PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WORK

PLACE CONTAMINANTS
• Volatility –this refers to how easily a contaminant will evaporate into the
air

• Flammability - this refers to how easily a contaminant will burn

Contamination is the presence of a constituent , impurity , or some other

undesirable element that spoils , corrupts , infects , makes unfit .
GROUPS OF PHYSICAL
CONTAMINANTS
• Particulate matter –includes dust, dirt and other tiny particles that can be
breathed in or absorbed through the skin.

• Gases – include fumes ,vapors, and other airborne chemicals that can be
inhaled.

• Liquids –include spills and leaks of hazardous materials which can cause skin
and eye infections.

• Radiation –includes ionizing and non-ionizing which can cause health problems
if not controlled properly.
CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS IN
A WORKPLACE
Points to remember about types of chemicals
found in the workplace
• The physical form of a chemical can affect how it enters your body and, to some extent, the damage it causes.

• The main physical forms of toxic chemicals are solids, dusts, liquids, vapors, and gases.

• Solids are the least likely of the chemical forms to cause chemical poisoning. However, certain chemical solids can cause
poisoning if they are ingested. Personal hygiene is important to prevent the ingestion of chemical solids. Some chemicals in
solid form can give off toxic dusts or vapors which can be inhaled. Effective control measures should be used with chemical
solids, especially during work processes that may change them into more hazardous forms.

• You can be exposed to occupational dust from materials that normally exist in dust form or from work processes that create
dust. The main danger from harmful dusts is that you can inhale them. Once inside your body, dusts can produce a variety of
serious health problems. Under certain conditions dusts can also explode. Effective control measures should be used to keep
occupational dusts at “safe” levels.
• Some liquid chemicals give off vapors which you can inhale and which may be highly toxic, depending on the chemical.
Liquid chemicals can be absorbed by your skin. They can also cause burns or eye damage due to eye splashes. If
absorbed, they can cause skin damage and/or internal (systemic) health effects. Effective control measures should be
used with liquid chemicals to eliminate or reduce the possibility of inhalation and skin exposure.

• Vapors are tiny droplets of liquid suspended in the air. Vapors can be inhaled and, depending on the chemical, can be
highly toxic. Some vapors irritate the eyes and skin. Certain vapors are flammable or explosive. Control measures
should be used to prevent workers from being exposed to vapors from liquids, solids or other chemical forms.

• Some chemicals are in the form of a gas when they are at a normal temperature. However, some liquids and solids
become gases when they are heated. Some gases have strong odours or colours while others are odourless and
colourless (and can be highly toxic). Gases can be inhaled. Certain gases can produce immediate irritant effects, while
others produce noticeable effects only after serious damage to your health has already occurred. Gases can be
flammable or explosive. Workers should be protected from the potentially harmful effects of gases with effective
control measures.
• Many employers are not aware of the hazards associated with toxic chemicals and often do not know how to dispose
of chemical wastes safely — employers also need to be educated about chemical hazards.

• Employers often “dump” waste chemicals into the environment. Chemicals that are improperly disposed of may
eventually get into your drinking water and your food. Chemical wastes should only be disposed of in approved and
well-maintained disposal sites.

• To prevent bringing workplace chemicals home to your family, wash/shower and change your clothes when necessary
before you leave work. Leave your dirty clothes at work. If you must wash them at home, wash them separately —
never with the family wash!e assets for a safer workplace and more streamlined workflow.
• Cleaning materials – Some cleaning agents emit volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to indoor air pollution.

• Detergents – Prolonged exposure to detergents may lead to

dermatitis while ingestion can cause gastrointestinal irritation.

• Pesticides – Can cause various health risks, including skin

and eye irritation, respiratory issues, and sometimes, even
neurological damage.
Chemical Hazards Examples
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals in workplaces can result in adverse health
conditions including headaches, difficulty breathing, skin irritation, severe allergic
reactions, and other more serious and long-lasting side effects.

