Management of a

Chemical Control
Program

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK

Outline of Presentation
 Importance of Managing Chemicals in the Workplace
 Different Workplace Prevention Efforts
 Components of a Workplace Program on Chemicals
Exposure Monitoring, Medical and Health Surveillance &
Investigating and reporting of accidents, occupational diseases
and other incidents
 The different elements in setting up a chemical control
program.
 The roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in
managing a chemical control program.
 Why should we manage chemicals in
our workplace?
Chemicals have physical, health and environmental hazards. If
chemicals are not used, stored, and handled properly, they can
cause injury, illness, disease, fire, explosions, or environmental
effects.
Having a chemical safety program in your workplace will reduce
health and safety risks, lower environmental impact, and reduce
operation costs.
Recent statistics tell us that there are increasing numbers of
occupational illnesses and fatalities, caused by exposure to
chemicals in the workplace. Work-related diseases are the main
cause of occupational fatalities in all world regions.
Question:
Can you think of any ways that hazardous
chemical exposures can be controlled in the
workplace?

Implement a workplace programme

 Workplace prevention efforts must be
implemented to complement policy level actions.
3

▶ Implement a workplace programme for the sound

management of chemicals: To follow the ILO general
blueprint for the sound management of chemicals in the
workplace.
▶ Implement a workplace level strategy: This includes
chemical identification and classification, risk assessment
and identification of control measures.
▶ Apply the Hierarchy of Controls: Elimination, substitution,
engineering controls, administrative controls and personal
protective equipment (PPE).

Advancing social justice, promoting decent work

 Components of a workplace chemical
programme
▶ General obligations, responsibilities ▶ Information and Training
and duties
▶ Classification and Labelling following ▶ Maintenance of Engineering Controls
the GHS
▶ Chemical Safety Data Sheets ▶ Exposure Monitoring

▶ Operational Control Measures ▶ Medical and Health Surveillance

▶ Design and Installation ▶ Emergency Procedures and First Aid

▶ Work Systems and Practices ▶ Investigation, Recording and Reporting

of Accidents, Occupational Diseases
▶ Personal Protection and Other Incidents
General obligations, responsibilities and
duties 8

Responsibilities of government
▶ Sick workers should have access to medical care and sickness benefits.
▶ Workers should be covered by schemes for employment injury benefits.
▶ Sick workers should receive health care.
▶ Dependent family members should have compensation and funeral
grants. Responsibilities of employers
▶ Ensure that workplaces are safe.
▶ Ensure that chemical substances are without risk to health.
▶ Ensure that workers are trained in OSH.
▶ Provide PPE and emergency measures for accidents.
Rights and responsibilities of workers
▶ Participate in adequate OSH training.
▶ Remove themselves from dangerous work situations.
▶ Comply with OSH instructions.
▶ Report accidents.
 Exposure monitoring
Surveillance programmes should include the monitoring of
workers’ exposure to
hazardous chemicals.
▶ The main objectives of monitoring:
• Identify real hazards.
• Determine the level of workers’ exposure to harmful agents.
• Prove compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Assess the need for control measures.
• Ensure the efficiency of control measures in use.
 Exposure monitoring
Surveillance programmes should include the monitoring of
workers’ exposure to
hazardous chemicals.
▶ This can be done through occupational health surveys
involving monitoring equipment.
▶ Where workers are exposed, the employer should limit
exposures and assess monitor and record concentrations of
substances.
 Types of Monitoring
 Work Environment Monitoring – refers to the
determination of environmental stresses and their
hazardous effects on worker’s health through direct
measurement of hazards using IH equipment.

 Biological Monitoring – measurement of changes

in the composition of body fluids, or expired air to
determine absorption of potentially hazardous
material.

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK

 Purpose of WEM
 To determine the magnitude of harmful environmental
agents;
 To physically check the environment through measurement;
 To predict harmfulness of new facilities, raw materials,
production process and working methods;
 To monitor worker’s exposure to harmful substances;
 To evaluate the effectiveness of environmental control
measures adopted to improve the workplace; and
 To maintain favorable environment conditions.

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK

Comparison of WEM results to standards

Threshold Limit Value (TLV) – exposure

guidelines established for airborne
concentration of many chemical compounds.

Categories:
TLV-TWA - Time Weighted Average
TLV-STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit
TLV-C - Ceiling

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK

 Medical and health surveillance
▶ Medical exams for exposed workers.
▶ Recordkeeping of exams and health results.
▶ Paid time off for affected workers, including paid
sick leave.
▶ Employment protection for those harmed by
chemicals.
▶ Transfer to alternative employment for
pregnant/breast feeding workers.
 Medical and health surveillance
▶ Proactive approach to workers’ health promotion
•Includes medical visits and specific testing/instrumental
examinations.
•Employer must ensure workers get medical services in
compliance with the national law.

