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Why is Safety Important in Chemical Industry?

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Challenges involved in Implementing Behaviour Based Program

Tips to enhance your Organization’s Emergency Procedure

What is a Learning Management System?

Safety is important in the chemical industry as chemicals that are used to produce products touch everyone’s lives. A chemical process helps to create plastics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc. Each process has different safety concerns. It’s important that every chemical be handled safely. We’ve all heard the phrase, “ Safety first !” but how much do we know about the safety practices in our industrial environment? In the last decade, 130 significant chemical accidents occurred in India, resulting in 259 deaths and 563 major injuries. 

Safety must be a key priority in chemical companies.

What is a chemical accident?

A chemical accident is defined as a harmful release, dispersal, discharge, or escape of a toxic substance or mixture into the environment that causes damage to human health or the natural environment and affects a wide range of living organisms in the affected area or along the transport route of the hazardous material (e.g., air, soil, groundwater, surface water, etc.).

In the year 1984 , India experienced the world’s worst chemical (industrial) disaster, the “ Bhopal Gas Tragedy, ” which was the most devastating chemical accident in history, killing thousands of people due to the accidental release of the toxic gas Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC).

Results of chemical hazards:

The result of a chemical disaster is usually a large number of casualties and economic losses, environmental pollution, disruption of infrastructure and destruction of industrial facilities, which can cause massive human suffering and loss of life, livelihoods and property, as well as a huge financial cost to the community and damage to its natural environment and ecosystems, causing long-term or permanent effects and hazards to future generations (See also Environmental impact of disasters).

Different types of chemical hazards:

Chemical industries use large amounts of chemical products in the production of different kinds of goods, from food to medicine, cosmetics, paints, and many more things that we use every day in our daily lives. The main purpose of chemical industries is to produce chemical raw materials and intermediate chemicals, which they sell to other industries for producing finished goods.

Chemicals used in industry often have to undergo processes such as extraction, purification, concentration, mixing with other materials, and so on before they are delivered for use in products or services (e g., cleaning agents). Some of the hazardous chemicals that are produced at an industrial level are solvents like xylene, toluene, naphtha, acetone, etc., acids like sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, and other chemicals like ammonia, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, etc. Each chemical carries its own set of risks, such as the risk o f being exposed to it through inhalation or ingestion, dermal contact, and so on.

A few of the most common chemical hazards are listed below.

Inorganic chemicals include acids, salts, minerals, and others. It can be a corrosive agent, an irritant, and also a flammable agent. Hazardous inorganic chemicals cause burns and corrosive injuries, as well as asthma, respiratory problems, and cancer.

Organic chemicals are substances that are naturally occurring or produced by living organisms. These chemicals include alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, ketones, and so on. They can cause skin irritations, asthma and respiratory problems, eye injuries, cancer and even death. Chemical hazards may be produced by a human or by a non-living object or system. These chemicals include metals, gases, and liquids as a chemical can exist in different states.

Chemical Hazards:

The chemical industries have their own set of hazards, in addition to the general dangers posed by other industries such as mining, petroleum refining, and so on, which endanger life, property, or the environment . The chemicals are extremely flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic, reactive, and poisonous substances that can be hazardous if not handled properly and safely. As a result, taking all necessary precautions, before, during, and after handling these chemicals is critical in order to avoid injuries, accidents, and fatalities.

There are various types of chemical accidents, among which ‘explosion’ is a serious one. It is defined as an event which involves the rapid release of energy due to some form of ignition accompanied by an increase in the volume of air, gases, liquids, or solids (chemical) or other forms of energy (mechanical). Such an event may also involve a combination of these three effects, depending on the circumstances of the incident. This is one of the most dangerous chemical hazards, often fatal to human beings and destructive to property.

Chemical hazards can be caused by numerous sources, such as:

1) Leaks from storage tanks containing highly flammable chemicals

2) Unstable chemical compound explosions

3) Fires involving combustible materials

4) Unintentional emissions from industrial processes

5) Explosive gas combustion

6) Combustion of natural gas

7) Combustion of organic chemicals

8) Ignition of stored explosives

9) Toxic and/or hazardous substance combustion

10) Incendiaries

11) Combustion of high-energy materials

12) Improper disposal of chemicals

13) Improper chemical handling

14) Improper chemical transportation

15) Use of improper methods of handling

16) Inadequate ventilation 

17) Human error

18) Improper container handling

19) Misuse of equipment

20) A combination of multiple factors, like a leaky pipe leading to a tank holding liquid hydrocarbons, can result in an accident.

The Benefits of Chemical Safety Training:

Chemical safety is different from worker safety. Worker safety is intended to ensure that workers engaged in activities that pose a potential health or safety risk have the training and skills necessary to safely perform their jobs. Chemical safety training is intended to ensure that chemical facilities, manufacturers, and businesses have the trained employees needed to handle all of the chemicals they handle and that all of their employees are knowledgeable about the chemical processes involved. Chemical safety training has many benefits.

• It improves knowledge and adherence to safer practices and reduces exposure to chemicals.
• Chemical safety training is essential for protecting human health and safety from potential hazards posed by chemicals, in manufacturing or other industries.
• It not only ensures the health and safety of all those who work with chemicals, but it also aids in the development and sharpening of necessary skills.

Who needs Chemical Safety Training?

A chemical explosion will cause significant damage to buildings and the equipment inside them, as well as injury to humans and animals in the vicinity. Professionals from chemical industries, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing industries, hospitals, the healthcare sector, power plants, petrochemical plants, safety professionals, supervisors, and so on, can take the course.

Learning Outline:

A Chemical safety training covers the following:

• An Introduction to Chemicals and their Physical Forms
• Different types of chemicals and their risks
• Risks associated with handling chemicals 
• Identification of hazardous substances at work through classification
• Identifying and eliminating hazardous activities in the workplace
• Assess the risks associated with hazardous substances
• Chemical exposure management
• What should you do in the event of an unintentional spill?
• What should you do if there is a chemical emergency?
• Preventive measures for hazardous materials incidents
• Use of hazard identification tools such as HAZOP (hazard and operability study), to mitigate risks
• A description of personal protective equipment (PPE) and its uses
• Methods of industrial hygiene standard description
• Chemical analysis and interpretation
• Implementation of spill containment kit
• Maintenance of plant facilities
• Compliance with existing rules and regulations
• Emergency preparedness

With the increasing complexity of chemicals, new chemicals are introduced daily into various industries, and the risks involved become increasingly difficult to control and manage safely and efficiently, while maintaining profitability and customer satisfaction at all times, even when operating under difficult conditions, such as emergency situations or during high-volume periods like holidays or festivals when business is busier than usual, etc.

Our trainers are industry professionals with years of experience in Chemical Safety Training at all levels and in various industries, ranging from large multi-national corporations to small start-ups in various sectors of the economy and work environment. Our Chemical Safety Awareness Training Cours e is designed to help businesses achieve their goals of having effective, safe workplaces and protecting employees from injury or illness caused by hazardous chemicals.

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Safe Science: Promoting a Culture of Safety in Academic Chemical Research (2014)

Chapter: 5 findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations

BEYOND ACADEMIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES

The statement of task for this study sets clear boundaries regarding academic chemistry research laboratories. However, it is worth noting that many of the same risks and hazards identified in this report exist under the same cultural constraints in other research communities within colleges and universities. Moreover, both research and non-research laboratories in non-academic settings may carry similar risks and constraints. Application of the analyses and changes suggested herein may be helpful in these other settings as well.

Researchers Beyond Chemistry Research

Clearly other research units in colleges and universities are affected by the organizational factors outlined in this report. Organizational structure, reporting relationships, evaluation criteria, funding and time pressures, workload, and workplace stress are not unique to chemistry research. It is paramount to safeguard the welfare of the students, staff, and faculty and to establish expectations and support systems that enable them to work safely. While the specific hazards of different research units may vary, the organizational and system processes remain the same. Therefore, many of these recommendations can be generalized to other research units within the academic sector.

Beyond Academic Laboratories

While many industrial and non-academic research laboratories provide excellent examples of safety culture, it is also true that there are many that can benefit from these recommendations. The system processes that govern safety culture operate across contexts, and the need for careful consideration of whether institutional practices support safety is independent of the university/non-university context. Designing institutional systems so that they promote the ability of all individuals to take the actions needed to work safely is critical to the twin goals of promoting the nation’s scientific stature and the health and safety of the people who produce it.

If viewed as a system, these recommendations for improving the culture of safety can be applied broadly and can allow the greater community to solve problems while simultaneously advancing productivity, safety, and sustainability across a wide range of settings.

FOCUS ON CHEMICAL RESEARCH: FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In response to the statement of task and building on the discussion in the preceding chapters, a series of findings have been identified, conclusions made, and recommendations presented. They are presented under four categorical headings: Institution-wide Dynamics and Resources; Research Group Dynamics; Data, Hazard Identification, and Analysis; and Training and Learning .

Institution-Wide Dynamics and Resources

The broad institutional setting in which research takes place can strongly influence whether university laboratories develop and sustain a strong, positive safety culture. Specifically, the level of importance attached to safety by university leadership, the way these leaders promote safety as a core institutional value, the way they direct resources, and the structure of incentives and reporting relationships they support all affect the degree of priority given to safety practices. The list of findings, conclusions, and recommendations below address issues of Institution-Wide Dynamics and Resources .

Finding 1: Safety is emerging as a priority and a core value of many academic institutions and of individual laboratories. A strong, positive safety culture is more beneficial than a compliance-only culture.

Finding 2: A strong, positive safety culture is a core element in the responsible conduct of research.

Conclusion 1: If laboratory safety is an unquestioned core value and operational priority for the institution, then safety will never be traded for research productivity.

Recommendation 1: The president and other institutional leaders must actively demonstrate that safety is a core value of the institution and show an ongoing commitment to it.

Finding 3: The availability and commitment of university resources to laboratory safety vary across institutions.

Finding 4: Universities often do not provide sufficient incentives to promote a strong, positive safety culture. In some cases they may create barriers or disincentives.

