This document discusses dangerous substances and their proper handling. It defines dangerous substances as products that can harm people or the environment when used. There are 12 classes of dangerous substances including toxic, flammable, corrosive, and carcinogenic substances. Absorption usually occurs through inhalation in the workplace. Effects depend on exposure factors and can be acute or chronic. Risk management includes elimination, substitution, isolation, ventilation, training, and proper personal protective equipment to minimize exposure. Personal hygiene like handwashing and changing clothes is important. Hazard labels and safety data sheets communicate substance risks.

1. MODULE 7-DANGEROUS
SUBSTANCES
SAFE COMPANY

2. DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES
What are dangerous substances?
• Product that, when used, is harmful to people or the environment.
• ANY substance can be dangerous.
• Dangerous substances may be in the form of gases, solids, liquids,
mist and dust.
• Dangerous substances are subdivided into classes depending on
the risk they entail. Many substances combine different types of risk.
GHS system classification: physical, health, environmental hazards.
• Contractors, visitors and neighbors can be exposed

3. CLASSES
12 different classes of dangerous substances:
• Toxic: disrupts the normal functions of the human body and is
dangerous for the environment.
• Harmful: negative impact on human health in relatively small
concentrations. Larger quantity than with toxic substances and the
consequences are less.
• Explosive: explode at a certain temperature, through contact with
other substances or in case of shock or friction, even without the
effect of additional oxygen.
• Highly flammable: ignite in the presence of a flame, a heat source or
a spark.

4. CLASSES II
• Extremely flammable substances: ignite very easily, even at sub-
zero (°C) temperatures.
• Oxidizing: produce additional oxygen when come into contact with
other substances and cause anything flammable to burn fiercely.
• Corrosive: attack living tissue on contact and may cause serious
burns. They are harmful to materials, clothes, skin, eyes and lungs.
• Irritating: cause skin irritation and inflammation after repeated
contact with the skin or mucous membranes.

5. CLASSES III
• Carcinogenic: can cause cancer. Employer: identifying, taking
measures to prevent the exposure, measuring and analyzing the
exposure.
• Mutagenic: can cause genetic mutations (mental and physical).
• Teratogenicity / nephrotoxic: can affect the reproductive function of
men and women. Pregnant and lactating women must avoid contact.
• Sensitizing: increased sensibility for a certain substance.

6. ABSORPTION IN THE BODY
Absorption:
• The contact surface can be the skin, the eyes, the mucous
membranes of nose, throat or respiratory tract.
• In the workplace, inhalation is the most common way of absorption
in the body.
• Dangerous substances enter the body through the pores (open
wound or eczema)
• Absorption through the mouth is less frequent. Dangerous
substances can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream via small
wounds.

7. EFFECTS
Effects of dangerous substances:
• Depends on many factors.
• Acute consequences are felt immediately, even after once-only
exposure to a dangerous substance.
• Chronic consequences occur after prolonged and repeated
exposure to a toxic substance. (years to become noticeable).

8. AVOID THE RISK
The hierarchy of control (Keeping exposure to a minimum or
avoiding it altogether):
 Elimination: remove the source,
 Substitution: product less toxic,
 Isolation: isolating the potential victim.
 Engineering controls: ventilating (opening windows, using extraction
installations, using fans)
 Administrative controls: job rotation, training, information, signals,
collective protective equipment.
 PPE: last resort, supplement

9. PPE
What are PPEs?
• Last resort.
• Types:
 Safety goggles
 Safety helmets and hoods
 Protective clothing
 Protective gloves
 Feet protection
 Respiratory protective equipment
• Fit properly, clean, well-stored and maintained.

10. LIMIT VALUES
What are limit values?
• The concentration of the substance in the air in the workplace
should not exceed that value. National requirements.
• The limit values are based on an adult and healthy employee
working no more than eight hours a day and five days a week.
• The short-time value gives the concentration of a substance that can
not be exceeded for more than 15 minutes.

11. RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk management must contain:
• Monitoring: performing measurements and recordings, evaluation of
the findings and assessment of damages.
• Amount of oxygen in the air around 20%:
 Oxygen deficiency: regularly ventilating and by wearing self-
contained respiratory protective equipment.
 Oxygen excess: reliable excess flow automatic shut off. NOT storing
oxygen cylinders in a confined space.
• Well-stored and disposal. Not in common containers, appropriate
label.
• Emergency procedures.

12. PERSONAL HYGIENE
Personal hygiene is essential when working with dangerous
substances:
• Avoid skin contact with dangerous substances
• NO Eating, drinking and smoking in the workplace and stored areas.
Washing your hands before lunch.
• Rinse abundantly with water in case of unintentional contact
Remove heavily contaminated work clothes and change into fresh
ones.
• Leaving dirty work clothes on the workplace: specialized cleaning
service.

13. HAZARD COMMUNICATION
• GHS pictograms: Universal. Red squared border, black graphic and
white background. Types.
• GHS label contents: name or number of the product, the quantity,
supplier information, warning pictograms in a diamond outline,
harmonized warning and precautionary statements…
• Safety data sheet (SDS): standardized form (GHS). Contents:
comprehensive information on hazards, composition, mode of
absorption, limit values, storage and preventive measures, labeling
and first aid…