NEBOSH NATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE

Occupational health hazards

LEARNING OUTCOMES (I)

classification of occupational health hazards (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic) commonly occurring occupational diseases and conditions arising from exposure to physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards meaning of terms; toxic, harmful, corrosive, irritant and the response of the body to substances with these properties

LEARNING OUTCOMES (II)

the main routes of entry of hazardous substances into the body the significance of the form taken by a hazardous substance ie gas, vapour, mist, aerosol, smoke fume, dust, liquid and solid the concept of target organs and target systems occupational exposure limits; distinction between MELs and OESs

LEARNING OUTCOMES (III)

general principles and methods of air monitoring methods that can be used for prevention and control of hazardous substances, with particular reference to workplace ventilation systems main requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 precautions needed during the storage, transport, use and disposal of dangerous substances

GENERAL ASPECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & HYGIENE

what types of agent might represent an occupational health risk in the workplace? how do we go about evaluating the severity

of the risk?

PRINCIPLES OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE

Recognition/identification of occupational health hazards
Measurement of level or concentration Evaluation of likelihood and severity of harm

Control strategies available to reduce or eliminate risk

RECOGNITION
chemical
liquids, fumes, mists vapours, gases, dusts

physical
radiation, noise, vibrations, temperature, humidity

biological
bacteria, viruses, fungi

ergonomic
body position, repetitive actions, work pressure

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
absorption then attack on organs or metabolic processes
toxic response carcinogenic response

contact then attack on the surface of the body

corrosive/irritant response dermatitic/sensitisation response

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
exposure to biological agents resulting in illness

types of biological agent include

bacteria viruses fungi

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
harmful energy absorbed by the bodys structure energy derived from
mechanical sources
noise, vibration

radiation sources
ionising, non-ionising

thermal sources

ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
concerns the physical, physiological and psychological relationships between people and work specific areas include
perceptual responses work rates and fatigue man-machine interface anthropometrics

MEASUREMENT
continuously
control strategy where the risk is high

intermittently
initial determination of hazard spot measurement in an established process routine check measurement

EVALUATION
harmful characteristics of the substance,
energy or condition involved

concentration, intensity or level of the

exposure to the harmful agent time duration of the exposure

CONTROL
elimination substitution change of work method change of work pattern isolation and segregation engineering controls personal protective equipment

ROUTES OF ATTACK ON THE HUMAN BODY

route of entry (reach an area of penetration of the body) process of entry (penetrate the outer cover of the body)

ROUTES OF ENTRY
inhalation ingestion skin pervasion injection implantation aspiration

PROCESS OF ENTRY
absorption
epidermis lungs gastro-intestinal tract

direct entry into the body

TOXICOLOGY
- the study of poisonous materials and their effects on living organisms toxic substances
systemic
travel through the system

toxicity
LD50 to quantify the effects of a toxic agent Acute Toxicity
harmful effect occurs quickly (seconds, minutes, hours)

local
act only at the point of contact

cumulative
not readily excreted from the body accumulated over a period of time

Chronic Toxicity
harmful effect takes a long time to appear (months, years)

LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC EFFECTS

local effects (confined to specific area where contact occurs)
skin eye respiratory tract

systemic effects (occur at organs distant from contact site)

liver nervous system bone blood-forming organs

DEFENCE MECHANISMS OF THE BODY

respiratory defence
physical filtration phagocytosis

lachrymation immune response inflammatory response fibrotic response

CHIP 2
Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994
category of danger indication of danger symbol

HEALTH EFFECTS CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

very toxic toxic harmful corrosive irritant sensitising carcinogenic mutagenic toxic for reproduction

APPROVED SUPPLY LIST

general nature of the risk (risk phrase) causes severe burns precautions to be taken (safety phrase) keep out of reach of children

LABELLING
supplier information name of substances or constituents indication of danger symbol risk phrase safety phrase

SAFETY DATA SHEETS

composition hazards first aid fire fighting accidental release handling/storage exposure controls personal protection physical properties chemical properties stability/reactivity toxicology ecological information disposal

CATEGORIES OF CHEMICAL AGENT

toxic, including carcinogenic
corrosive and irritant dermatitic and sensitising

FORMS OF CHEMICAL AGENT

solids liquids dusts fibres mists gases fumes vapours

TYPES OF TOXIC EFFECT

respiratory irritants chemical asphyxiants haemolytic poisons narcotics nervous system poisons metallic poisons metallic and polymer fume fever carcinogens
halogenated compounds nitro-compounds aromatic amines polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons natural carcinogens inorganic carcinogens benzene