▶ Occupational medical records/data

•Ensure confidentiality, safe data storage, workers’
information, access
to their own records and non-discrimination. Valuable for
study/research/prevention.
 Investigating and reporting of accidents,
occupational diseases and other incidents
▶ All incidents should be investigated to
determine why they occurred, what
failed in the workplace or in the
emergency plan.
▶ The accident and dangerous incident
book should be reviewed regularly to
identify risky jobs and processes.
▶ Authorities should be notified as
required by national laws.
Implement a
workplace level
strategy
Implement a workplace level strategy: 3
principles to managing chemicals
The overall strategy to achieve the sound
management of chemicals in the workplace and in
protecting the general environment can be
described in three steps:
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Identification of Determination of Identification of control measures
chemicals Potential Exposure in based on risk assessment
the Workplace
Implementation of controls;
Classification of evaluation of effectiveness and
hazards, labels and Risk Assessment maintenance of level of
SDS protection
Chemical Management Plan
Identifies roles and assigns specific actions associated with
the lifecycle management of chemicals at this workplace and
ensures:
⋅ that arrangements are in place to minimize the risk of
adverse health effects and protect the safety of all workers
and members of the public, due to exposure to hazardous
substances and dangerous goods;
⋅ work processes align with the Chemical management
procedure;
⋅ the mitigation of adverse environmental impacts; and
⋅ compliance with regulatory requirements.
 Setting Up a Program
1. Set-up Goal and Program
Policy Statement
Management sets policy and provides program

“Every enterprise should have a clear policy on the safe management of

chemicals that should be made known to managers, workers and those
who deal with the enterprise.”

The policy statement shall include the following commitment:

 Safe procedures and practices
 Training of workers on the safe use of chemicals
 Full information on new chemicals to be used in the enterprise
Example of Policy
“It is the policy of our company to protect our
workers and the public, prevent incidents, protect
the environment through integration of
environmental stewardship and sustainability
throughout the life-cycle of its activities, and
ensure regulatory compliance.”
Cooperation at the Workplace
 Identification of the group of people who will take the
initiative to establish a plan and monitor its
implementation.
Ideally, the group should consists of:
 Representative from management
 Safety officer / Industrial Hygienist / Medical
Personnel (Nurse)
 Representative from personnel / employees

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK COURSE: May 4 – 6, 2021

1. Chemical Purchasing
2. Stock Management
3. Chemical Risk Assessment
4. Safe Use of Chemicals
5. Disposal and Review
6. Supervision and Training

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK

 Minimum required for management of
chemicals
Plan Element Action Officer Supervisor
Chemical □ Order communicate pre-purchase risk
Purchasing chemicals management requirements to
staff
approve pre-purchase chemical
risk assessments
implement and maintain any
required
permits/licencing/approvals
 Minimum required for management of
chemicals
Plan Element Action Officer Supervisor
Stock  receive goods - manage and  ensure employees receive/access
Chemwatch instruction including
Management store according to pre-
purchase risk assessments accessing SDS and Hazardous
 update Chemwatch manifest chemical register
folders  support completion of Chemwatch
 generate and action processes
Chemwatch reports as required  ensure hazardous chemical register
(e.g.Hazardous chemical remains current and accessible to
register; Incompatibility report) employees
 update manifest following  install and maintain
stocktake placarding/MQW requirements
where relevant
 Minimum required for management of
chemicals
Plan Element Action Officer Supervisor
Chemical  conduct/support risk  ensure employees know how to access
assessment processes for the Hazardous chemical register and SDS
Risk
the hazard category  approve orange/red chemical risk
Assessment chemicals assessments
 approve risk assessments  ensure current hard copy of risk
if authorized assessments are available near where
 print and manage risk chemicals are used or stored including
assessments placard
 update hard copy of risk  ensure employees complete SOPs for
assessments annually in high/extreme risk level chemical activities
line with stock take  ensure implementation of emergency
response and preparedness and safety
signage identified through risk
assessment.
 Minimum required for management of
chemicals
Plan Element Action Officer Supervisor
Safe Use  Maintain PPE and  ensure safe work practices and
emergency equipment risk assessment controls are
 conduct general stock implemented
management practices e.g.  maintain oversight of the
safe storage, labelling of all effectiveness of controls
containers including availability of
 follow safe work practices emergency equipment and PPE
 use and manage regulated availability and use
chemicals as per authorities
Person/s All chemical users All supervisors of chemical
users
responsible
 Minimum required for management of
chemicals
Plan Element Action Officer Supervisor
Disposal and  ensure waste is  ensure waste is correctly
Review correctly labelled labelled
undertake/manage safe  undertake/manage safe
disposal processes disposal processes
conduct annual stock  conduct annual stock
take and periodic take and periodic
inspections inspections

