HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

The strange thing about hazardous materials is that we all think that we are not exposed to them.  In fact, what is surprising about them is that we are exposed to them more times than we know.  People are exposed to dangerous products in the workplace and often even in the home.

The amazing thing is that we are all exposed to hazardous materials on a daily basis.  In the home we are all aware of detergents and insecticides and many other products.  But do we know what products we are exposed to at work?

We all suspect that there are dangerous chemicals at factories or plants such as the petro-chemical industry.  But what most people don’t know is that many places that seem to be safe, in fact, have noxious products that could potentially be harmful to people’s health, if not cause death.  Think about a petrol station, a paint shop or a restaurant.  Petrol stations most commonly have diesel, petrol and gases, paint shops have paints, turpentine and other flammable products while restaurants among others have gas.  So, many hazardous products surround us without us even knowing.  Employees, due largely to ignorance, will happily work along without realising the dangers.  Many employees are told about the hazardous products they are working with but still do not wear personal protective equipment, such as face masks or eye protection.

In many cases even if people do know about hazardous materials they are surrounded by or working in close proximity to these, they often do not know what to do when they are exposed to such hazardous materials directly.

My advice to anyone out working close to hazardous materials is to be well informed about them.  Know what products your company or organisation has in its building.  Make sure you know what to do in case you are exposed to them.

If you suspect or know that you could be exposed to dangerous products make sure that your company has a policy or procedure in place should an accident happen.  Everyone in the company should be trained on the dangers of such products and people working with them should know what protective equipment to wear and also what to do in cases of accidental exposure.

In South Africa, companies have largely been able to get away with training people working with or exposed to such products.  I have been to many companies over the years where employees are continually exposed to hazardous materials, and management does not know about these.  In many cases employees do not wear any protective equipment supplied.

Companies having employees exposed hazardous chemicals and fumes usually have high staff absenteeism.  Chemical fumes can cause chronic headaches, sinusitis and chest problems, such as asthma and chronic lung infections.  Not to mention the potential of more serious illnesses such as liver and blood abnormalities, depending on the product.

Training employees in hazardous materials exposure usually results in employees using the protective equipment as the dangers are highlighted to them during the training.  Many employees, once told of the dangers are more than willing to wear protective equipment.

The cost to company from absenteeism in many cases far exceeds the cost of protective equipment or a ventilation system, for example.  Decreased absenteeism will ultimately benefit companies as productivity improves as do profits.

Then there is the obvious legal obligation to have a safe working environment for employees.  Most companies adhere to the law and do provide training, personal protective equipment among other things.  In many cases senior management may not be aware of the dangers the products their employees are working with.  In my experience, once management is aware of the harmful or potentially harmful effects of products, they are more than willing to ensure employee safety and training.

If you have any doubts as to whether you are exposed to dangerous products but you are not sure, get on the internet and do a search.  Alternately call the poison centre on 0860 11 33 44.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

The strange thing about hazardous materials is that we all think that we are not exposed to them.  In fact, what is surprising about them is that we are exposed to them more times than we know.  People are exposed to dangerous products in the workplace and often even in the home.

The amazing thing is that we are all exposed to hazardous materials on a daily basis.  In the home we are all aware of detergents and insecticides and many other products.  But do we know what products we are exposed to at work?

We all suspect that there are dangerous chemicals at factories or plants such as the petro-chemical industry.  But what most people don’t know is that many places that seem to be safe, in fact, have noxious products that could potentially be harmful to people’s health, if not cause death.  Think about a petrol station, a paint shop or a restaurant.  Petrol stations most commonly have diesel, petrol and gases, paint shops have paints, turpentine and other flammable products while restaurants among others have gas.  So, many hazardous products surround us without us even knowing.  Employees, due largely to ignorance, will happily work along without realising the dangers.  Many employees are told about the hazardous products they are working with but still do not wear personal protective equipment, such as face masks or eye protection.

In many cases even if people do know about hazardous materials they are surrounded by or working in close proximity to these, they often do not know what to do when they are exposed to such hazardous materials directly.

My advice to anyone out working close to hazardous materials is to be well informed about them.  Know what products your company or organisation has in its building.  Make sure you know what to do in case you are exposed to them.

If you suspect or know that you could be exposed to dangerous products make sure that your company has a policy or procedure in place should an accident happen.  Everyone in the company should be trained on the dangers of such products and people working with them should know what protective equipment to wear and also what to do in cases of accidental exposure.

In South Africa, companies have largely been able to get away with training people working with or exposed to such products.  I have been to many companies over the years where employees are continually exposed to hazardous materials, and management does not know about these.  In many cases employees do not wear any protective equipment supplied.

Companies having employees exposed hazardous chemicals and fumes usually have high staff absenteeism.  Chemical fumes can cause chronic headaches, sinusitis and chest problems, such as asthma and chronic lung infections.  Not to mention the potential of more serious illnesses such as liver and blood abnormalities, depending on the product.

Training employees in hazardous materials exposure usually results in employees using the protective equipment as the dangers are highlighted to them during the training.  Many employees, once told of the dangers are more than willing to wear protective equipment.

The cost to company from absenteeism in many cases far exceeds the cost of protective equipment or a ventilation system, for example.  Decreased absenteeism will ultimately benefit companies as productivity improves as do profits.

Then there is the obvious legal obligation to have a safe working environment for employees.  Most companies adhere to the law and do provide training, personal protective equipment among other things.  In many cases senior management may not be aware of the dangers the products their employees are working with.  In my experience, once management is aware of the harmful or potentially harmful effects of products, they are more than willing to ensure employee safety and training.

If you have any doubts as to whether you are exposed to dangerous products but you are not sure, get on the internet and do a search.  Alternately call the poison centre on 0860 11 33 44.