Conclusion 2: University policies and resource allocations have a strong impact on a department’s ability and willingness to help provide for a strong, positive safety culture. If an institution or individual laboratory wants to develop and sustain a safe and successful research program, then it must consider the resources it has available for safety and explore research options and requirements accordingly.

Recommendation 2: The provost or chief academic officer, in collaboration with faculty governance, should incorporate fostering a strong, positive safety culture as an element in the criteria for promotion, tenure, and salary decisions for faculty.

Recommendation 3: All institutions face a challenge of limited resources. Within this constraint, institutional head(s) of research and department chairs should consider the resources they have available for safety when considering or designing programs, and identify types of research that can be done safely with available and projected resources and infrastructure.

Finding 5: There is a lack of clarity and consistency about safety roles and responsibilities across the university, particularly among faculty, researchers, and environmental health and safety personnel.

Recommendation 4: University presidents and chancellors should establish policy and deploy resources to maximize a

strong, positive safety culture. Each institution should have a comprehensive risk management plan for laboratory safety that addresses prevention, mitigation, and emergency response. These leaders should develop risk management plans and mechanisms with input from faculty, students, environmental health and safety staff, and administrative stakeholders and ensure that other university leaders, including provosts, vice presidents for research, deans, chief administrative officers, and department chairs, do so as well.

Research Group Dynamics

Many research groups have differential power dynamics, which, if not appropriately addressed, can work against the development of a strong, positive safety culture. Department chairs and principal investigators should take steps to change these dynamics, creating mechanisms that empower laboratory researchers to communicate freely about safety and take an active role in establishing and promoting a strong, positive safety culture and in sustaining a safe research enterprise. The list of findings, conclusions, and recommendations below address issues of Research Group Dynamics .

Finding 6: There is variability across academia with regard to the involvement of researchers at all levels in establishing and sustaining a strong, positive laboratory safety culture.

Finding 7: The deeply rooted hierarchy and highly competitive nature of academic research can inhibit the advancement of a strong, positive safety culture.

Finding 8: Students and postdocs are dependent on the principal investigator for their professional advancement. The power differential in this relationship may affect group members’ willingness to raise safety concerns.

Finding 9: Most researchers in academia are still in the early phases of their professional development. As such, they may not have the requisite knowledge and skills to recognize and understand the risks associated with their work.

Finding 10: Research is regularly performed independently (including during off-hours and alone) and may be carried out with limited or no oversight or feedback.

Conclusion 3: Contribution and engagement by both principal investigators and by researchers through an open and ongoing dialogue are critical to creating a strong, positive safety culture. Safety culture is more likely to be sustained when safety issues are discussed broadly and frequently as an integral part of the research training and development process.

Conclusion 4: There are several key attributes related to research group dynamics that contribute to the advancement of the laboratory safety culture. A strong, positive safety culture

• includes open communication about safety as a key element that is sought out, valued, and acted upon;
• values learning and continuous improvement with respect to safety;
• includes regular safety communication, for example, “safety moments,” in academic research events (e.g., seminars, group meetings, doctoral defenses, and teaching); and
• empowers student and research trainees to have a “voice” and maintain an environment that encourages raising safety concerns freely without fear of repercussions.

Conclusion 5: A research group with a strong, positive safety culture engages with environmental health and safety personnel collaboratively.

Recommendation 5: Department chairs and principal investigators should make greater use of teams, groups, and other engagement strategies and institutional support organizations (e.g., environmental health and safety, facilities), to establish and promote a strong, positive, safety culture.

Recommendation 6: Department chairs should provide a mechanism for creating a robust safety collaboration between researchers, principal investigators, and environmental health and safety personnel.

Data, Hazard Identification, and Analysis

In addition to improving the organizational dynamics that drive safety practice, laboratories have a need for data and to conduct analyses that will help them identify and mitigate hazards. Traditionally, safety performance has been measured using lagging or after-the-fact indicators, such as numbers of accidents and lost-time injuries. To change behavior

and culture before an incident occurs, organizations may take advantage of leading indicators : before-the-fact data that can help identify risks and vulnerabilities ahead of time. One key approach to identify hazards before they cause harm is to report and collect data on near misses. Another way to identify hazards is to conduct hazard analysis, a process to assess risks and their consequences and ensure that they are mitigated or eliminated before any lab work is initiated. The list of findings, conclusions, and recommendations below address issues of Data, Hazard Identification, and Analysis .

Finding 11: Leading indicators from hazard analysis, risk mitigation, and best practices are not being widely used in laboratory safety planning. Often these data are not being collected for academic and nonindustrial laboratories.

Finding 12: Incident and near-miss data are important sources of information for driving improved safety performance and for monitoring progress. Such key data are often repressed or distorted when there is a punitive approach in response to incidents.

Conclusion 6: Information is a key input to establishing and promoting a strong, positive safety culture. Incident and near-miss reports are important learning tools for laboratory safety, but presently are not effectively reported, compiled, analyzed, and disseminated within the research community. To ensure that useful data are available, a change in reporting and the availability and sharing of information is necessary.

Recommendation 7: Organizations should incorporate nonpunitive incident and near-miss reporting as part of their safety cultures. The American Chemical Society, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and American Council on Education should work together to establish and maintain an anonymous reporting system, building on industry efforts, for centralizing the collection of information about and lessons learned from incidents and near misses in academic laboratories, and linking these data to the scientific literature. Department chairs and university leadership should incorporate the use of this system into their safety planning. Principal investigators should require their students to utilize this system.

Finding 13: Researchers may not understand or appreciate the hazards of chemical materials and procedures in their work. This may be

especially relevant for departments in which researchers typically have less training in chemistry (e.g., molecular biology, biochemistry, and engineering), yet often work with potentially hazardous materials or procedures.

Finding 14: Hazard analysis is not routinely incorporated into experimental designs, procedures, and records in academia.

Conclusion 7: Routine hazard analysis is a critical component in research planning and execution. It represents an element of a strong, positive safety culture. Comprehensive hazard analysis and the use of engineering controls are especially important for experiments that are new to the individual and/or are being scaled up.

Recommendation 8: The researcher and principal investigator should incorporate hazard analysis into laboratory notebooks prior to experiments, integrate hazard analysis into the research process, and ensure that it is specific to the laboratory and research topic area.

Training and Learning

Training in safety practices—both initial training and ongoing mentoring and support—is an essential element in developing and sustaining a strong, positive safety culture. This is particularly important with researchers in academic labs, who are often relatively young and have limited experience. Entering (and even experienced) students may not know how to assess the risks of what they are doing, how to assess changes in risks if they change a key experimental parameter, or how to keep a small error from causing major problems. Moreover, they may not realize that a process they used in the past without apparent incident was out of the ordinary or dangerous. The list of findings, conclusions, and recommendations below address issues of Training and Learning .

Finding 15: Laboratory safety training is highly variable across institutions, departments, and research groups.

Conclusion 8: A high-quality training program is an important element of a strong, positive safety culture.

Finding 16: There is a lack of comprehensive, early, and individual-laboratory-centric training and education for researchers, principal investigators, and in some cases, environmental health and safety staff. Many

researchers arrive at a new institution or in a new laboratory without proper training or appreciation for appropriate safe laboratory practice.

Conclusion 9: Classroom and online training is necessary but not sufficient to ensure knowledge, skills, qualifications, and abilities to perform safely in a laboratory environment and to establish a strong, positive safety culture.

Recommendation 9: Department leaders and principal investigators, in partnership with environmental health and safety personnel, should develop and implement actions and activities to complement initial, ongoing, and periodic refresher training. This training should ensure understanding and the ability to execute proper protective measures to mitigate potential hazards and associated risks.

Recent serious and sometimes fatal accidents in chemical research laboratories at United States universities have driven government agencies, professional societies, industries, and universities themselves to examine the culture of safety in research laboratories. These incidents have triggered a broader discussion of how serious incidents can be prevented in the future and how best to train researchers and emergency personnel to respond appropriately when incidents do occur. As the priority placed on safety increases, many institutions have expressed a desire to go beyond simple compliance with regulations to work toward fostering a strong, positive safety culture: affirming a constant commitment to safety throughout their institutions, while integrating safety as an essential element in the daily work of laboratory researchers.

Safe Science takes on this challenge. This report examines the culture of safety in research institutions and makes recommendations for university leadership, laboratory researchers, and environmental health and safety professionals to support safety as a core value of their institutions. The report discusses ways to fulfill that commitment through prioritizing funding for safety equipment and training, as well as making safety an ongoing operational priority.

A strong, positive safety culture arises not because of a set of rules but because of a constant commitment to safety throughout an organization. Such a culture supports the free exchange of safety information, emphasizes learning and improvement, and assigns greater importance to solving problems than to placing blame. High importance is assigned to safety at all times, not just when it is convenient or does not threaten personal or institutional productivity goals. Safe Science will be a guide to make the changes needed at all levels to protect students, researchers, and staff.

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Transitioning to Safer Chemicals: A Toolkit for Employers and Workers

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What are chemical hazards and toxic substances?

Chemical hazards and toxic substances pose a wide range of health hazards (such as irritation, sensitization, and carcinogenicity) and physical hazards (such as flammability, corrosion, and explosibility).

This page provides basic information about chemical hazards and toxic substances in the workplace. While not all hazards associated with every chemical and toxic substance are addressed here, we do provide relevant links to other pages with additional information about hazards and methods to control exposure in the workplace.

How does OSHA regulate worker exposure to chemicals?

Worker education and training (Hazard Communication Standard) 29 CFR 1910.1200 , 1915.1200 , 1917.28 , 1918.90 , and 1926.59

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is designed to ensure that information about chemical and toxic substance hazards in the workplace and associated protective measures is disseminated to workers.

In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information:

• Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers;
• All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. The training for employees must also include information on the hazards of the chemicals in their work area and the measures to be used to protect themselves.

For more information see OSHA's Hazard Communication page.

