Understanding Hazards Flashcards

What are the main routes of entry for chemical hazards into the body?

Answer: Inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption/contact, and injection (through broken skin)

Chemical hazards can enter the body through four main routes: inhalation (breathing in dusts, fumes, vapours, gases), ingestion (swallowing via contaminated hands or food), skin absorption or contact (chemicals passing through the skin), and injection (through cuts, abrasions or puncture wounds).

What is 'occupational dermatitis'?

Answer: Inflammation of the skin caused by contact with substances at work, such as solvents, oils, cleaning agents or cement

Occupational dermatitis (contact dermatitis) is inflammation of the skin caused by contact with workplace substances. It can be irritant (direct damage from substances like detergents, oils, cement) or allergic (immune reaction to sensitisers like epoxy resins, latex, or chromium compounds).

What is 'occupational asthma'?

Answer: Asthma caused or made worse by breathing in substances at work such as isocyanates, flour dust, or wood dust

Occupational asthma is asthma caused by or made worse by workplace exposures to certain substances called 'asthmagens' or respiratory sensitisers. Common causes include isocyanates (spray paints), flour dust (bakeries), wood dust, laboratory animals, and latex.

What is 'Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome' (HAVS)?

Answer: A condition caused by regular use of vibrating hand-held tools, affecting nerves, blood vessels and joints in the hands and arms

HAVS is caused by regular and prolonged use of vibrating hand-held tools or equipment. It affects the nerves, blood vessels and joints of the hand, wrist and arm. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, pain, loss of grip strength, and the characteristic white finger (Raynaud's phenomenon).

What are the GHS hazard pictograms used for?

Answer: Providing standardised visual warnings about the type of hazard a chemical substance presents

GHS (Globally Harmonised System) hazard pictograms are standardised symbols used on labels and safety data sheets to warn about the specific types of hazard a chemical presents — such as flammable, toxic, corrosive, oxidising, harmful/irritant, environmental hazard, gas under pressure, or carcinogenic/mutagenic.

What is 'noise-induced hearing loss' (NIHL)?

Answer: Permanent, irreversible damage to hearing caused by prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels at work

NIHL is permanent, irreversible damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear caused by prolonged exposure to excessive noise. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set exposure action values at 80 dB(A) (lower) and 85 dB(A) (upper), with an exposure limit of 87 dB(A).