Chemical Hazards
Chemical hazards are very common in all workplaces. Chemical properties are those that you can observe only if matter experiences a chemical change or chemical reaction.
Physical and Chemical Properties
The definition of a chemical is "any element, chemical compound, or mixture of elements and/or compounds." Thus, virtually any product is a chemical.
Basic properties of hazardous chemicals include:
Toxicity: Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical can poison or damage an organism. A toxic chemical exposes a person by absorption through the skin, inhalation, or through the blood stream that causes illness, disease, or death.
Reactivity: A reactive chemical is a solid, liquid, or gaseous chemical that has the power to cause irreversible damage or destroy another substance upon contact. Examples of reactive chemicals include acids, oxidizers, and bases.
Flammability: Flammability is a measure of how readily a chemical will ignite or flash. A chemical's flash point is the lowest temperature at which an ignition source causes the vapors above the liquid to ignite. Typically, the lower a chemical's flash point and boiling point, the more flammable it is. A chemical with a high flash point is considered a combustible.
What is a "BLEVE?"
Explosivity: Explosivity is a measure of the extent to which a material is explosive. An explosion is a substantially instantaneous release of gas and heat, unless the compound, mixture, or device. A "BLEVE" (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion) is a sudden and violent release of a large amount of gas/energy due to a significant pressure difference, such as rupture in a boiler or compressed gas cylinder.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-5. Typically, the lower a flammable chemical's flash point, _____ it is.
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