Allowable airborne concentrations

Employers are required to identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in their workplaces. Various types of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) have been established by a number of organizations, and are listed on many of OSHA’s Safety and Health webpages on chemical hazards and toxic substances. Here is an explanation of some of the different levels.

29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z , 1915 Subpart Z , 1926 Subparts D and Z

OSHA sets enforceable permissible exposure limits (PELs) to protect workers against the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances, including limits on the airborne concentrations of hazardous chemicals in the air. Most OSHA PELs are 8-hour time-weighted averages (TWA), although there are also Ceiling and Peak limits, and many chemicals include a skin designation to warn against skin contact. Approximately 500 PELs have been established.

Most of OSHA’s PELs for General Industry are contained in 1910.1000 – Air Contaminants , and are listed by chemical name in Tables Z-1 , Z-2 , and Z-3 . The standards for Marine Terminals and Longshoring both incorporate the General Industry standards (1910 Subpart Z).

Most of OSHA’s PELs for Shipyard Employment are contained in 1915.1000 – Toxic and Hazardous Substances , and are listed by chemical name.

Most of OSHA’s PELs for Construction are contained in 1926.55 – Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts, and Mists , and are listed by chemical name.

However, many of these limits are outdated . Also, there are many substances for which OSHA does not have workplace exposure limits.

To provide employers, workers, and other interested parties with a list of alternate occupational exposure limits that may serve to better protect workers, OSHA has annotated the existing Z-Tables with additional selected occupational exposure limits. OSHA has chosen to present a side-by-side table with the California/OSHA PELs, the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) and the ACGIH ® TLVs ® . The tables list air concentration limits, but do not include notations for skin injury, absorption or sensitization.

Cal/OSHA has established an extensive list of PELs ( Cal/OSHA AC-1 Table ) that are enforced in workplaces under its jurisdiction. Cal/OSHA PELs are promulgated under statutory requirements for risk and feasibility that are no less protective than the OSH Act. Though not enforceable in establishments outside of Cal/OSHA’s jurisdiction, these PELs can provide information on acceptable levels of chemicals in the workplace. Of all the states that have OSHA-approved State Plans , California has the most extensive list of PELs.

NIOSH RELs are Federal agency recommendations established according to the legislative mandate for NIOSH to recommend standards to OSHA. RELs are recommended exposure limits for hazardous substances in the workplace to protect worker health. In developing RELs and other recommendations to protect worker health, NIOSH evaluates all available medical, biological, engineering, chemical, and trade information relevant to the hazard. NIOSH transmits its recommendations to OSHA for use in developing legally enforceable standards. NIOSH also publishes its recommendations in publicly available sources such as the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards , Criteria Documents, Current Intelligence Bulletins, Alerts, Special Hazard Reviews, Occupational Hazard Assessments, and Technical Guidelines.

ACGIH ® is a private, not-for-profit, nongovernmental corporation. It is not a standards setting body. ACGIH ® is a scientific association that develops recommendations or guidelines to assist in the control of occupational health hazards. TLVs ® and BEIs ® are health-based values and are not intended to be used as legal standards.

Threshold Limit Values (TLVs ® ) refer to airborne concentrations of chemical substances and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, over a working lifetime, without adverse effects.

Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs ® ) are guidance values for assessing biological monitoring results – concentrations of chemicals in biological media (e.g., blood, urine). BEIs ® represent the levels of determinants that are most likely to be observed in specimens collected from healthy workers who have been exposed to chemicals in the same extent as workers with inhalation exposure at the TLV ® .

Since ACGIH ® TLVs ® and BEIs ® are based solely on health factors, there is no consideration given to economic or technical feasibility. ACGIH ® does not believe that TLVs ® and BEIs ® should be adopted as standards without an analysis of other factors necessary to make appropriate risk management decisions (e.g., control options, technical and economic factors).

For more information on TLVs ® , please go to the TLVs ® and BEIs ® Guidelines page. The TLVs ® and BEIs ® are copyrighted by ACGIH ® and are reprinted on OSHA’s Annotated PELs page with ACGIH’s permission. The TLVs can be purchased in their entirety on the ACGIH ® website . Permission must be requested from ACGIH ® to reproduce the TLVs ® and BEIs ® . A link for a permission request form appears on OSHA’s Annotated PELs page.

The ACGIH ® TLVs ® are widely recognized as authoritative, and are required to be included on safety data sheets by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.

What other common terms are used when discussing chemical hazards or toxic substances?

How do i control chemical hazards and toxic substances.

It is OSHA's long standing policy that engineering and work practice controls must be the primary means to reduce employee exposure to toxic chemicals, where feasible. Respiratory protection is required to be used if engineering or work practice controls are infeasible or while engineering controls are being implemented. For more information on engineering controls/administrative controls see the Controlling Exposure page.

What are the requirements for respirator use?

When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used. Employers must provide appropriate respiratory protection at no cost to workers, provide appropriate training and education regarding its use, and ensure that workers use it properly. (See 29 CFR 1910.134 or OSHA's Respiratory Protection Safety and Health Topics Page )

A review and critique of academic lab safety research

• A. Dana Ménard   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3503-5559 1 &
• John F. Trant   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4780-4968 2  

Nature Chemistry volume  12 ,  pages 17–25 ( 2020 ) Cite this article

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Over the past ten years, there have been several high-profile accidents in academic laboratories around the world, resulting in significant injuries and fatalities. The aftermath of these incidents is often characterized by calls for reflection and re-examination of the academic discipline’s approach to safety research and policy. However, the study of academic lab safety is still underdeveloped and necessary data about changes in safety attitudes and behaviours has not been gathered. This Review article critically examines the state of academic chemical safety research from a multifactorial stance, including research on the occurrence of lab accidents, contributors to lab accidents, the state of safety training research and the cultural barriers to conducting safety research and implementing safer lab practices. The Review concludes by delineating research questions that must be addressed to minimize future serious academic laboratory incidents as well as stressing the need for committed leadership from our research institutions.

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Acknowledgements

ADM and JFT would like to thank the University of Windsor for salary support for the preparation of this work. We would also like to thank C. Houser, K. Soucie, M. Bondy, J. Hayward and D. Cavallo-Medved for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper.

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Ménard, A.D., Trant, J.F. A review and critique of academic lab safety research. Nat. Chem. 12 , 17–25 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-019-0375-x

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The Omnipresence of PFAS—and What We Can Do About Them

PFAS are raising a red flag among public health and environmental advocates.

Morgan Coulson

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as “forever chemicals”—are everywhere.

Created in the 1940s, these synthetic compounds are an unseen ingredient in many items that we use in our daily lives, like cleaning products, food packaging, nonstick cookware, cosmetics, personal care items like dental floss,  water-repellent clothing, as well as stain-resistant carpets and upholstery. Since the 1970s, they have also been used in firefighting foams and by the military.  

“Food is another potential source,” says  Carsten Prasse , PhD, MSc, assistant professor in  Environmental Health and Engineering . “Unfortunately, PFAS are also present in biosolids which are used as agricultural fertilizer,” creating a pathway from contaminated soil to produce in the grocery store.  

Because of their longevity and resistance to disintegration—a characteristic born of their carbon-fluorine chemical bonds—PFAS can last thousands of years. These “attributes also make them very resistant to degradation in our treatment systems,” says Prasse.

The most common method of destroying PFAS is incineration, but some studies  indicate that this fails to eliminate all the chemicals, and instead releases the remaining pollution into the air.

In water treatment systems, the main methods for destroying PFAS are reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and ion-exchange resins—but these technologies are costly. Other methods include  supercritical water oxidation ,  plasma reactors , and most recently,  sodium hydroxide (lye) and dimethyl sulfoxide , chemicals used in soap and as a medication for bladder pain syndrome, respectively.

But when items containing PFAS inevitably reach landfills, the compounds leach into the environment. And every day, people flush PFA-laden products—like shampoo, cleaning liquids, even some toilet papers—down the drain.

“If they're not removed in our wastewater treatment plants, [PFAS] get into our rivers, streams, and groundwater, which are commonly used for drinking water production,” Prasse says. “Around 50% of our rivers and streams contain measurable PFAS concentrations.”  

According to a  2020 study published in Science by the Environmental Working Group,  an estimated 200 million Americans are served by water systems that contain PFAS. And it’s not just public systems— a  2023 study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that approximately 20% of private wells are contaminated. 

These compounds are now so ubiquitous, that  an estimated 98% of the U.S. population has detectable concentrations in their blood. That’s concerning, since studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS may be linked to harmful health effects, both in animals and humans.

“We know today that even very low concentrations can impact the reproductive system, [have] developmental effects, increase risk of certain cancers, reduce immune response, as well as increase cholesterol levels,” Prasse says. The Environmental Protection Agency  also links the compounds to thyroid disorders, obesity, and asthma.

Individuals who may have had high exposure to PFAS—in firefighting or chemical manufacturing industries, for example—should consider blood testing, Prasse says. “I think it is valuable …  because it allows them at least to talk to medical professionals, to think about follow-up examinations, to really monitor potential health effects.”

Prasse says we still know very little about the health impacts of PFAS, especially on a population level. While these compounds have been around for some time, there is insufficient research to answer many questions that have emerged over decades.

But some action is being taken. Last year, the EPA proposed  the first federal limits on forever chemicals in drinking water. And in February 2024, the agency proposed  that nine PFAS be categorized as hazardous to human health —a designation only applied to substances that are toxic or cause cancer, genetic mutation, or embryo malformation.

“The main reason for the step that the EPA is taking is that there's increasing evidence that there are toxic effects on a variety of levels,” Prasse says. “It will hopefully lead to more research to address the presence of these compounds in the environment, but also to more efforts to really elucidate the health impacts of these chemicals.”

  The proposal would classify the chemicals as "hazardous constituents" under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, making it easier for the agency to clean up contaminated sites—and to allocate funds to treat affected drinking water.  

But these nine compounds are only the tip of the iceberg. 