TOXIC AGENTS
physical form(s) mode of entry to body target organs symptoms of exposure
acute chronic

occupations at risk

COMMONLY OCCURRING TOXIC SUBSTANCES

lead
mercury

trichloroethylene
silaceous dust

benzene
phenol

asbestos
carbon monoxide

CORROSIVE AGENTS
destroy living tissue acids and alkalis injury through
contact with skin and eyes inhalation ingestion

DERMATITIC AGENTS
primary cutaneous irritants
contact dermatitis at site of contact recovery on removal of agent

cutaneous sensitisers
sensitisation dermatitis initial sensitisation trace contact enough to cause reoccurrence

SENSITISERS
respiratory system
occupational asthma inhalation of antigen causes bronchial constriction

sensitisation dermatitis
isocyanates trace contact enough to cause reoccurrence

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (I)

designed to control the absorption of airborne contaminants into the body measured in:
ppm (parts of vapour/gas per million parts of air) mg/m3 (milligrams of substance per cubic metre of air)

expressed as the concentration of an airborne substance averaged over a reference period

15 minutes short term limit 8 hours long term limit

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (II)

Maximum Exposure Limit (MEL)
maximum permissible concentration has legal status must not be exceeded reduce exposure to as far below the MEL as possible

Occupational Exposure Standard (OES)

concentration at which no evidence of harm represents good practice if exceeded, take steps to reduce down to OES

OES represents adequate control

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (III)

long term limits
time-weighted average concentration

short term limits

time-weighted average concentration

conc. x exposure time averaged over 8 hours

designed to control chronic effects

conc. x exposure time averaged over 15 mins

designed to control acute effects

SAMPLING OF AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS (I)

Purpose
qualitative analysis
indicate presence of and identity of contaminants

quantitative analysis
measure concentration and assess compliance with standards

SAMPLING OF AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS (II)

Types
spot or grab sample (stain tube)
taken at a single point at a particular time in the general working atmosphere eg ozone monitoring

time averaged sample (dust sampling)

taken over a period of time, analysed, and averaged over that period (operators breathing zone)

continuous monitoring (direct reading)

continually measured and giving a continuous record of airborne contamination (can be used in conjunction with alarm systems eg toxic chemicals)

CONTROL PHILOSOPHY
Source
Elimination Substitution Enclosure Process change LEV

Transmission Receiver
Shielding Distance Remove worker Reduce exposure

Dilution ventilation Enclose worker Reduce no of workers Personal protective equipment

VENTILATION
dilution ventilation
dilutes contaminant to an acceptable level

local exhaust ventilation

captures contaminant close to point of generation comprises hood, ductwork, filter, fan,outlet good control of hazardous contaminants

comprises fans set in walls or roof

cheap and simple limited application as a control strategy

DILUTION VENTILATION (I)

changes the whole workplace air over a given time period ie air changes per hour limit to circumstances where:
exposure limit is high low evaporation rate for liquids slow evolution for gases operators not close to the point of generation substance is quickly carried away from the operator

DILUTION VENTILATION (II)

rate of contaminant generation governs air changes per hour required density of contaminant governs position of fans:
density >1 (ie solvents) - low level fan in wall density <1 (ie hot gases) - high level fan in roof

problems include:
dead areas where poor airflow allows contamination to build up heat losses due to high rate of air change

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION (I)

Hood or exhaust inlet
receptor hood
contaminant directed into a large hood by fan assisted draught

captor hood
contaminant captured by air flow close to point of generation
low pressure large volume flow high pressure low volume flow (high velocity)

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION (II)

ducting
straight with gentle bends and angled joints sufficient air flow to prevent deposition of solids access ports for cleaning and flow monitoring

filter or purifying system

cyclones, washers, electrostatic, bag filters

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION (III)

Fans
axial flow fan
airflow is parallel to the shaft of the impeller compact and fits neatly into ductwork

centrifugal fan
air enters the impeller then is discharged at right angles

exhaust outlet
careful location to avoid:
cyclic pollution effects of weather of air disturbance