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK COURSE: May 4 – 6, 2021

 Minimum required for management of
chemicals
Plan Element Action Officer Supervisor
Supervision  complete training  ensure all employees and
and Training relevant to role others receive chemical
induction training,
information and
supervision relevant to
their role
 maintain training records

Person/s All chemical users All supervisors of chemical

responsible users
SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK COURSE: May 4 – 6, 2021
Important Things to Consider

 The group should receive the full support of the

management and vice versa.
 The group’s activities should be closely guided by
the school’ policy.
 Employers and employees should perform their
roles and responsibilities that should be reflected in
the chemical safety program.
Role of Employers Role of Employees
Choose chemicals that are less Cooperate with employers by carrying
hazardous. out their duties and their compliance
Ensure that all chemicals are correctly with all the procedures and practices
labeled and SDS are provided and relating to S & H.
made available.
Ensure that chemicals are stored Employees should follow instructions
safely and unauthorized access is given by the employer, supervisor,
prevented. supplier and manufacturer.
Ensure that employees are protected
against accidents, injury and Use properly all devices provided for
poisoning at work. protection (e.g. PPE).
Choose the appropriate equipment
and machines are periodically Examine equipment before work and
maintained. report any situation which could
Comply with related laws and present a risk or which they cannot
regulations. properly deal with.
 Better working environment
 A reduction in workplace accident and diseases
 A healthier workforce
 A reduction in waste
 Increased productivity and profits for the enterprise
CLEAR POINTS
 Importance of Managing Chemicals in the Workplace
 Different Workplace Prevention Efforts
 Components of a Workplace Program on Chemicals
Exposure Monitoring, Medical and Health Surveillance &
Investigating and reporting of accidents, occupational diseases and
other incidents
 The different elements in setting up a chemical control program.
 The roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in
managing a chemical control program.
 A positive safety culture is key
It is essential to create a preventative safety and health
culture.
▶ Prevention: stopping something from happening.
•Occupational accidents and ill health cause an intolerable
burden, damaging reputation for good business and
negatively impacting sustainable economic growth. In short, “An ounce of
prevention is worth
prevention pays. a pound of cure.”

▶ A Preventative safety and health culture.

•Right to a safe and healthy working environment ensured
by government, employers and workers through a system of
defined rights, responsibilities and duties, where the principle of
prevention is accorded the highest priority.
 Actions for a positive safety culture

▶ At the national level:

Promotional Framework for
Occupational Safety and Health
• Commitment from government to build and Convention, 2006 (No. 187):
maintain this culture. “culture in which the right to a safe
• OSH must be a priority in the national and healthy working environment
is respected at all levels, where
agenda. governments, employers and
• Adequate means and resources must be workers actively participate in
securing a safe and healthy
allocated to increase OSH, awareness, working environment through a
system of defined rights,
knowledge of hazards and risks, and responsibilities and duties, and
where the principle of prevention is
understanding of their prevention and control. accorded the highest priority.”

• Meaningful social dialogue and tripartite

national commitment.
 Actions for a positive safety culture
▶ At the workplace level:
Promotional Framework for
Occupational Safety and Health
• Compliance with OSH regulations and Convention, 2006 (No. 187):

introduction of OSH management systems “culture in which the right to a safe

and healthy working environment
• Culture change to achieve a positive OSH is respected at all levels, where
governments, employers and
culture, which is valued and workers actively participate in
promoted by all. securing a safe and healthy
working environment through a
• Workers should feel comfortable to raise OSH system of defined rights,
responsibilities and duties, and
concerns. where the principle of prevention is
• Open communication and dialogue built on trust accorded the highest priority.”

and mutual respect.

Key ILO resources
▶ ILO A 5 step guide for employers, workers and their representatives on conducting workplace risk assessments.
▶ Exposure to hazardous chemicals at work and resulting health impacts: A global review (2021).
▶ The GHS in the world of work: Mapping synergies between ILO Instruments and the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
▶ILO Instruments on Chemical Safety – Analysis and synergies with other international frameworks on the sound
management of chemicals (2020).
▶ The Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in the World of Work (2019).
▶ Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems (2001).
▶ Major hazard control: A practical manual (1993).
▶ Safety in the use of chemicals at work: code of practice (1991).
▶ Prevention of major industrial accidents: code of practice (1991).
▶ ILO indicators of progress in implementing SAICM (2021).
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING!

SEMINAR ON THE SAFE USE OF CHEMICALS AT WORK