“We estimate there are more than 12,000 individual PFAS compounds, and unfortunately for most of them, we have basically no understanding about toxicity, and we don't really know a lot about their occurrence in the environment,” Prasse says. “I think the step by the EPA is really urgently needed to protect our drinking water and ultimately our health.”

  A  small study published in Environment International this month showed that cholestyramine—a cholesterol-lowering drug—could help scrub toxic forever chemicals from the blood of people who have been highly exposed. But the most efficient way to reduce contamination is preventatively, Prasse says, by regulating PFAS production and cleaning up the environment—especially waterways—and ensuring that our drinking water facilities are equipped to remove these compounds.

  “The issue at this point is really that we don't know what levels are concerning or lead to health effects, and which don't,” Prasse adds. “That's something that only the future will tell.”

Prasse and other experts recommend a variety of actions to minimize exposure to PFAS:  

• Avoid using nonstick cookware.
• Limit use of food packaging, such as grease-resistant takeout containers.
• Filter your water at the tap, with pitchers that are certified for PFAS.
• Avoid wearing water-resistant textiles.
• Seek out PFAS-free retailers’ products—including  menstrual products and large items like carpets or furniture.

Morgan Coulson is an editorial associate in the Office of External Affairs at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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Essay on Industrial Safety

After reading this essay you will learn about:- 1. Introduction to Industrial Safety 2. Losses Due to Accidents in Industries 3. Causes of Accidents in Industries 4. Factors Responsible for Accidents in Industries 5. Measures for Preventing Accidents in Industries

Essay # 1. Introduction to Industrial Safety :

Safety is very important aspect for any industry as an accident free work environment boosts the morale of the team members working in any hazardous situations. Recognising these facts industries involving various hazards and risks industries prepare their own safety policy, safety manual and have a separate department/section for safety so as to create proper aware­ness and provide the know-how-about the safety.

Adherence to the useful information, rules, and mandatory requirements governing the safety and guidelines will help prevent occupa­tional injuries and accidents which constitute an unavoidable and needless waste of human and material resources.

Safety means continuing and healthful living without injury. Safety is freedom from harm or the danger of harm. The word safety also refers to the precautions people take to prevent accidents, harm, danger, damage, loss and pollution. Safety also deals with improvement in working conditions for better health. Management is responsible to provide safe working condi­tion and individual’s safety.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

All undesired events in a workplace which can give rise to death, ill health, injury, damage or other loss need to be thoroughly investigated, people are trained to safeguard against them, and need to be eliminated. Similarly, all hazards, i.e., source/situation capable of injury or ill health, damage too properly or workplace environment etc., should be identified and action plan drawn for safeguard against them.

It is not only sufficient to care of safety but other two inter-related aspects, viz., health (well-being of employees) and environment are also given equal importance and considerations. All these three elements i.e., safety, health and environment (also known as SHE) are inter-related and affect each other. For instance, if health of employee is not given due regards, it may lead to accidents.

If industry pollutes the environment around work place, it will affect health of employees which may ultimately affect production. It is only if health and environment are in control than safety can be ensured. Each industry, therefore, has certain obligations towards keeping good environment and also towards health of people.

Occupational health hazards means:

1. Conditions that cause legally compensable illness,

2. Any conditions in the workplace that impair the health of employees enough to make them lose time from work or to work at less than full efficiency.

Various health hazards that may cause sickness, impaired health or significant discomfort or inefficient in workplace are:

(a) Physical hazards like noise, vibration, thermal stress; radiations, ill lighting.

(b) Chemical hazards like dust, fumes, fibres, gases,

(c) Biological hazards,

(d) Ergonomics hazards,

(e) Mechanical hazards, and

(f) Psychological hazards.

For works which by their very nature expose workers to hazards, appropriate preventing measures should be taken to avoid any danger to the safety and health of workers, the preven­tive measures should place emphasis on the need to eliminate or reduce the hazard at the source.

Essay # 2. Losses Due to Accidents in Industries :

Now-a-days, serious attention is being paid in this matter, because now it has been clearly understood that these accidents cause heavy losses. In these losses, some are direct losses and are some indirect losses.

Direct Losses:

These are the losses to the employer, which he pays to the worker for compensation. Employer also pays for medical expenses incurred on the worker. This type of losses can be measured in terms of money.

Indirect Losses:

These indirect losses arise from the following sources:

1. Loss of time of the injured person.

2. Loss of time of his fellow workers, who stop work at the time of accident to help him or to show sympathy or for curiosity.

3. Loss of time of supervisors;

(a) In assisting injured worker;

(b) In investigation and preparing a report of accident;

(c) In making alternative arrangement;

(d) In selecting and training the new worker to fill the vacancy if accident causes death of the worker.

4. Loss due to damage caused to machines.

5. Loss due to reduction in the efficiency of the worker when he returns after recovery.

6. Loss due to the reduction in the efficiency of other workers due to fall in their morale.

7. Losses to the injured worker.

Injured worker suffers the following losses:

(a) Loss to his income.

(b) Loss due to medical expenditure,

(c) Pain felt by worker, which cannot be compensated.

Essay # 3. Causes of Accidents in Industries :

Majority of industrial accidents are due to transmission machinery (gears, belts, pulleys, couplings, shafting etc.); cutters, tools and clutch of cutting machines etc.

To minimise the accidents, it is necessary to know about the cause of accidents.

General causes for accidents are given below:

1. Accidents due to dangerous machines:

These accidents occur from boilers, pressure vessels, prime movers, transmission system etc.

2. Unsafe physical condition:

It includes improper guards, improper illumination, im­proper ventilation, unsafe clothing’s.

3. Moving objects:

Sometimes moving object or falling object causes accidents.

4. Personal factors:

Sometimes accidents occur due to some personal factors like lack of knowledge, physical weakness.

5. Unsafe acts:

It is violence of commonly accepted safe procedure.

These include:

(i) working at unsafe speed,

(ii) loading machines beyond capacity

(iii) not using safety devices, and

(iv) adopting unsafe procedure.

6. Electrical causes:

Some of the important causes are:

(a) Do not providing proper protecting devices.

(b) Not obeying proper instructions and not following safety precautions.

(c) Failure to use insulated pliers, screw-drivers and rubber gloves etc.

7. Exposure to harmful substances:

Injuries due to accidents are also caused due to expo­sure to harmful substances, like toxic gases, fumes, dust, vapour mist and aerosols.

Types of Industrial Accidents :

Industrial accidents may be divided in two general classes:

(a) Machinery Accidents:

These accidents are caused by inadequate safeguards of ma­chines.

(b) Non-Machinery Accidents:

These accidents are caused due to personal reasons such as age, physical weakness, inexperience and carelessness or from the plant conditions such as poor ventilation and illumination etc.

Machinery accidents can be reduced by providing safety guards on belts, gears etc.

Essay # 4. Factors Responsible for Accidents in Industries :

It has been seen that accidents are more frequent with younger persons.

(ii) Experience:

Rate of accidents for more experienced workers is less than those of less experienced workers.

(iii) Physical Condition:

Experiments have shown that minor illness like sore throat, headache etc. is responsible for accidents to a large extent. These small frequent illnesses are responsible for lowering general health.

(iv) Fatigue:

It has been seen that suitably arranged rest pauses reduce the number of accidents to a large extent. As these reduce the fatigue, therefore accidents which occur due to excess fatigue are reduced to a large extent.

Experiments have shown that when only one lunch-break is provided then accidents tend to increase with each successive hour of work in the morning and reaching a maximum approxi­mately at 11 A.M., then reduces in the noon.

Number of accidents again starts rising, reaching maximum value towards the later part of the afternoon but a slight drop in the last hour (prob­ably it occurs due to the fact that in this hour speed of work decreases and worker feels relaxed mentally that shortly after he will be free).

(v) Rate of Production:

This factor should also be considered while considering the cause of accidents. The study in this aspect shows that number of accidents increases with the in­crease in production but the proportion of accidents tends to decrease with the increasing pro­duction. That the rate of change in accidents per man-hour is less than the rate of change in production per man-hour.

(vi) Atmospheric Conditions:

Study has shown that accidents are found to be minimum at a temperature of 67.5°F (nearly 20°C). At higher temperatures, rate of accidents increases and after 24°C rate of accidents increases considerably.

(vii) Illumination:

Illumination also affects the accident liability. Dim illumination raises accident frequency. In day light, accidents frequency is less as compared to artificial illumina­tion.

Working Conditions affecting Health :

Working conditions also affect the work. When a worker is allowed to work in good working conditions then his efficiency increases a lot.

Bad environment or working condition may ulti­mately leads to:

(i) Physiological Fatigue;

(ii) Mental Fatigue i.e., feeling of boredom; and

(iii) Decreased efficiency resulting in reduced output. In earlier days, no attention was paid on the working conditions like illumination, humidity, air ventilation, tempera­ture etc. But its importance is now being realised.

(i) Mental Environment:

Good working conditions produce a good effect on the workers’ psychology in addition to greater efficiency. In such conditions, worker will always be ready to offer his services and co-operation. It is necessary for the success of an industry that workers should have good co-ordination.

A worker working in an atmosphere of badly ventilated and hot conditions will feel discom­fort and fatigue. His efficiency will decrease and he will not be able to take interest in the work.

Proper ventilation takes away the heat of human body, furnaces, boiler and other equip­ment thus reducing the effect of heat to some extent. Proper ventilation also removes damp­ness.

Arrangement of air fans in a systematic way also helps to achieve this object. Sometimes, air fans placed in wrong direction send air through furnace, hot parts of machines, etc. Thus transmitting the heat to the workers which they would have not received otherwise.

(ii) Illumination:

Poor illumination reduces the speed of work and results in strain on eyes and causes more accidents. Light should come from the right direction and of desired illumination.

In artificial light, glare is most common defect; it is harmful to the eyes. It also produces strain and headache. Spoilage of work also increases due to glare.

(iii) Hours of Work:

Working hours should be distributed uniformly over the week. A worker should get atleast one weekly holiday so that he can enjoy on that day, and feelings of fatigue and boredom from his mind are removed, and thus he may return on duty as fresh in next week.

