TABLE OF CONTENTS Ways in which these principles are applied in practice are illustrated in the following section using common potentially hazardous operations or substances:
Everyday operations such as painting and welding.
Toxic dusts such as asbestos and catalysts.
Hyperpoisons such as cyanides.
Insecticides.
Primary irritants and corrosives.
Common gases such as oxides of carbon and nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, and inert gases.
Liquids which pose a health hazard due to volatilization, e.g. mercury and degreasing with chlorinated solvent, i.e. dry cleaning with perchloroethylene or metal cleaning with trichloroethylene.
Liquids posing problems because of the presence of impurities, e.g. mineral oils.
Use of a strong disinfectant/biocide, i.e. glutaraldehyde.
Machining operations on metals involving cooling by fluids.
Application of synthetic resins, e.g. epoxy resins.
Gases present in buildings, e.g. offices.
This ubiquitous material previously found use in construction materials, lagging, brake linings etc. If inhaled, asbestos dust may result in serious respiratory disease (e.g. asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma of the pleura). Therefore strict control must be exercised over all work with asbestos products which may give rise to dust. Within the UK, the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 as amended by the Control of Asbestos at Work (Amendment) Regulations 1992 and 1998, and Approved Codes of Practice apply to all such work, including manufacturing, processing, repairing, maintenance, construction, demolition, removal and disposal. Because of their wider relevance their requirements are summarized in Table 5.27.
| Assessment | Before starting any work which... |