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
zoonoses
animal infections transmitted to persons in the course of their work

bacilli
infections such as Legionnaires or Weils disease

fungi
extrinsic allergic alveolitis

blood-borne infections
hepatitis B and AIDS

ZOONOSES
Brucellosis (bacterium)
cattle, pigs

Psitticosis (bacterium)
poultry, birds

Q Fever (bacterium)
cows, sheep

Anthrax (bacterium)
farm animals

Orf (virus)
sheep

Glanders
horses, donkeys, mules

CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR ZOONOSES

routes of entry
skin penetration
cuts, sores, abrasions injection by bites contact with conjunctiva of eye

control strategies
eliminate
immunisation improve animal stock

enclosure
infected aerosols

inhalation
contaminated dust

ventilation
infected dusts from wool, skin, hides

ingestion
contamination via hands

hygiene
disinfection

personal protective equipment

LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE
caused by inhalation of airborne droplets containing the legionella bacteria pneumonia-type symptoms manage the risk by:
identifying and assessing sources of exposure
contaminated sprays and aerosols

avoid conditions where legionella can proliferate (water temperature,stagnation, treatment)

persons at risk
susceptible persons ie hospital patients

WEILS DISEASE
caused by infection from rats
type of bacteria (Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae) enters body through cuts/abrasions of skin

jaundice-type symptoms manage the risk by:

identifying and assessing sources of exposure destruction of rat infestation immunisation, first aid, information, protective clothing

persons at risk
canal workers, sewer workers, abattoir workers

BLOOD-BORNE INFECTIONS
hepatitis B (virus)
severe form of jaundice infection through contact with blood or bodily fluids persons at risk include health workers and emergency services protect through preventing puncture wounds, disinfection and disposable gloves

AIDS (virus)
debility of immune system infection through contact with blood or bodily fluids persons at risk include health/social workers and emergency services protect through preventing puncture wounds, disinfection and disposable gloves

SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH

classified as dangerous to health under the current CHIP Regulations assigned a MEL or OES biological agent dust in a substantial concentration any other substance which creates a comparable health hazard

REQUIREMENTS OF COSHH
assess the risks to health arising from exposure prevent or adequately control exposure ensure that control measures are used and properly maintained monitor exposure and carry out appropriate health surveillance ensure that employees are properly informed, trained and supervised

COSHH ASSESSMENT (I)

which hazardous substances are present?
brought into the workplace dusts, fumes, leakages finished products or wastes

who might be exposed?

employees contractors public

COSHH ASSESSMENT (II)

do they represent a significant risk?
hazardous properties (toxic, corrosive, irritant) quantity used and frequency of use possible routes of exposure (inhalation, contact) possibility of exposure exceeding OEL possibility of leakage, spillage or release cleaning and maintenance operations

PREVENTING EXPOSURE
change the process or activity
the hazardous substance is not required or generated

replace the hazardous substance with a safer alternative

use the hazardous substance in a safer form

CONTROLLING EXPOSURE
totally enclose the process partially enclose the process and use local exhaust ventilation use general ventilation use systems of work and handling procedures that minimise spills and leaks reduce the duration of exposure

MONITORING EXPOSURE HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

monitoring exposure
where serious risks if controls fail to confirm exposure limits are not exceeded to confirm that controls are working properly keep records

health surveillance
where exposure is linked to a disease which could occur and can be detected where employees are working in a process listed in schedule 5 and exposure could be significant

RECORDING AND REVIEWING THE ASSESMENT

record enough information:
to show how decisions on risks and precautions were made to clearly show the responsibilities for implementing the precautions

review the assessment:

at no less than 5-yearly intervals whenever it is thought that the assessment might not be valid where there has been a significant change in the work

INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING

inform, instruct and train employees about:
the nature of the substances and the risks arising from exposure the precautions that should be taken

give information and instruction on:

the purpose and use of control measures use of personal protective equipment results of any monitoring or health surveillance emergency procedures

DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (I)

Safe Storage
segregate control storage to prevent risks to employees and others keep hazardous and non-hazardous waste separate ensure correct labelling keep quantities to a minimum separate incompatible hazardous wastes

DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (II)

Transport
use correct type of vehicle inspect load prior to transport to check:
description of material containment labelling documentation

transfer must be accompanied by written documentation:

identification quantity time and place of transfer details of current and intended holder

transfer waste only to an authorised person

special waste requires use of a consignment note