Rest pauses also reduce mental fatigue of the worker and hence they should be properly distributed, i.e., at least 5 minutes break in one working hour and one lunch break should be allowed. Duration of rest may vary slightly depending upon the nature of work and working conditions.

(iv) Noise and Vibrations:

Too much noise and vibrations produce mental fatigue and reduce the efficiency of the worker. Although noise cannot be stopped totally for a running machinery but can be reduced by enclosing the source of noise, use of baffles and sound proof materials etc.

Its reduction is very necessary because it is very difficult to concentrate on the work in too much noise. Sometimes too much noise also adversely affects the hearing capacity of the workers. Noise and vibrations can also be controlled to some extent by proper maintenance, checking, lubrication, proper functions etc.

(v) Plant and Shop Layout:

Systematic layout is very helpful for reducing accidents, movement of the products etc. If the shop layout is such that it looks pleasant then worker will take more interest in his work. The layout should be such that material handling becomes economical and safe, and overcrowding is reduced.

Pas­sage for movement should be quite safe and space should be sufficient enough. It should be planned in such a way that every worker gets sufficient natural light in proper direction.

A well designed factory looks pleasing where worker feels proud in working and take more interest in his work. Therefore, factory should be kept clean, doors and windows should be properly coloured and walls should be white-washed so that atmosphere in the factory looks cheerful.

Essay # 5. Measures for Preventing Accidents in Industries:

To prevent the accidents, there is a need for consistent implementation of safety measures.

Some of the important safety measures helpful for preventing accidents are:

2. Safe Material Handling:

(a) Hoists, Cranes, Lifts etc. must be of sound construction. They must be tested periodi­cally and well maintained.

(b) Avoid fatigue of workers, use handling devices where possible.

(c) Ensure safety during handling.

4. Safe Activities in the Organisation:

Each organisation has some peculiarities. On the basis of working methods, its process, and other conditions accident prone activities, and places etc. identified: Past records also help in identification of such activities or areas. All out efforts must be made to reduce chances of accidents in these accident prone areas or activities.

6. General Measures:

i. Safety. By providing proper safeguards to the machines, accidents can be prevented. Some guards are built into a permanent casing, while some are attached afterwards.

ii. Fencing. Machines or their parts should be fenced, if it is not possible to provide safeguards.

iii. All boilers and other pressure vessels must be kept in proper condition. Safety valves, pressure gauges and water gauges etc. must be examined thoroughly at regular inter­vals.

iv. Hoists, cranes and lifts etc. must be of sound construction. They must be tested peri­odically.

v. Physical conditions. Sufficient illumination and ventilation should be provided. Floor should be free from oiliness and should be kept clean.

vi. Safety measures include special clothing for the protection of body, such as gloves, apron, goggles, etc. Loose clothing may be a source of danger.

vii. Repair work on marines should not be done when it is running.

viii. All the tools should be kept at their proper places.

ix. Chips should not be removed by hand.

x. Workers should be trained about correct procedures and they should be educated about safety precautions. Constant warning, publicity and play cards carrying slo­gans (as ‘safety-first’, Danger ‘440 volts’ etc.) are also helpful to reduce accidents.

xi. Fire hazard. To avoid the danger, inflammable materials should be kept away from general storage at a safe distance (minimum 50 ft. or 15.25 m). Fire extinguishers should be kept at suitable places.

xii. Prevention of electric accidents.

To prevent electric accidents following measures should be taken:

a. Electrical insulation should be periodically tested.

b. Use proper tools for testing and repairing.

c. Work should be done after switching the power off.

d. Use such safety equipment as insulated tools and rubber gloves etc. whenever necessary.

Essay # 6. General Precautions to Prevent Accidents in Industries :

Following are some of the common precautions which should be observed from industrial safety point of view, so as to prevent accidents:

1. Always remain alert, and in proper physical and mental condition.

2. Always wear right clothing for the jobs, wear safety glasses, gloves, footwear, hard hat etc. as per the job requirement. Do not wear ties, rings or watches etc. which can be caught by moving parts of the equipment.

3. Keep hands away from moving parts such as fan, V-belt, gears, drive shafts etc.

4. Before operation, make sure you are well conversant with the equipment and its operation.

5. Follow maintenance schedule.

6. Follow precautions suggested by the manufacturer.

7. Keep the machine and area clean.

8. Always keep a safe speed as per the working conditions and the job requirement.

9. Always use proper tools, and they should be free from grease and oil, and properly maintained.

10. Never check for leaks in a pressurised system with hand, as this may drive oil through pores under the skin.

11. Always keep guards and covers in position while operating a machine.

12. Do not perform maintenance work when machine is in operation.

13. Never put the machine on loads exceeding their capacities.

14. Machines should be carefully inspected at regular intervals.

15. Follow all the provisions laid down in various Acts.

16. Follow all the instructions as mentioned under heading ‘Preventive Measures’.

Hazard is a source or a situation with potential to cause harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property or environment or both. Hazards are identified in the performance of various activities, storage and handling of materials, and operation and maintenance of plants and equipment’s.

Hazard control is that function which is oriented towards recognizing, evaluating and working towards eliminating hazards and destructive effects found at the work-place.

Hazards may be classified as under:

1. Mechanical Hazards.

2. Electrical Hazards.

3. Chemical Hazards.

1. Mechanical Hazards:

These are responsible for the majority of the accidents in work situations, therefore every workplace and equipment should be properly examined for identify­ing mechanical hazards and for taking mitigating measures.

Common sources of mechanical hazards are:

(a) Unguarded or inadequately guarded moving parts or pits etc.

(b) Machine tools, hand tools, handling materials, lifting and other appliances.

(c) Improper ventilation, unsafe dress or apparel etc.

(d) Improper use of tools.

2. Electrical Hazards:

These may be due to contact of body with wire, cable or rail or from stroke of lightening. The immediate effect of this is shock which may be relatively mild or severe so as to cause death (electrocution) depending upon the strength of the current and/or the path it takes passing the earth through the body. Another result is burning and the burns may be severe and deep, especially with higher voltage.

Causes of the electric hazards may be of the following types:

(a) Electric shocks may be caused by an exposed live conductor or a faulty piece of equip­ment.

(b) A mobile crane boom, a man carrying or climbing an aluminium ladder, or vertical metal bars etc. can come in contact with overhead power lines, electric crane rails, open-faced substation switchboards etc.

(c) Other causes may be unskilled electricians, improper, instructions, defective wiring which may cause short circuit, poor installations, misuse or overloading.

(d) Ageing and attack by foreign materials causes insulation failures which causes elec­trical fires or cases of electrocution.

In such cases:

(a) Switch off the current.

(b) And/or remove casualty from the contact with current using insulated material and avoid receiving shock by the person rescuing the victim.

(c) Artificial respiration is given, if breathing has stopped.

3. Chemical Hazards:

The usage of chemicals with the resultant hazardous gases, vapours and fumes is one of the most dangerous industries.

The effects of noxious gases are:

(a) Simple asphyxiants, e.g., nitrogen gas, methane gas, carbon dioxide.

(b) Chemical osphysciants, e.g., carbon monoxide, hydrogen-sulphide, hydro-cyanic acid.

(c) Irritant gases, e.g., nitrogen dioxide or peroxide, flourine, hydrogen flouride, sulphur dioxide, ammonia.

(d) Organic metallic gases, e.g., assenic hydride.

(e) Inorganic metallic gases.

Several toxic chemicals and fluids are found in industries using sulphuric acid, nitric acid, soda, chloride of lime, chloride of phosphrous, sulphur chloride, phosphene chloride of zinc, nitrous chloride, iodine, artificial fertilizers, rubber, petroleum, tar etc.

Essay # 7. Safety Education and Training :

There should be proper facilities to impart training in safety measures to the worker. This can be accomplished by safety posters, safety films, safety contests and suggestions. These are useful to increase the interest of employees in accident prevention. The purpose of this training is to induce care in the use of dangerous tools or in carrying out risky operations.

Training manager identifies the training need of every person in the organisation with long range and short range planning. Training record is maintained for every employee and training requirements are reviewed regularly.

Safety training is an important factor in managing safety in any industry. Industrial con­cerns should provide as a minimum the following types of training:

2. Refresher Training:

Refresher Training should be conducted at regular intervals to ensure that all work­ers are kept up-to-date with safety requirements.

3. Specific Training:

Specific Training should be provided to the persons with safety related tasks such as crane operators, slingers, plant operators etc.

Essay # 8. Safety Efforts by Government :

In order to ensure industrial safety, government has made number of legislations like, the Factories Act 1948, Indian Electricity Act 1884, Mines Act 1952, Indian Boilers Act 1923; Workmen’s Compensation Act; Indian Electricity Act 1910; Petroleum Act 1934 which governs the safety of personnel and equipment in industrial units in the country.

But we know that legislation alone cannot ensure safety in industrial operations, unless effective approach to prevention of accidents and promotion of safety consciousness in industry is achieved.

This is possible by adopting proper control measures including safe designs of machines and processes, use of protection devices and personal protective equipment’s, effective safety procedures and practices as well as creation of self-regulating system on the shop-floor.

To assure safety to workers and eliminating chances of damage to machinery and equipment, Indian Standards Institute has done commendable job.

It lays down:

(i) Safety precautions to be taken during manufacturing operations.

(ii) Requirements for effective maintenance of tools and equipment’s.

(iii) Standards for proper layout, proper lighting and ventilation of factory building.

(iv) Guidance on safe welding and cutting, use of powered industrial trucks, belt convey­ors fire-fighting equipment’s.

(v) Standards and specifications of safe industrial operations and practices.

(vi) Classification of hazardous chemicals and use of accident prevention tags and picto­rial markings for handling and labeling of dangerous goods.

(vii) Safety codes for handling acids and other chemicals.

(viii) Safety requirements for personal protective equipment’s.

