Assessing Our Workplace Hazards

1. MSDSs can be valuable resources in understanding the hazards of specific chemicals.

2. We have looked at procedures and developed a list and prioritized that list as to what new procedures need to be developed. Each one here plays a part in the procedure process by:

requesting (procedures to be developed);

writing (helping write procedures);

reviewing (when others write procedures);

using (procedures to complete difficult tasks); and

updating (making note of any corrections necessary).

3. No one knows your job as well as you do. Sometimes we do things a certain way because it was the way we were taught to do a certain task. We have looked today at our routine job duties and sought better ways of completing them, by making them safer or more efficient.

4. When assessing health and safety problems, we should attempt to establish our priorities in deciding which problem to tackle first.

5. There are three questions that need to be answered when establishing toxic priorities:

Is the chemical toxic? How toxic? What can it do to the body?

Is there any exposure occurring? How much?

How many people are at risk?

6. A substance should be considered highly hazardous if:

it's a carcinogen;

it causes reproductive damage;

it causes acute effects when you are exposed at moderate levels; or

it can cause serious harm but has no warning signs.

7. High exposure to a chemical occurs when:

ventilation is poor;

respiratory protection is inadequate;

work practices create increased exposure; or

there is physical contact without ventilation or protective equipment.