• Although most hazardous chemicals are easily identifiable, some of them may be used
on a daily basis with workers not having prior knowledge of their potential negative
effects. Examples of hazardous chemicals in the workplace include:

• Gasoline – Inhalation or skin contact can lead to dizziness, headaches, and in severe
cases, respiratory and central nervous system depression.

• Methanol – This is toxic if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Can cause
headaches, dizziness, nausea, and, in severe cases, damage to the optic nerve, leading
to blindness.

• Disinfectants – Exposure to and skin contact with disinfectants can cause respiratory
irritation, skin allergies, and, in some cases, more severe reactions. Some disinfectants
may also release harmful fumes.

• Glues – Skin contact may result in irritation or allergic reactions.

• Paints – Aside from health risks, it can also contribute to air pollution.

• Cosmetics – Certain cosmetics may also contain harmful substances if

ingested.

• Welding fumes – Inhaling welding fumes can lead to respiratory

irritation, coughing, and in some cases, long-term health effects such as
lung damage and cancer.

• Heavy metals including lead, aluminum, and mercury – Accumulation of

heavy metals in the body can lead to various health issues, including
neurological damage, organ damage, and developmental disorders.

• Metalworking fluids – Some fluids may contain additives that pose

additional risks.
• Protect Your Workplace with Safety Culture (formerly iAuditor)
Ensure safe handling and controlling of hazardous chemicals in your workplace with the use of a digital safety
platform. Safety Culture is a powerful inspection and auditing tool that businesses can use to implement safety
measures with regard to rules and regulations surrounding chemical hazards. Safety Culture is best utilized in the
various processes involved in managing potential negative impacts of hazardous chemicals and can further help you
do the following:

• Conduct unlimited inspections, assessments, and audits using digital chemical hazard checklists. Or create your
own and customize them according to your business needs and preferences.
Perform risk assessments, checks of safety signs and symbols, hazardous materials, and PPE inspections. You can
also find other templates which may be relevant to your business in our Public Library.
Share new templates, schedule automatic inspections, and configure user access effortlessly by integrating seamless
workflows into your business processes.
Create corrective actions, report issues, and immediately assign them to relevant personnel for time-sensitive
responses.
Implement a scoring system in your inspections and monitor employee compliance through the tool’s analytics
dashboard to ensure continuous process improvement.
Attach photo evidence in your inspections for high-level visibility and exact references.
Access all your documents safely, anytime and anywhere,
Control the risks
This is the part where businesses will have to decide on how to manage or control the risks identified. When dealing with
chemical hazards in workplaces, you must follow the principle of the hierarchy of controls. This concept gives the order or level
of how you can potentially control each specific risk. This is the order of the hierarchy and their definitions:

Elimination – totally remove and discontinue the use of the hazardous chemicals.
Substitution – find alternatives or replace with other less hazardous chemicals.
Engineering controls – implement changes in the process such as minimizing the contact with the chemicals, or physically
separating people from them.
Administrative controls – implement changes in the way people work such as rotating their schedules or rearranging job
assignments.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – if hazardous chemicals can’t be avoided, or businesses can’t reduce the contact
employees have with them, ensure the use of PPE to lessen exposure and risk factors.
Implement good control measures
Businesses should also have comprehensive and standard control measures that can be followed by all involved personnel and
employees to prevent any hazardous effects of chemicals. These measures also help ensure that all relevant stakeholders are on
the same page when it comes to chemical safety. However, these should be maintained and reviewed regularly.

Part of implementing and maintaining the right control measures involves constant training and review. For this, it would be best
to utilize digital learning courses that you can easily access anytime. Today, there are many available resources such as lessons
on handling toxic chemicals, spills, storage practices, and more.
CONCLUSION
• Physical contaminants are based on the intrinsic properties of the
chemical. Chemical contaminants are substances that have been
released into the environment by human activity. Hence for physical
contaminants to be formed there has to be an element of a chemical
make up