Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it

Means for Incoming Chemists

Karly Knox

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

English 148

Walters

May 8, 2018

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 Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Chemical Safety Now and Then

There has been a push to improve safety in the chemical industry and in schools for years
now. California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, like most schools, have regulations
and safety procedures, but can still fall short and preventable accidents can occur.
Below is a segment of a comic strip the Japanese use to teach classroom safety. There are many
more in this series, and it has been found to be an effective teaching tool for younger students.

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Good lab practices should be established early before students go into industry where the stakes
and degree of danger is higher. Even without malpractice, daily exposure to toxic chemicals or
radiation causes concern in incoming chemists. It could be, in fact, unfair to pursue a career that
one is passionate about while, knowingly sacrificing the future of one’s health.
Historically, chemists have been sacrificing their lives for the
advancement of knowledge and research since the beginning of discovery.
Karl Scheele was the first to discover oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, barium, Historically, chemists have
manganese, molybdenum and tungsten as elements and many organic acids been sacrificing their lives
in the 1700s. But alas, the knowledge of today was not available back then, for the advancement of
and he died from kidney and skin disease because he would often taste and knowledge and research
smell newly discovered substances. Marie Curie is one of the most since the beginning of
commonly known scientists to fall to her research. She and her husband
discovery.
discovered radium and spent her life studying radiation research and therapy
techniques. Exposure to the radiation caused her to contract leukemia and led
to her death in the 30s.
Students are understandably wary of a career in chemistry because of the daunting idea of
the dangers that one could encounter during their time in school and in the industry. A survey
was collected from Chemistry and Biochemistry students investigating their current opinions and
worries on safety as a chemistry student. Initially, the hypothesis was that there was a direct
correlation between an increased rate of cancer or other form of disease in workers in chemical
industries but, secondary research would state otherwise.
Contained within this report is the analysis of the concerns of chemistry students of the
possibility of serious health problems due to a profession in the chemical industry.

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 Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Methodology of Student Survey

Survey Platform:
It is predicted that most students are concerned for their health. Primary research is conducted
to discover why students have chosen to continue a career in chemistry. The online survey
website, surveymonkey.com will be used to collect and analyze the results.

Students in Sample:
As this study is directly addressing chemical fields, it is important to survey and gather primary
research from a population of stakeholders in the findings. Undergraduate chemistry students
from different years and schools were asked to participate. About twenty students in a research
group were asked, sixty-four students from a general chemistry III class and students from the
Cal Poly American Chemical Society club.

Procedure and Goals:

Through social media and a class discussion forum, the link to a survey (SurveyMonkey) was
released for students to participate in of their own accord. There were four questions asked to
determine;
o If students have previously considered the hazards of the chemical industry
o If they had considered the risks, were the students worried for their future health
o How safe students feel in school laboratories
o What drives students to continue into a chemical field
These questions for the sample can easily be concluded by the survey as the questions are quite
direct.

Limitations of Primary Survey:

There is a limitation to the population of students who can be surveyed. All the students must be
some type of chemistry student. In the incoming freshmen 2017 class, there is less than 90
biochemistry and chemistry students combined, and there are not many more in each year.
Because students were not required to participate in the survey, and because the possible pool is
relatively small and specific, it is difficult to obtain a substantial response. Participation in the
survey was lower than expected when offered to over one hundred people. Due to the academic
nature of the class forum, many students would only glance over it, resulting in a lack of
participation. The last question has an option for a write-in answer and an “Ehh” answer to
account for those who are ambivalent to the question. If an older population was asked the same
question. “Ehh” would not be a viable answer, but for college students, it perfectly encapsulates
the feeling of not having an opinion in the matter. This prevents the students from randomly
picking one of the other three answers, avoiding response bias.