(ix) Standards for fire safety in industrial buildings and safety procedures to be followed in electrical work and use of electrical appliances in hazardous area and explosive atmosphere.

(x) Specifications for protective clothing, safety helmets, face shields and safety equipment are for eyes, ears, lungs, hands, feet and legs. These include eye and ear protec­tors, gas mask, gloves, safety boots and shoes for mines and heavy metal industries etc.

Essay # 9. Safety Programme :

Certain persons are made responsible for safety aspect in the organisation. Now-a-days, safety committee concept is becoming popular. A safety committee consists of executives, super­visors and shop floor workers. This also helps in creating safety consciousness. This is a body which deals all matters related to safety.

Safety programmes analyses causes of accidents, and takes remedial measures which aim at r educing accidents and losses which might occur due to them. Safety programme is a continu­ous process and minimises the factors related to personal and environmental which may cause accidents Safety equipment’s are provided to save employees from accidents. Special trainings are imparted to employees on safety aspects.

In order to create awareness, safety weeks are organised, safety instructions are displayed. It is also necessary to make necessary safety rules and enforce them.

For effectiveness of the safety programmes in an industry, it is necessary to identify the causes of accidents, study them, and take effective steps for their prevention.

For effectiveness of the plant safety programme, following areas should be covered:

i. Plant layout.

ii. House keeping.

iii. Maintenance of the equipment.

iv. Training programme for the employees.

v. Protective equipment requirement.

vi. Separate safety department, with proper communication system.

vii. Fire-fighting facilities.

Lack of training has been identified as one of the major causes of accidents. Safety aware­ness is the basic requirement for reducing accidents. Most of the accidents take place due to adoption of short cuts and/or ignoring the safety guidelines.

There is a need to prepare a safety manual which should include the mandatory use of personal protection equipment, safety aware­ness training programme, fire protection, first-aid, safety signages, accidenting reporting pro­cedure etc., each operation has its own hazards and a safety programme should be developed to mitigate the particular hazards.

Safety programme in an industry must receive the full support of an entire organisation beginning with top management and continuing down through the ranks to include the manag­ers, supervisors and workers.

In any safety programme, following are essential:

1. Secure full support of top management

2. Direct one executive of appropriate level to direct safety programmes.

3. Give publicity to safety programmes.

4. Develop a safety programme for each job.

5. Install safety programme, creating the competition with appropriate rewards for out­standing performance.

6. Train new employees.

7. Safety practice be made effective.

8. Promote good house-keeping.

9. Maintain adequate first-aid facilities.

10. Seek assistance from insurance companies.

Safety programme is carried out in following three phases:

1. Safety Awareness:

This includes educational, on-the-job instruction training, ergonom­ics, and job safety analysis techniques.

2. Safety Implementation:

Implementation of safety programme should be the responsi­bility of all concerned.

3. Safety Programme Maintenance:

This phase is necessary to maintain enthusiasm and energy levels which do not deteriorate with time.

Essay # 10. Factors Affecting Industrial Safety :

There are large numbers of factors affecting the safety, but they can be divided into following categories:

i. Equipment related factors.

ii. Work area related factors.

iii. Environmental factors.

Now-a-days equipment are manufactured keeping all safety aspects in mind, therefore, not much concentration is required for safety aspects related to equipment, except maintenance.

Factors related to other two categories are discussed here under:

1. Working Environment:

Working environment is the single biggest factor affecting safety aspects. It varies from concern to concern, and on the type of industry, and not always possible to establish ideal conditions. However serious efforts should be made to arrive at them.

Following are the range of ideal conditions for different environmental factors that are condu­cive to ideal working conditions:

i. Temperature:

(a) 20-22°C in winter

(b) 21-24°C in summer

ii. Humidity:

25—50 percent relative humidity

iii. Noise:

Conversation from a distance of one metro should be possible without extra effort.

iv. Ventilation:

0.6 cubic metre of fresh air per man or suf­ficient enough to remove odour

2. Lifting of Load:

Although most works are done mechanically in the process of manufac­turing, still many material handling works involving load lifting are done manually. It has been experienced that a man can easily lift about 22 kg and woman about 16 kg.

But while doing work continuously in a bent position even with a small load, there will be immense strains on spine and back muscles that may result in injury especially for aged workers. Therefore, efforts must be made to keep the material at a certain height so as to minimise the strain and fatigue.

3. Chemical Safety:

Many processing and manufacturing industries use chemicals in one or other form. The chemical are hazardous mainly for their toxicity, flash point below 100°F, their reactions when mixed with other chemicals, and their decomposition under heat.

Therefore, extra care should be made and recommended safe practices should be adopted for the receipts, storage, handling and disposal of chemicals and other hazardous materials. Where necessary respiratory devices, protective clothing, safety showers, and eye wash facili­ties should be used and located at suitable places, the use of exhaust hoods, air filtering and to provide protection from gases and air borne hazards.

4. Safety Equipment:

Personal, safety equipment’s are necessary to protect from any acci­dent, like hard hats for construction workers, safety goggles and shields for welders etc. Safety shoes, protective clothing, respirators are also used to protect from hostile environment.

Essay # 11. Personal Protection Equipment (P.P.E.) :

Personal protection equipment (PPE) is attached to the human body for protection against injury or harm. Human body is delicate and prone to injury by various industrial hazards. Use of PPE helps in minimising injury.

Safety management’s main objectives are to eliminate hazardous conditions, prevent acci­dents, and to minimise hazards. However, the PPE provides additional and essential back-up protection to the workers.

Sensitive parts of the body requiring protection include the following:

Sensitive to bright light, particles, dust, fumes.

Sensitive to noise, sound.

Sensitive to particles, chemical liquids/fumes/gases, flying objects

4. Nose, Lungs, respiratory system:

Sensitive to chemical fumes, dust, poisonous gases

5. Head and Neck:

Sensitive to flying objects, accidental hitting.

6. Arms hand and fingers:

Sensitive to accidental hitting, insertion in rotating part.

7. Leg and foot:

Sensitive to falling of objects, chemicals.

Sensitive to electric shock, heat and cold.

Sensitive to heat and cold.

Under various provisions of the Factories Act and rules thereunder suitable PPE is re­quired to be provided. Attempts are therefore made to design process of construction and generation of power efficiently and safely. Efforts should also be made to keep all hazards under control. It must be kept in mind that PPE do not eliminate the hazard, these are designed to interpose an effective barrier between a person and harmful objects, substances or radiations.

Suitable PPE meets the following requirements:

1. Adequate protection against the hazards.

2. Maximum comfort and minimum weight compatible with protective efficiency.

3. Durability and susceptibility of maintenance.

4. Construction in accordance with the accepted standards for performance.

List of Important Protection Equipment (PPE):

Essay # 12. First-Aid :

Although in factories, sufficient safety measures are taken to minimise accidents but acci­dents cannot be totally avoided and hence, proper first-aid facilities for common accidents such as fire, heat stroke, cuts etc. must be provided in every factory by the employers.

A first-aid box is provided in the charge of a responsible person, who must be always avail­able in working hours and he should be trained in first-aid.

Some firms have elaborate arrangements of stretcher service, ambulance arrangements, surgeries etc. in the works dispensary.

The workers as human being are entitled to every consideration at the hands of the man­agement and it lies in the administration to institute adequate precautionary and prompt first- aid towards its workers. And hence, it is essential that the management should be fully equipped to offer first-aid to the workers.

The specified contents of first-aid box in workshops employing more than 60 persons (as per Factory Act) are:

1. Twenty four small sterilized dressings.

2. Twelve medium size sterilized dressings.

3. Twelve large size sterilized dressings.

4. (10 gms) packets sterilized cotton wool.

5. One snake bite lancet.

6. One pair of scissors.

7. Twelve large size burn dressings.

8. Two (25 gms) bottles of potassium permanganate crystals.

9. One (100 gms) bottle containing two percent alcoholic solution.

10. One (100 gms) bottle of salvotative having the dose and mode of administration indi­cated on label.

11. One copy of first-aid leaflet.

12. Twelve rolled bandages 10 cm wide.

13. Twelve rolled bandages 5 cm wide.

14. Two rolls of adhesive plaster.

15. Six triangular bandages.

16. Two packets of safety pins.

17. A supply of suitable splits.

18. One townquet.

19. Eye drops.

Treatment for Electric Shock :

The following precautions must be observed while working on electrical works to protect against shocks:

1. Before working on “Live Mains” first switch off the supply of electricity to them.

2. If it is not possible to “Switch Off” the mains, see that your hands and feet are not wet

3. If a person gets an electric shock, rescue him with the help of an insulator. If the insulator is not available use your feet and not the hands to rescue him.

4. While working on high voltage, stand on bad conducting material.

If any person gets an electric shock, the following steps must be taken for his treatment:

Removal from the Contact:

If the person who is shocked by electricity is in contact with the electrical machine or an apparatus, then one person for saving him should stand on a dry wooden chair while removing the victim; otherwise pull him with the help of a dry coat, dry rope or coconut matting etc.

Preliminary Steps:

If the patient’s clothes are smouldering then those should be extin­guished If he is breathing he should be sent to the doctor. If not breathing artificial respiration methods should be adopted to recover him. Do not give him any liquid to drink.

Fire Protection :

1. Following precautions should be taken to avoid fire hazards on all oxy-acetylene cut­ting and welding:

(a) Keep hose and cylinder valves free from grease and oil.

(b) Keep cylinders away from stoves, furnaces and other sources of heat.

(c) Only ‘Gas Lighter’ should be used to light the torch.

(d) Avoid use of oxy acetylene flame in confined spaces.

(e) For testing of leakages, use only soap water and watch for bubbles.

(f) Valve protection caps should be in place when cylinders are not in use.

2. Gas cylinders should be kept upright in approved safe place where they cannot be knocked over, and well separated from furnaces and combustion materials. Loaded and empty cylinder should be kept in separate places.

3. Oxygen cylinders should not be stored in close proximity to acetylene cylinders. In no circumstances oxygen or acetylene cylinders should be stored under direct rays of Sun or in places where excessive rise of temperature is likely to occur.

