hard hat. 9. Face shield. Emergency management Preparation before a potential hazardous substance release is critical to ensuring that employers and workers have the proper equipment, know where to go, and know how to stay safe and healthy in the event of an actual emergency. Employers must adequately prepare emergency response and cleanup workers to clearly understand their role in managing unexpected releases of hazardous substances, so that they can act quickly and respond in a safe manner during an emergency.