Chemical safety workshop - International occupational safety & health information centre

FIVE DAY WORKSHOP ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

Introduction

This programme is a proposal for a five day course as an introduction, an eye-opener, on how to approach the managing of hazardous chemicals and how to retrieve information about them. The participants could be safety representatives, inspectors, workers representatives or shop stewards. The trainer should modify the programme and adapt it to local demands, for example, by adding a session on laws and regulations concerning chemicals.

Course objectives

The overall objective of the course is to give an understanding of basic aspects related to chemical safety. It will

provide an introduction to the scope of hazardous substances and the problems they pose at the places of work,
improve the skills of participants in recognizing hazards and preventive safety work practices in relation of the production and use of chemicals,
improve the skills of information retrieval and convey information to workers, employers and government officials.

The training modules

The eight modules consist of text and transparencies. Relevant slides can be used to open discussion, to illustrate the problem and to activate the participants.

The data bases (available on request) serve as a reference collection but also demonstrate how further information can be found. The plan included for a five-day workshop gives a broad outline which may be complemented or substituted by the trainer's own resource materials where desired.

The course design

The course is designed to acquaint the participants with the different aspects of managing and promoting chemical safety. The research related to the effects of dangerous chemicals and the application of accumulated knowledge in the existing classification systems are presented in the modules. The texts can also give details needed for exercises. The factory visit helps participants to appreciate the complexity of applying safety measures but also that safety promotion can be achieved with simple planning and organization of work practices and places.

The modules are designed to be independent handouts for shorter workshops on special subjects.

Participants should be actively involved in discussion and present their views to the group. The exercises 1-4 in sessions are intended to be group works.

Preparation

The level of the course should be assessed in order to meet the needs of the target group.

Participants may be asked to carry out two exercises before attending the course:

to prepare a case study of their own experience of a situation or industrial process where chemical hazards are present
to collect the legislation concerning the use of hazardous chemicals in their own country (for regional workshops)

Participants should be given one month's advance notice to allow them time to fulfil these tasks.

The field visit should be planned and arrangements made well in advance. The visit should be made to an industry in which a wide range of chemical hazards exist.

A sketch plan of the factory should be drawn. Slides of the factory and description of the processes should be made for the briefing session. If personal protective equipment (helmets, safety glasses, ear plugs, etc.) for the participants is needed, its availability at the time of the visit should be checked in advance.

Transport for the field visit should be reserved in advance.

Computers should be set up if the information retrieval session is included.

Resource requirements

A room for sessions to accommodate the participants (15-20 persons).

Audiovisual equipment could be:

flip chart or blackboard;
markers or chalk;
overhead projector and clean transparencies;
slide projector if slides are used;
copy machine for preparation of new resource material, presentations and handouts.

Name tags both for seating arrangements and for participants to wear should be made available. A list of participants should be prepared for distribution at the first session.

	Day 1
	1.1	Course opening, course overview and self-introduction
	1.2	Objectives of practical chemical safety programmes
	1.3	Introduction to the aspects of chemical safety
	1.4	Chemical safety information sources
	Exercise 1:	Dangerous chemicals used in xx factory.
	Day 2
	2.1	Presentation of the group works
	2.2	Identification, classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals
	2.3	Safety in transport and storage
	2.4	Retrieval of information from data bases
	Exercise 2:	Compilation of an inventory, a list including safety information (classification), of the chemicals used in xx factory
	Day 3
	3.1	Chemical safety data sheet, a primary information source for a worker
	Exercise 3:	Compilation of chemical safety data sheets for 3 selected items from the inventory (Exercise 2)
	3.2	Special topics: major hazard chemicals, metals, solvents, other (to be chosen by the trainer)
	3.3	Introduction and preparation to the field excursion
	Day 4
	4.1	Factory visit
	4.2	Preventive methods and control of chemical hazards
	Exercise 4:	Preparation of group work presentations related to the field visit
	Day 5
	5.1	Participant presentations of the given tasks from the field excursion
	5.2	Discussion on the experiences of the field excursion
	5.3	International Labour Office, Convention concerning safety in the use of chemicals at work
		and/or
		Laws and provisions concerning chemicals (local)
	5.4	Course summary and evaluation
		Course closing

Day 1
Activities	Comments	Time
1.1 Course opening Trainers introduce themselves and give a broad overview of the course, the working methods and ways of active participation. The participants introduce themselves, give a brief description of their background and experience.		15min 30min 30min
1-2 Ask: What do we need to know on safety in handling of chemicals? Write the responses of participants on the flip chart or blackboard.They should cover the following topics: What is chemical safety? Where can it be applied and promoted? What could be the consequences of lack of safety in the use of chemicals? Are there regulations in your country concerning chemicals? Are there benefits for the company/society of advanced safety in the use of chemicals? How can we know which chemicals are dangerous? Where do we find information about chemicals? Who could help to solve a problem? Other questions from the participants.	Discussion	30min
1-3 Introduction to chemical safety using slides, the material in Module 1. and other resources of the trainers.	Presentation and discussion	1h
1-4 This session should give an overview of the existing information sources and familiarize the participants with the use of available information, libraries, data bases, networks of expertise, etc.	Presentation and introduction to the library facilities	1h
Exercise 1: Participants are divided into groups of 3-5 persons. Each group has the task of compiling a short list of priority chemicals used in a given industrial factory or process. These could be a: paint factory leather factory textile handling, for example, indigo dyes battery plant wood working, for example, furniture production metal workshop polyurethane foam factory	Group work	2h