4. Following precautions should be taken during electric arc welding and cutting:

(a) Welder and all persons working in the immediate vicinity should wear suitable coloured goggles unless the work is completely shielded.

(b) Persons should never look at an electric arc with the naked eye, as it may cause serious eye injury.

(c) Only heavy duty electric cable with unbroken insulation should be used, and all connections should be water-proof. Frequent inspections should be made.

(d) Before leaving the work, welder should switch off the power supply to the equip­ment.

5. Package containing paints, varnishes, lacquers or other volatile painting materials should be kept tightly closed when not in actual use, and should be placed where they will not be exposed to excessive heat, sparks, flame or direct rays of the Sun.

6. Dirty wiping rags, paint scrapings and paint saturated debris, should not be allowed to accumulate but should be collected and disposed of at frequent intervals.

7. Smoking, open flame, exposed heating elements, and other sources of ignition of any kind should not be permitted in paint stores or areas where spray painting is done.

8. Fire extinguishers of appropriate capacity should always be at hand where flammable paint and other materials are being mixed, used or stored.

9. The smoke and hot combustion products from a fire, being lighter than surrounding air tend to rise and on reaching the roof spread out on all sides and form a floating layer and the whole building is then filled up with hot smoky gases. The provision of properly designed and suitably located vents in adequate number helps the speedy removal of smoke and hot gas, thereby preventing spread of fire, besides reducing risks of explosion of unburnt gases which may cause extensive damages.

10. All combustible waste material, wood sealings, soiled rags etc. should be removed daily and burned in suitable burning areas. The saw mill and timber yard be kept free from accumulation to combustible debris.

11. It should be ensured that the clothes worn by the workmen be not of such nature as to increase the chances of their getting involved in accident to themselves or others. As a rule, wearing of loose garments should be prohibited.

12. Smoking should be prohibited in ail flammable storages viz. carpentry, paint shops, garrages, service station etc. “No Smoking” signs should be posted on all such areas.

13. Flammable liquids, lubricants etc. should be handled and transported in safety con­tainers and drums which can be tightly capped:

14. All electric installations should be properly earthed.

15. Following fire-fighting arrangements should be made:

(a) Fire extinguishers and fire buckets, painted red, be provided at all fire hazardous locations. The extinguishers should be inspected, serviced and maintained in ac­cordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

(b) In isolated locations (away from the cities), it will be necessary to provide for and install complete fire-fighting facilities including provision for fire tenders com­mensurate with the numbers, size and importance of equipment’s, buildings or supplies to be protected.

(c) Since portable hand extinguishers have limited capacity, full reliance should never be placed on them. Water in ample quantity and under adequate pressure should always be available for fire fighting

(d) Fire exit and fire alarm arrangements should be provided at all locations featur­ing hazards.

(e) All staff should be conversant with the use of all types of fire extinguishing appa­ratuses. Demonstrations and training in fire-fighting should be conducted at sufficient intervals.

Fire Fighting, Detection and Alarm System :

Fire-fighting systems include:

1. Water sprays system (sprinkler system):

Generally used for offices, stores, turbine- generators, transformer and boiler front areas.

2. CO 2 system:

These are used in enclosed areas, switchgear room, cable tunnels, and gas turbine/engine cells.

3. Dry chemical powder (DCP) system:

Dry chemical powder (DCP) system, used for control room, offices, electrical plant etc.

4. Foam system:

Foam system, used for fuel-oil storage tank protection.

5. Halon System:

This is used for computer room, cable tunnels, control-relay room and other light current auxiliary system rooms.

6. Hydrant system:

This is used for general use throughout the plant.

7. Water Hose-reels:

Used in offices, stores, and workshop corridors etc.

Total Fire Protection System includes:

1. Fire Detection systems.

2. Fire Alarm systems.

3. Fire Alarm and Control Panel.

4. Fire Hydrant System.

Smoke indicates presence of fire. Flame, light and heat confirm the presence of fire. Fire must be detected rapidly and it should be quenched before it grows. Fire is detected by the fire detection system comprising fire detectors.

The fire detectors are located in various zones of the plant, substations and are connected to the fire alarm and fire control panel located in the control room and to the automatic fire fighting system distributed in the plant.

The detection of smoke/fire, sounding of alarm and initiating the fire extinguishing action can be achieved by various methods. Fire detector system initiates fire alarm system. The operation of a fire detector is immediately indicated and buzzer is sounded on the respective zone window of the panel. This initiate operation of automatic fire fighting system in the af­fected zone.

Related Articles:

• Causes of Accident: 4 Important Causes of Accident | Employee Management
• Employee Health and Safety
• Good Housekeeping: Necessity, Procedure and Advantages | Industries
• Essay on Industrial Relations

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The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency that investigates the root causes of major chemical incidents.

Our mission is to drive chemical safety change through independent investigations to protect people and the environment. The agency was created under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

IN THE CSB’S 25-YEAR HISTORY, the agency has deployed to over 170 chemical incidents and issued nearly 900   recommendations that have led to numerous safety improvements across a wide variety of industries. 

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At about 6:46 p.m. on September 20, 2022, an accidental release of flammable chemical chemicals ignited, creating a fire that fatally injured two workers and resulted in substantial property damages at the BP-Husky refinery in Oregon, Ohio .  . 

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Call For Papers: National Laboratories’ Safety Successes, Challenges, Research, and Approaches

• Mar 27, 2024

This Virtual Special Issue will expand the reach of US national laboratories and provide an opportunity to share their efforts with the global scientific community. Submit your manuscript by October 31, 2024.

The work of the National Laboratories is at the forefront of innovation and the cutting edge of technical capabilities. In the Labs’ never-ending quest to learn more, understand better, and advance scientific discovery further, this VSI seeks to glean safety insights from individuals across the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories network—from both the professionals with safety in their job titles and those creating safety in their day-to-day work.

This Virtual Special Issue from ACS Chemical Health & Safety is for those performing work at the Laboratories to share their stories of challenges, successes, and learnings with the larger scientific community—to make outsiders into insiders – as we continue along this safety journey together.

Topics include, but are not limited to :

• Fundamental chemical safety research and datasets
• Chemical health safety and security warnings
• Chemical risk assessment and management for all settings

Organizing Editor

Cheryl MacKenzie , Editorial Advisory Board member, ACS Chemical Health & Safety Sandia National Laboratories

Submission Information

We welcome submissions for this Special Issue through October 31, 2024 . Please visit the journal’s Author Guidelines page for more information on scope and submission requirements.

Accepted manuscripts for consideration in this Virtual Special Issue will include research articles, reviews, commentaries, case studies, letters, and methods/protocols.Papers accepted for publication for this Virtual Special Issue will be available ASAP (as soon as publishable) online as soon as they are accepted. After all submissions have been published, they will then be compiled online on a dedicated landing page to form the Special Issue. Manuscripts submitted for consideration will undergo the full rigorous peer review process expected from ACS journals.

How to Submit

• Log in to the ACS Paragon Plus submission site.
• Choose ACS Chemical Health & Safety.
• Select your manuscript type, and, under "Special Issue Selection," choose “ National Laboratories’ Safety Successes, Challenges, Research, and Approaches ."

If you have any general questions regarding submission to this Virtual Special Issue, please contact the editorial office ( [email protected] ).

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Chemical Society Reviews

Microstructures of layered ni-rich cathodes for lithium-ion batteries.

* Corresponding authors

a School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China E-mail: [email protected]

b School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China

c School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia

d School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK

e State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

Millions of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road are powered by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on nickel-rich layered oxide (NRLO) cathodes, and they suffer from a limited driving range and safety concerns. Increasing the Ni content is a key way to boost the energy densities of LIBs and alleviate the EV range anxiety, which are, however, compromised by the rapid performance fading. One unique challenge lies in the worsening of the microstructural stability with a rising Ni-content in the cathode. In this review, we focus on the latest advances in the understanding of NLRO microstructures, particularly the microstructural degradation mechanisms, state-of-the-art stabilization strategies, and advanced characterization methods. We first elaborate on the fundamental mechanisms underlying the microstructural failures of NRLOs, including anisotropic lattice evolution, microcracking, and surface degradation, as a result of which other degradation processes, such as electrolyte decomposition and transition metal dissolution, can be severely aggravated. Afterwards, we discuss representative stabilization strategies, including the surface treatment and construction of radial concentration gradients in polycrystalline secondary particles, the fabrication of rod-shaped primary particles, and the development of single-crystal NRLO cathodes. We then introduce emerging microstructural characterization techniques, especially for identification of the particle orientation, dynamic changes, and elemental distributions in NRLO microstructures. Finally, we provide perspectives on the remaining challenges and opportunities for the development of stable NRLO cathodes for the zero-carbon future.

Article information

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J. Lu, C. Xu, W. Dose, S. Dey, X. Wang, Y. Wu, D. Li and L. Ci, Chem. Soc. Rev. , 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D3CS00741C

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Answers to All Your Burning Questions About Sunscreen

How much SPF is enough? Is mineral better than chemical? We’ve got you covered.

Credit... By Maggie Shannon

Supported by

By Nancy Redd

Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer covering health and grooming at Wirecutter.

• March 28, 2024

While most experts agree that you should wear sunscreen year-round to prevent damage from the sun, harmful ultraviolet rays are strongest during the late spring and early summer.

The Times’s Well section partnered with Wirecutter , a New York Times Company that reviews and recommends products (and publishes annual ratings of sunscreens for the face and body ), to answer common questions about sunscreen, including about how safe and effective it is, how to use it properly, and how to pick the right one for you.

How much SPF is enough?

Sun protection factor (or SPF) is a measure of how well a sunscreen protects against sunburn, which usually results from exposure to ultraviolet B (or UVB) rays, the type that cause most skin cancers. Most experts recommend an SPF of at least 30 for most people and most climates.