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 Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Results from Responsive Students

The initial hypothesis that students are concerned about their future health is supported by the
survey. The first three questions were asked to gauge the population’s view of safety. 89% of
students surveyed have considered the possibility of the health risks with a majority stating that it
is a concerning thought. Over a third of respondents feel that the safety in the classroom is
handled inadequately. Out of the sample, twelve students participate in extracurricular research
and over 83% stated that safety is the priority as set by their Primary Investigator (the faculty
member overseeing the research group). Lastly, in final question respondents could pick multiple
answers if they had multiple reasons to pursue chemistry. Most find motivation to continue for
the expansion of knowledge that is accomplished because of science and research.
A sense of safety for this study is defined as, confidence and comfortableness when in the
presence of chemicals and equipment combined to handle hazardous materials or machinery.

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 Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Secondary Source Reviews

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that “workplace
exposures to hazardous drugs can cause both acute and chronic health effects, such as skin
rashes, adverse reproductive outcomes (including infertility, spontaneous abortions, and
congenital malformations), and possibly leukemia and other cancers,” (The) based on healthcare
workers and the other various fields chemists could work in. However, “workers can be
protected from exposures to hazardous drugs through engineering and administrative controls,
and proper protective equipment” (The).
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), is a government funded
organization that overseas investigations of incidents around the country. It is the CSB’s job to
go and investigate the causes of “explosions, chemical fire and releases” (Completed). On the
CSB website, current and closed investigations are open to the public to access and read the
resolutions and recommendations. The resolutions can range from the plant shutting down to
simple maintenance, but the recommendations are very specific to each case. The CSB’s
recommendations can range from changing methods or equipment in the factory, to outreaching
to the community to prepare for chemical explosions.
Earlier in 2018, CSB was threatened with budget cuts and possible defunding for the 2019
federal budget. Jacinta Conrad, a professor at the University of Houston, claims that defunding
the CSB,” which provides this indispensable independent perspective, is likely to hinder efforts
to identify the causes of chemical accidents – especially in low-regulation locales. Moreover, it is
also likely to worsen our ability to respond to previously unforeseen events, such as the heavy
flooding of Harvey, that may be exacerbated by climate change. Finally, it is likely to cost lives
in future incidents” (Fellows).
Claims that there was an increased mortality rate in the male workers from cancers and heart
disease in a chemical plant in Ontario, Canada had previous circulated before an expanded study
was conducted in 2005. To investigate the previous claim, “5277 men and 1301 women were
followed from 1950 to 1999” (Carol) to increase the cohort for true study, instead of just a word
of mouth assertion. It was concluded that there was “little indication of any other increased rates
of mortality or cancer within the overall workforce of these chemical plants” (Carol). In fact,
“the employees in the study experienced a lower mortality and cancer incidence rate than the
general population” (Carol).
Similarly, a claim that workers at a brain cancer research facility were “experiencing more
brain cancer deaths than expected,” however it was not implied that the cause was workplace
exposure or radiation. The study was extended by four years, following “5,284 workers
employed between 1963, when the facility opened, and 2007” (Carol). It was concluded after
extending the study, “As in most other studies of laboratory and research workers, we found low
rates of total mortality, total cancers, accidents, suicides, and chronic conditions such as heart
disease and diabetes” and “no new brain cancer deaths” (Collins).
Although the data backs up both studies and the many other studies of laboratory and research
workers, the companies do have stakes in the results. If companies do not appear to be safe,
stocks, ability to find workers and companies to collaborate with would be affected. The
credibility of these studies that are conducted by the companies in question should be carefully
reviewed because of the high stakes and the possibility of skewed data.

