Industrial Hazards
Thomas Shelby
ID: 2063269060
Roll: 29
Introduction
Hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health,
property or environment. Industrial Hazard may be defined as
any condition produced by industries that may cause injury or
death to personnel or loss of product or property. Safety in
simple terms means freedom from the occurrence of risk or
injury or loss. Industrial safety refers to the protection of
workers from the danger of industrial accidents.
Types of Industrial Hazards
Physical: noise, vibration, heat, cold, pressure, radiation,
fibers, etc.
Chemical: flammable or explosive materials, toxics,
sensitizing agents, etc.
Biological: dust, Pathogens, etc.
Psychological: work place practices and systems, payment
systems, etc.
General Hazards in Industries
FIRE HAZARDS
MECHANICAL HAZARDS
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
PHARMACEUTICAL HAZARDS
Fire Hazards
Fire is an exothermic chemical reaction between oxygen and
fuel also known as combustion. Combustion can be classified in
three types: Slow, Rapid and Spontaneous combustion. For
example; cotton waste burning is a slow combustion process,
petroleum product burning is a rapid combustion process and
paint or scrap burning is a spontaneous combustion process.
The effect of fire on people take the form of skin burns. Fire can
take several different forms including jet fires, pool fires and
boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion.
Sources of Fire Hazards
Hot surfaces
Combustible and flammable liquids
Heat utilization equipments (over heating)
Lightening
Gas cylinders
Ovens and furnaces
Reactor
Welding and cutting
Spark from metal to metal contact
Carelessness
Control of Fire Accidents
Fire protection is an important part of good housekeeping.
Smoking must be prohibited. Oxygen present in atmosphere
may be reduced by dilution with gases such as nitrogen, carbon
dioxide, etc. Identification and control of ignition sources in
areas where flammable chemicals are stored or handled or
transferred must be maintained. Fire resistant brick walls or
reinforced concrete walls must be ensured. Suitable fire exit
should be provided with adequate ventilation facility. Finally,
sprinkler with reliable water supply and fire alarms must be
installed.
Mechanical Hazards
Mechanical hazards are most common in metal industries and
construction sites. It occurs due to large number of
equipments, crowded work place conditions, insecurely fixed
machines, worn and teared parts, negligence and improper
maintenance of equipments. Thus, all the machinery must be
fenced and also be fitted with an emergency shut down system.
Control system override should be monitored and operators
must strictly follow SOP.
Preventive Measures
BUILDING PLANNING:
o floors must be non-slippery type
o enough space to move easily
o easy access of workers to the safety switches
SAFE MATERIAL HANDLING:
o all material handling equipments should be repaired
and maintained properly
PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE DEVICES:
o protection of head by using hard hats and helmets
o ears by using ear muffs and plugs
o face by using face masks
Electrical Hazards
Electricity is the flow of electrons through a substance which
allows transfer of electrical energy from one position to
another. Most electrical injuries or deaths in industries occur
due to contact with power lines, path to ground missing or
discontinuous, equipment not used in a manner prescribed,
improper use of extension or flexible chords, wiring faults and
improperly wired equipments.
Safety and Preventive Measures
Design a safer system
Implement a safe electrical work program
Observe work practice
Use protective equipment
Use warning labels
Recheck the equipment daily
Overhead electrical wire should have extra care
Proper training to workers
High voltage equipment should be properly enclosed
Indication of danger sign at every high voltage terminal
Safe work project
Insulation, guarding, grounding and electrical protective
devices
Worker should avoid working in wet clothes and shoes
Water supply should be far away from electrical circuits
Chemical Hazards
Chemical hazards are toxic, corrosive, irritant, carcinogenic,
flammable and mutagenic. Chemical reactions may get out of
control due to wrong or impure raw materials, changed
operating conditions, time delay and equipments failures. An
example of chemical hazard is the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in India.
It is considered as one of the world’s worst industrial chemical
hazards. Water containing 42 tons of methyl isocyanate
entered the tank and escaped into the atmosphere. This leak
caused 8000 deaths and 5,58,125 injuries.
Effects of Chemicals on Exposure
Skin burn
Ache
Ulcer in hand, nose etc
Cancer
Irritation on wind pipe
Preventive Measures
Solvents used in extraction, purification of synthetic drugs
and chemical analysis should be handled with care
Flammable and explosive chemicals should be kept at proper
distance
Tolerance level for toxic chemicals set by federal regulation
have to be followed
Suitable labels to the chemicals for proper handling
Personal protective cloth
Application of cream before commencement of work
Use of goggles
Pharmaceutical Hazards
Some general health hazards in manufacture of
pharmaceuticals include:
Dust and noise exposures
Exposure to UV radiation
Exposure to formaldehyde – may cause lung cancer,
prostate cancer. Acute exposure may cause pulmonary
edema and pneumonia leading to death. Also causes
allergic dermatitis.
Repetitive motion disorders – motion associated with
packing and filling could lead to Carpal tunnel syndrome or
Tendonitis.
Hazards from handling crude drugs and it’s extracts, eg:
Ipecacunha
Solvents, eg: benzene
Alkaloids, eg: emetine
Toxic intermediate
Final product, eg: Local anaesthetic
Radiant energy
Bacteria and viruses
Dust Explosion
The term dust is used if the maximum particle size of the solids
in the mixture is 500 mm. Dust explosion is a rapid combustion
of dust cloud. Drying milling and blending operations generate
atmospheric and fugitive dust emissions. During wet
granulation, compounding and tablet coating, hazardous air
pollutants may be released to the atmosphere or in the
workplace as process or fugitive emissions.
Conclusion
In all places of employment; passage ways, store rooms and
service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly in a sanitary
condition. Every structure is required to have load bearing
when using for storage. Floor of every work room shall be
maintained clean, dry condition. Floor hole into which persons
can accidentally walk shall be protected by a cover that leaves
no opening more than 1 inch wide. Treads on all stairs shall be
reasonably slip resistant. Employees must be able to open an
exit door from inside at all times without keys or special
knowledge even in the dark.