Day 2
Activities	Comments	Time
2-1 Participants give a short presentation (10 min) and discussions of each group work (Exercise 1)	Presentations of group works	4x20min
2-2 Classification systems of hazardous chemicals should be described, the application of the example (EU) system should be explained using Annex 1, Annex 2, Annex 3 and Annex 4 in Module 3. The lesson should be followed by an individual or group exercise to find the classification of the given substance and compile a label using this information.	Presentation Individual or group exercise	1h 30min
2-3 Safety in transport and storage should explain international practices and labelling. It should include local information and examples.	Presentation and discussion	1h
2-4 Retrieval of information from data bases (the diskettes with the modules) gives the participants skill in the use of a computer to retrieve safety data sheets as well as other information, such as the occupational exposure limit value for a substance.	Introduction and use of data bases	&gt1h
Exercise 2: The group makes an inventory of the chemicals listed in Exercise 1, adding to the list information such as classification, transport symbols, entry date, durability and consumption estimation.	Group work	1h

Day 3
Activities	Comments	Time
3-1 A chemical safety data sheet is often the primary source of information to the worker. It is useful to know the content of a sheet as used in the example classification system. This lesson is followed by an exercise where the participants in groups compile safety data sheets of 3 chemicals selected from the inventory in Exercise 2.	Presentation Group work	1h 90min
3-2 Special topics which cover common chemical hazards in industry are examined using examples (from slides included and resources of the trainer and participants), such as metals or solvents. These topics depend on the specific needs of the participants.	Presentations and discussion
3-3 The field trip site and the activities are described, aims are set in discussion, and the approach to the problems from the stand-point of chemical safety is examined. Setting priorities to the observed problems and the fate of the chemicals from entry to waste management should be discussed. Field trip tasks are given to each group. These could include a management interview on the safety policies and procedures in the company (e.g., control strategies, records of accidents and sick leaves, emergency plans) process chemicals and the material flow chart organization of `the entry-use-final product and waste life-cycle' for chemicals in the company organization of transport and storage of chemicals within the company preparation of a checklist to be used in that company	Presentation	1h

Day 4
Activities	Comments	Time
4-1 Field visit to a factory or site where chemicals are used, preferably, to a moderate extent.	Factory visit	5-6h
4-2 Introduction and discussion of the control methods of chemical hazards taking the field visit experiences as an example. (Illustrated by slides or video of the factory, if available)	Presentation and discussion	1h
Exercise 4: Each group discusses their experiences and prepares a short presentation with their own transparencies on the task given for the field excursion. The presentation should contain an overview of the major problems (only naming the minor ones) and suggestions for controlling the hazards.	Group work	90min

Day 5
Activities	Comments	Time
5-1 Presentations of the group work resulting from the field visit. The presentation (15 min) is followed by discussion which should include viewpoints other than only chemical hazards (economical, social, etc.).	Presentations of the group works	4x30min
5-2 Discussion summarizing the experience of the field visit including clear and concrete recommendations for action to be taken by the workers and the employers at the factory level, and by inspectors.	Discussion	30min
5-3 ILO Convention 170 and Recommendation 177 concerning the use of chemicals at work: these two documents have been adopted by many governments around the world. The trainer reviews the content of these documents. Example case-studies could be presented of the chemical legislation of a participating country.	Presentation and discussion	30min 30min
5-4 Course summary and evaluation using a questionnaire (or the questionnaire included in the folder). Closure.	Individual task	30min 30min

ONE DAY WORKSHOP ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
Activities	Comments	Time
1. Course opening Trainers introduce themselves and give a broad overview of the course, the working methods and ways of active participation.The participants introduce themselves, give a brief description of their background and experience.		10min 30min
2. Ask: What do we need to know on safety in handling of chemicals? Write the responses of participants on the flip chart.They should cover the following topics: What is chemical safety? Where can it be applied and promoted? What could be the consequences of lack of safety in the use of chemicals? Are there regulations in your country concerning chemicals? Are there benefits for the company/society of advanced safety in the use of chemicals? How can we know which chemicals are dangerous? Where do we find information about chemicals? Who could help to solve a problem? Other questions from the participants.	Discussion	30min
3. Introduction to chemical safety using slides, the material in Module 1. and other resources of the trainers. Summary of this session: Write on the flip chart a list of priority measures from where to start safety promotion.	Presentation and discussion	1h 10min
4. Classification systems of hazardous chemicals. The existing systems should be described, the application of the example (EU) system should be explained using Annex 1, Annex 2, Annex 3 and Annex 4 in Module 3.	Presentation and discussion	40min
LUNCH BREAK 5. What contains a chemical safety data sheet.This session should explain the content of a safety sheet using an existing system as an example. (Module 4.)	Presentation and discussion	45min
6. Exercise: Participants are divided into groups of 3-5 persons. Each group has a task to compile chemical safety data sheets and labels for 2-3 substances using the information in the Module 3. and 4. and in prepared reference material.Summary of this session should collect the experience and the criteria used in compiling the data sheet.	Group work	1h
Course summary and evaluation using a questionnaire (or the questionnaire included in the folder). Closure.	Individual task	15min 15min

Updated by AS. Approved by EC. Last update: 30.11.2004.