When you hear the word ‘toxic chemical’, you may think of a polluted river, or plumes of toxins being expelled from a factory. However, toxic substances are everywhere – especially in the workplace. And how these substances are handled is crucial for the health and safety of staff, as well as others in the work environment.
In this post, we’ll be looking at how to handle toxic substances safely, with some key considerations that will help you reduce the risk of human harm.
But first, let’s look at toxic substances – and what they can do to the human body.
Toxic substances pose a wide range of risks to human health, which can vary based on:
Here are some key risks associated with exposure to toxic substances:
Toxic substances can cause immediate health effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and respiratory distress. Many toxic substances can cause irritation, burns, or damage to the skin and eyes upon contact.
Ingesting or inhaling certain toxic substances can lead to poisoning, which may require immediate medical attention and can be fatal.
Prolonged exposure to toxic substances can cause damage to vital organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs. Some toxic substances, such as asbestos, benzene, and certain pesticides, are known carcinogens and can increase the risk of developing cancer.
Exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, developmental delays, and reproductive issues — in both men and women.
Toxic chemicals may create acute and/chronic health effects in humans or other living organisms.
In addition to the immediate health effects or long-term health effects of toxic chemical exposure, there are also a range of health issues that may be toxic substances.
These health effects include:
Certain substances, such as lead, mercury, and some pesticides, can damage the nervous system, leading to cognitive impairments, memory loss, and behavioral changes.
Long-term exposure to neurotoxic substances may contribute to the development of neurological diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Exposure to certain toxic substances, such as air pollutants and chemicals in tobacco smoke, can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Some toxic substances can also affect blood pressure and contribute to hypertension.
Inhalation of toxic substances can cause respiratory issues such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other lung diseases. Some toxic substances can trigger allergic reactions and exacerbate conditions like asthma and allergies.
Due to the risk of respiratory illness, toxic exposure must be controlled with ventilation and breathing apparatus used during handling, if required.
Certain toxic substances can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and diseases. Long-term exposure to some chemicals may be linked to the development of autoimmune disorders.
REMEMBER: Toxic chemicals can be identified by referring to your chemical’s safety data sheet. Section 2 of your safety data sheets will outline the hazards of the substance, while Section 14 will give you the division or class of the dangerous goods. Toxic Substances are recognised as Divison 6.1 dangerous goods.
Regardless of the dangerous goods that you’re carrying at your site, there are basic measures that must be applied to ensure that your staff aren’t harmed through the routes of exposure with your hazardous chemicals.
The routes of exposure are:
To control toxic chemical exposure through these 3 routes of exposure — as well as prevent environmental harm if the chemical leaks or spills — there are a range of considerations to make to minimise risk.
Using the hierarchy of control, toxic chemicals must be controlled through a process of:
To ensure the safe handling of toxic chemicals in the workplace, there are a wide range of controls that need to be put in place. These controls must be specific to the chemicals that you’re carrying – and the risks present in your workplace.
However, some general advice on toxic chemical handling includes:
Toxic chemicals, by their very nature, are some of the most harmful dangerous goods. PPE – otherwise known as personal protective equipment – must be worn when working with toxic chemicals.
Always refer to the individual safety data sheet of each toxic chemical product to determine the most appropriate PPE for that substance, as these requirements may vary.
Types of compliant personal protective equipment that may be useful for toxic substances include:
PPE should also be properly maintained, so that contamination does not occur when staff are re-using equipment. PPE Cabinets are a useful tool to keep personal protective equipment safe, in a designated location and readily available to staff.
Use a dedicated PPE Cabinet to store laundered toxic chemical personal protective equipment to ensure safety and efficiency.
REMEMBER: PVC is generally suitable for personal protective equipment for toxic substances, although it should be inspected and maintained to ensure safety. Refer to your chemical’s SDS for the appropriate PPE measures.
If your toxic chemicals are listed in the Safe Work Australia workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants, you have a legal obligation to ensure your air quality remains within the limits.
To make sure that your workplace is a health and safe environment, you may need to conduct air monitoring to test the level of contaminants in the air. This can be done in consultation with specialist personnel, such as a qualified occupational hygienist. By regularly conducting air monitoring, you may be able to detect any hazards that will affect workers through inhalation.
In addition to monitoring, it’s also important to have good ventilation in your toxic chemical storage and handling areas. This may mean the provision for ventilation in storage areas – either natural ventilation in the outdoor environment or mechanical ventilation in indoor toxic cabinets.
Choosing storage to control vapour and spill risk, in addition to providing adequate ventilation, can assist with risk management with toxic substances.
The Australian Standard for toxic substances AS NZS 4452 explains that ventilation is dependant on the nature of the toxic substance as well as the circumstances of its use in the workplace. We recommend conducting a risk assessment to determine suitable ventilation for your stores and workplace.
IMPORTANT: Are you concerned about airborne contaminants within your indoor storage cabinets? Read our blog to learn more about the ventilation requirements for toxic storage cabinets.
Managing toxic substance leaks and spills is vital for the health and safety of staff – as the chemical can attack the routes of exposure if it’s accidentally released.
Refer to your safety data sheet for specific instructions on accidental release control measures, but keep in mind that using the correct PPE, opening any windows or allowing for maximum ventilation, and securing the area from other staff or pedestrians is vital when working with spilled class 6.1 substances.
Toxic chemicals can spill any time they are being transported, handled, used or stored. To reduce these spill risks, we recommend:
IMPORTANT: Storage is an important part in controlling leaks, spills and other hazards of toxic substances. Read our popular blog to learn more about Class 6.1 storage requirements.
From site inductions through to follow-up training sessions, making sure that your team are aware of the dangers associated with toxic substance handling is essential for the safety of your workplace.
Educating staff about toxic handling practices may include information such as:
REMEMBER: Toxic chemicals must never be present in a lunchroom or area where food is kept, eaten or prepared due to the risk of exposure. Always wash hands before eating and drinking, going to the bathroom, and leaving the workplace.
Due to the harm caused by Class 6.1 Toxic Substances, developing the correct handling procedures is a key part of your risk management strategy. Storage is also an important aspect of chemical safety, as well as the separation of toxic chemicals from incompatible chemicals.
If you'd like more information on chemical segregation, you can access our free Dangerous Goods Segregation Chart. This chart will help you identify incompatible substances and practice the safe segregate of toxic substances and other dangerous goods at your own site.