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 Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Discussion of Findings from Research

Most of the students surveyed are wary of their future health while working in the chemical
industry; however, the importance of safety has drastically increased compared to the early years
of the industry. Strict institutional regulations and organizations monitoring the industry help
ensure the safety of workers more than in the past when the dangers were unknown.
Students should learn good safety procedures early, and it seems that some improvement
should be made on the serious implications of proper lab safety. Over 40% of the respondents
noted that safety protocols need improvement. Accidents may occur, and many chemicals
utilized in regular labs have the possibility of being very hazardous. Roots of adverse health
effects could start early in a chemist’s life unless proper protocols are taught and followed. In
situations like these, the best-case scenario is that 100% of students should be confident in their
classroom safety.
83% of research students said safety is always the top priority. Research groups take safety as a
higher priority, understandably so, as the stakes are higher, and chemicals are more dangerous in
research. However, all labs should be putting a strong emphasis on safety protocols for their
students.
Safety in college is so crucial because it builds the foundation for good practices when students
graduate and go to either graduate school or industry where they are not monitored as carefully.
Many martyrs in the chemical field throughout history have died for their research because they
did not know what scientists know presently or how to safely conduct research. Again, The
National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health states “workers can be protected from
exposures to hazardous drugs through engineering and administrative controls, and proper
protective equipment” (The). There has been no correlation to mortality rate and the chemical
industry as exemplified directly by the two studies referenced and other laboratory and research
facility studies referenced in the second.
Studies that follow and track the health of workers take time and money. Current studies that
are published are mostly older and by groups closely associated with the companies in question.
With that in mind, it does not discredit the research done. Each study had an acceptable sample
size and a reasonable period of investigation. Highlighting on the NIOSH use of “possible”,
although there are hazards that come with working with chemicals, as supported by the other
studies, mortality is not one of them. Pessimistically, if studies of similar caliber and subject are
skewed, the fact that increased institutional safety protocols have been created and as well as the
creation of groups like the CSB and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
point to an increased focus on safety.

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 Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Recommendations
The importance of safety should be more strongly enforced in college and industry as it is the
most effective way of preventing harm in serious situations. Chemical or radiation exposure can
increase the incidence of diseases, but studies have shown there is not an increased mortality rate
linked to chemical professions. Professors are responsible for the safety of students in laboratory
classes and should take the time to explain the safety procedures in class because some students
might not have reviewed them or misunderstood them and could continue dangerous practices if
not addressed. It is a student’s job to use common sense and safe in the lab, but if a poor practice
is not addressed, a student could continue improper safety practices in more serious situations.
Companies are responsible for their workers’ safety but maintaining up-to-code practices and
following the advice of safety boards and organizations is crucial.
In conclusion, students should not have to worry about their future health because of the
profession they choose. Although the hazards and risks are high, proper safety is the best method
in preventing occupational-related incidence of diseases through early precautions during college
and maintaining appropriate safety precautions in industry.

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Work Cited
Carol Burns, Ken Harrison, Brenda Jammer, Dores Zuccarini, Bryan Lafrance; A cancer incidence
and mortality study of Dow Chemical Canada Inc. manufacturing sites, Occupational Medicine,
Volume 55, Issue 8, 1 December 2005, Pages 618–624, https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqi145

Collins, J J, et al. “Brain Cancer in Workers Employed at a Laboratory Research Facility.”Advances

in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 Dec. 2014,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25493437.

“Completed Investigations.” CSB, www.csb.gov/investigations/completed-investigations/?Type=2.

Fellows, University of Houston Energy. “Defunding The Chemical Safety Board Is A Bad Idea And
Likely To Increase Chemical Disasters.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 14 Feb. 2018,
www.forbes.com/sites/uhenergy/2018/02/14/defunding-the-chemical-safety-board-is-a-bad-idea-
and-is-likely-to-increase-chemical-disasters/#a6d47b87a062.

Kumasaki, Mieko. “Presenting Safety Topics Using a Graphic Novel, Manga, To Effectively Teach
Chemical Safety to Students in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.” C&EN: WHAT'S THAT STUFF?
JELL-O, 27 Feb. 2018, pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00451. (Picture)

“The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).” Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 Apr. 2018,
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hazdrug/default.html.

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Safety in the Chemical Industry and What it Means for Incoming Chemists

Appendix

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