“There’s no harm in going higher, though,” especially if your skin burns easily or you have sun-exposure allergies , said Dr. Vinod Nambudiri, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Once you go past SPF 30, the protection becomes more incremental. When properly applied, for instance, an SPF 30 sunscreen shields skin from about 97 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, while an SPF 50 protects against roughly 98 percent. No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of the sun’s rays.

Most experts we spoke with said that what’s more important is finding a broad-spectrum sunscreen — one that protects against both UVB and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which mostly cause skin aging and wrinkles — that you enjoy wearing and can afford to reapply and use consistently.

“Most people aren’t getting the SPF benefit on the sunscreen’s label because they aren’t applying a thick enough layer to their skin, and they usually aren’t reapplying often enough — usually every 80 minutes or two hours, depending upon the formula,” said Dr. Belinda Tan, a dermatopathologist in Torrance, Calif.

The average adult needs about one ounce of sunscreen to cover all exposed skin. “We often say a shot glass of sunscreen for the whole body,” said Dr. Jenna Lester, an associate professor of dermatology at the U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine, “but I tell my patients to fill the shot glass up to the brim and use even more if needed so you don’t miss any spots.”

Are there any alternatives to sunscreen?

Avoiding the sun (especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when its rays are strongest) is one excellent way to protect your skin from sun damage. So is wearing protective clothing, like long-sleeved shirts and wide brimmed hats . Alternatives like sunscreen pills or supplements “are being studied right now,” Dr. Nambudiri said, but none are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and there is no evidence that they are safe and effective.

Which type of sunscreen is better: chemical or physical?

Sunscreen can mitigate a lot of potential damage from the sun. However experts have acknowledged that some people may be concerned by past reports that active ingredients in many chemical sunscreens can reach the bloodstream and remain there for days.

“We don’t know what the health implications are yet, or even if there are any,” Dr. Lester said, “but we want to give credence to people’s concerns.”

The best sunscreen for you is the one that you will apply, and reapply, often.

Physical (or mineral) sunscreens reflect UV rays away from your skin, while chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays so that your skin does not.

One pro of mineral sunscreens is that their active ingredients — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — haven’t been shown to absorb into the blood.

If you’re concerned about potential safety issues with chemical sunscreens but also want to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, “mineral is best,” Dr. Tan said.

Keep in mind that sunscreen is just one of many topical products whose potential health effects are not completely understood. “Of course it’s very alarming when people think there’s a chemical being absorbed by their skin and detectable in blood,” Dr. Tan said, “but we put a lot of things on our skin — lotions, cosmetics, fragrances.” It’s important to take a “step back and put the sunscreen conversation in context,” she said.

Mineral sunscreens have some cons, too. They “are generally more expensive and less cosmetically elegant than chemical ones,” said Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. They are often harder to rub in, appear chalkier and feel more noticeable on the skin.

If you don’t like the way a particular sunscreen looks or feels, you’ll be less likely to use it consistently, Dr. Lester said. In her own practice, people with darker skin “often avoid mineral sunscreens because they tend to leave a white cast on the skin,” she said.

Testing by Wirecutter has found that chemical sunscreens with active ingredients including avobenzone, octocrylene and oxybenzone tend to feel lighter on the skin, rub in easier and appear less visible.

Does sunscreen harm coral reefs?

It can, Dr. Lester said.

Oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate are among the primary sunscreen ingredients that can contribute to coral reef damage. The only two “reef safe” active ingredients approved by the F.D.A. are “non-nanotized” zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. (Non-nanotized means that the ingredient is 100 nanometers in diameter or more.)

However, no sunscreen is known to be totally safe for aquatic life , so the best way to protect yourself and the environment is to cover as much of your body as possible with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing (though you’ll still need to use sunscreen on exposed skin).

Do you need sunscreen if you have dark skin?

Yes. “It’s a misconception that darker-skinned people can’t get skin cancer,” Dr. Nambudiri said. Even though darker-skinned people may not burn as quickly as fairer-skinned people, they can still get sun damage that contributes to sunburns, aging, uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation, Dr. Lester added.

Should I wear sunscreen every day?

Yes . “Whether it’s sunny or cloudy, UV rays are present 365 days a year, and I encourage my patients to use sunscreen year-round,” Dr. Nambudiri said.

While it is not necessary to wear sunscreen on skin that isn’t exposed, it’s important to apply it to the face, ears, neck, hands, forearms and other often-exposed body parts to help prevent sun damage.

Can you be allergic to sunscreen?

Yes, said Dr. Whitney Bowe, a dermatologist in New York City. “Every summer, I have patients who come in with rashes, itchy skin or irritation, and they’re concerned they might be allergic to their sunscreen,” she said.

In these cases, allergies are possible. But these patients may also be having what dermatologists call irritant contact dermatitis, a nonallergic skin reaction to an ingredient in sunscreen that can cause mild redness, itchiness or stinging. This reaction tends to appear almost immediately after applying sunscreen and only on the skin where the sunscreen has been applied, said Dr. Hope Mitchell, a dermatologist in Ohio.

An allergy, on the other hand, “may take several days or even years of consistent use of the same product to develop,” Dr. Mitchell said, and it may spread to other body parts. Signs of an allergy may include swelling, extreme itching or a blistering rash.

Fragrances, preservatives, oils and botanical extracts are the most common sunscreen ingredients that cause either irritant contact dermatitis or an allergy, Dr. Bowe said.

Active ingredients in chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, avobenzone and octocrylene, have caused skin reactions, though research suggests this is rare. And interactions between your sunscreen and “certain medications, topical creams or lotions may cause or exacerbate reactions,” Dr. Mitchell said.

Another possible reaction is photocontact dermatitis, which can occur when sunlight interacts with certain sunscreen ingredients. If you develop a rash on parts of the body that have been exposed to both sunscreen and the sun (such as your face), but not on parts that have been exposed only to sunscreen (such as under your chin), “photocontact dermatitis is possible,” Dr. Bowe said.

She suggested using fragrance- and essential oil-free formulations and sticking to mineral sunscreens, which have active ingredients that are less likely than those in chemical sunscreens to cause reactions. (Wirecutter’s guide to sunscreens includes several mineral-based and “sensitive” formulas that tend to contain fewer known irritants.)

If you think your skin is reacting to an ingredient in your sunscreen, stop using that formula, Dr. Mitchell said, but do not stop wearing sunscreen altogether. And if you’re concerned, consult a dermatologist, who can prescribe medication if needed.

If the problem persists after making these substitutions, Dr. Bowe and Dr. Mitchell both suggested patch allergy testing, which can help determine the specific ingredients that are causing the reactions.

Taking Care of Your Skin

A great complexion is not something you are simply born with. follow the tips below and feel more confident in your skin..

Want to start taking better care of your skin? This guide can help .

Some skin care products can help treat dark circles under your eyes. But they may not live up to their brightening claims .

Considering lip fillers? It’s key to understand the potential risks  and have realistic expectations about the results.

Those tiny blood vessels that typically crop up around your nose, cheeks or chin are common and can be unsightly, but spider veins are not a nuisance you have to live with .

Pimples can pop up at any age  because of hormones and genetics, experts say. But at-home treatments can help adult acne.

Too many products can stress out your skin. Here’s how to scale back .

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EPA Proposes Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule for 16 Chemicals Being Considered for Risk Evaluation under TSCA

Released on march 25, 2024.

List includes vinyl chloride, the chemical involved in the East Palestine, OH train derailment  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule under section 8(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would require manufacturers (including importers) of 16 chemicals to report data from unpublished health and safety studies to EPA. In addition to health and safety studies, manufacturers would also be required to submit unpublished studies on environmental effects and occupational, general population and consumer exposure for these chemicals. These studies would help inform EPA’s prioritization, risk evaluation and risk management of chemicals under TSCA, furthering the Agency’s efforts to protect human health and the environment. 

The proposed rule includes 13 chemicals that are on the  2014 TSCA Work Plan , a list of chemicals identified by EPA for further assessment based on their hazards and potential for exposure. For prioritization, risk evaluation and risk management, EPA needs information on the hazards of a chemical and how people might be exposed.  

EPA proposed to prioritize five of the chemicals included in the proposed rule for risk evaluation in December 2023, all of which are linked to cancer and used to make plastic: 

• 4,4’-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) (CASRN 101-14-4), 
• Acetaldehyde (CASRN 75-07-0), 
• Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1), 
• Benzenamine (CASRN 62-53-3), and 
• Vinyl Chloride (CASRN 75-01-4). 

The proposed rule also includes 10 chemicals EPA identified as candidates for prioritization, did not ultimately include in its December 2023 initiation of prioritization actio n, but is considering including in its December 2024 initiation of prioritization action:

• 4-tert-octylphenol(4-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)-phenol) (CASRN 140-66-9), 
• Benzene (CASRN 71-43-2), 
• Bisphenol A (CASRN 80-05-7), 
• Ethylbenzene (CASRN 100-41-4), 
• Hydrogen fluoride (CASRN 7664-39-3), 
• N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) (CASRN 793-24-8), 
• Naphthalene (CASRN 91-20-3), 
• Styrene (CASRN 100-42-5),  
• Tribomomethane (Bromoform) (CASRN 75-25-2), and 
• Triglycidyl isocyanurate (CASRN 2451-62-9). 

Additionally, in November 2023, EPA granted a petition from the Yurok Tribe, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians asking the Agency to address the use of the chemical 6PPD in tires. 6PPD reacts with ozone air pollution to form a chemical called 2-anilino-5-[(4-methylpentan-2-yl) amino]cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (6PPD-quinone) (CASRN: 2754428-18-5). EPA-funded research has found that concentrations of 6PPD-quinone in stormwater are lethal for coho salmon. In granting the petition, EPA agreed to take a number of actions under TSCA, including finalizing a rule under TSCA section 8(d) to gather additional data on 6PPD. EPA is thus including 6PPD-quinone in this proposed rule. 

Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, EPA will accept public comments on this proposed rule for 60 days at www.regulations.gov under docket EPA-HQ-OPPT- 2023-0360. 

Read the proposed rule .   

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