For some workplaces, it is unavoidable for workers that the environment contains dangerous or hazardous substances that may bring harm to them if not careful or worse death.
Hazardous substances may be harmful however a lot of workplaces whether it’d be Agriculture, industry, medical etc commonly uses hazardous substances for work applications.
The most common hazardous substances that can be found at work or even at home are :
- Acids
- Caustic substances
- Disinfectants
- Glues
- Heavy metals, including mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminium
- Paint
- Pesticides
- Petroleum products
- Solvents.
- Grease
- Dust or fumes
And many other hazardous materials that may be found at workplaces.
There are many different means in which these hazardous substances will bring harm towards employees.
This are the common means of harmful workplace substances causing problems for the empoyees:
- Skin Exposure to harmful substances
- Inhaling Chemical fumes
- Prolonged exposure to harmful substances
- Intake of harmful subtances or the substances injected in the bloodstream.
There are different means and different amount of risk that it bring. However all are risky and could be avoided if necessary.
The common side effects of being exposed to harmful work substances may vary. Depends on the duration of exposure and how concentrated the amount of harmful substance the employee is exposed too.
The following are the common harmful side effects that workers experience with improper overexposure of harmful workplace substances:
- Poisoning
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Skin rashes, such as dermatitis
- Chemical burns
- Birth defects
- Disorders of the lung, kidney or liver
- Nervous system disorders.
It is essential that employers and employee alike are aware of the risks and what the risks are upon exposure of this certain harmful substances can do. Though unavoidable to work around this substances especially considering that most of them are vital for some of the application in the workplace there is always ways to minimize the risks of it.
Outside proper equipment and training for employees, turning the workplace environment into properly designed to lessen the risks of exposure may also help, monitoring employees health and even as simple as making signs/labels as a warning for possible exposure of harmful substance in the workplace also helps a lot.