Dangerous Substances and

Chemical Safety
Dangerous substances and
chemical safety
• Learning outcomes
– identify the hazards associated with working with chemicals
and dangerous substances and the general safety precautions.
Definition of Dangerous Substance
• Cap 59AB, Factories and Industrial Undertakings
(Dangerous Substances) Regulations, Reg (2)
• any listed substance or a dangerous mixture
Definition of Dangerous mixture
• Cap 59AB, Factories and Industrial Undertakings
(Dangerous Substances) Regulations, Reg (2)
• any mixture or preparation containing-
(a) > 1% by weight of any toxic substance(s);
(b) > 10% by weight of any harmful substance(s); or
(c) such proportion of any other listed substance or substances as
makes that mixture a corrosive, explosive, flammable, irritant or
oxidizing mixture;
Cap 59AB, Factories and Industrial Undertakings
(Dangerous Substances) Regulations, Reg (4)
• These regulations apply to any dangerous substance that is
present in a specified industrial undertaking for
– the purpose of,
– in connection with,
– or as a result of,
• any industrial process or operation, but do not apply to a
substance that is in the process of undergoing chemical
change or of being mixed or compounded with another
substance.
Explosive Mixture
• a mixture that may explode under
the effect of flame
• in itself capable by chemical
reaction of producing gas at such
temperature and pressure, and
with speed as to cause damage
to the surrounding
• e.g.
– Ammonium Dichromate
(Fireworks)
– Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide
MEKP (catalyst to initiate the
crosslinking of polyester)

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 Oxidizing Mixture
• Gives rise to highly exothermic
reaction when in contact with other
substances, particularly flammable
substance
• e.g.
– Potassium Permanganate
Flammable substance + Oxidizing Mixture = Explosive reaction!
Alcohol + Potassium permanganate = Explosive reaction!
CH3CH2OH + 2Mn2O7  4MnO2 + 2CO2 + 3H2O

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huQ9kwzS8gk
Flammable Mixture
• may become hot and catch fire in contact with air at ambient temp
without any application of energy;
• in contact with water or damp air, evolves
highly flammable gases in dangerous
quantities; or
• is a liquid having a flash point* below 66
̊C
• e.g.
– Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) heating food in
catering industry
– Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) medical wipes, hand
sanitizer
– Isopropyl Alcohol (Propanol)

*The lowest temperature at which such liquid will give off vapour which 8
will ignite or explode if mixed with air and exposed to a naked light
Toxic Substance
• any listed substance classified as toxic
• Involves serious acute or chronic health risk or even death if
inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin
• E.g.
– Mercury
– Chlorine
– Nitrobenzene

Harmful Substance
• any listed substance classified as harmful
• Involve limited health risk if inhaled, ingested or absorbed
through skin
• E.g.
– Sodium Hydrosulphite
– Turpentine

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Corrosive Mixture
• its mixture may on contact with living
tissues cause severe damage to them.
• E.g.
– Strong acids - Sulphuric acid
– Strong Base - Sodium hydroxide

Irritant Mixture
• Cause inflammation of skin or mucous
membrane through immediate, prolonged or
repeated contact
 e.g.
 Ammonia solution with at least 10% but not more
than 35%
 Hydrochloric acid at least 10% but not more than
25% 10
7 categories of dangerous substances under
F&IU (Dangerous Substances) Regulation
Chemical Label
• A proper chemical label
should include:
– the name of dangerous
substance,
– risk symbol,
– particular risks and
– safety precautions.
• Size of label depends on
the capacity of the
container.
• Two relevant symbols
should be shown if a
chemical has two
dangerous characteristics
Minimising Chemical Risks
1. Elimination
– eliminate the process using hazardous chemical
• (most of the time cannot be done)

ESCAPE
Minimising Chemical Risks
2. Substitution
– hazardous chemical replaced by less hazardous
– cancer causing (Vinyl Chloride monomer)

ESCAPE
Minimising Chemical Risks
3. Engineering Control
– local exhaust system
– mechanical ventilation
– total enclosure

Any problem in this picture?

Minimising Chemical Risks
4. Administrative Control
– good house keeping
• storage / transportation
– control of waste
– training / supervision

ESCAPE
Minimising Chemical Risks
5. Personal protection
– Safety shoes, gloves and face
shield should be used

ESCAPE
Minimising Chemical Risks
6. Emergency preparedness
– Setup procedures on how to handle
• Leakage of chemicals
• Chemical spill
• Chemical burn, etc.
Reference
Hong Kong e-Legislation:
• Cap 59AB, Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Dangerous
Substances) Regulations.

Labour Department:
• Hazards During Chemicals in Use and Safety Guidelines
• A Guide to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Dangerous
Substances) Regulations

Occupation Safety and Health Council:

• Chemical Safety 2017
END