Industrial hazards cover a wide spectrum including fire and explosion, mechanical hazards (e.g. from moving machinery), electrical hazards, occupational exposures to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, biological hazards (e.g. acute or chronic infections, parasitism, and toxic or allergic reactions to plant and animal matter), physical hazards (e.g. tripping, falling, impact from vehicles or falling objects) and ergonomical hazards (e.g. lifting or carrying heavy or awkward loads or from repetitive operations). Work-related stress can also lead to mental and physical ill-health. Different hazards may be associated with the manufacture, storage, transport, use, and disposal of chemicals. Environmental hazards, through persistent or accidental losses of chemicals, may also be related to these operations.

Working with pathogenic micro-organisms bears passing similarity to chemicals. Hence, in the UK micro-organisms are classified as hazardous substances under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and there is an accompanying Code of Practice. However, biological hazards arising from the working environment or from more specialized activities, e.g. working with pathogenic organisms in laboratories, are beyond the scope of this book. This text deals solely with occupational, industrial and environmental hazards associated only with chemicals. It includes fires and explosions since they inevitably involve chemical compounds.

Chemicals are ubiquitous as air, carbohydrates, enzymes, lipids, minerals, proteins, vitamins, water, and wood. Naturally occurring chemicals are supplemented by man-made substances. There are about 70 000 chemicals in use with another 500 1000 added each year. Their properties have been harnessed to enhance the quality of life, e.g. cosmetics, detergents, energy...