26. Prevention of
Organic Solvent Poisoning |
 |
|
Organic solvents are used in manufacturing processes of various products
in factories and many other industrial sites. In these processes, a significant
number of health problems including acute poisoning have occurred. To prevent
such problems, employers are obligated to do the following:
|
1. Regulated substances
(Organic solvents or organic solvent mixtures containing organic solvents
at more than 5 wt.% : hereafter referred to as Organic solvent substances,
etc."): 54 substances
|
| a. |
Class-1 organic solvents: 7 substances, i.e., chloroform, carbon tetrachloride,
1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, trichloroethylene
and carbon disulfide
|
| b. |
Class-2 organic solvents: 40 substances including acetone, ethylether,
xylene, butyl acetate, styrene, trichloroethylene and n-hexane
|
| c. |
Class-3 organic solvents: 7 substances, i.e., gasoline, coal-tar naphtha,
petroleum ether, petroleum naphtha, petroleum benzine, turpentine oil and
mineral spirit
|
|
2.Organic solvents work
|
| a. |
Manufacturing processes of organic solvents, etc.; work to filter, mix,
stir or heat organic solvents, etc. in the manufacturing processes of dyes,
pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, synthetic resin or their intermediates
|
| b. |
Printing operations carried out by using a material containing an organic
solvent
|
| c. |
Work involving drawing letters or pictures using a material containing
an organic solvent
|
| d. |
Varnishing, waterproofing and other surface treating work carried out by
using organic solvents, etc.
|
| e. |
Work involving applying organic solvents, etc. for bonding, and work involving
bonding objects to which organic solvents, etc. have been applied
|
| f. |
Cleaning or wiping operation carried out by using organic solvents, etc.
|
| g. |
. Painting operation carried out by using organic solvents, etc.
|
| h. |
Work involving drying objects to which organic solvents, etc. are adhered
|
| j. |
Testing or research work carried out by using organic solvents, etc.
|
| j. |
Work carried out in tanks that have contained organic solvents, etc.
|
|
3. Fundamental preventive measures
|
| a. |
Equipment
|
Class-1 and class-2 organic solvents, etc.: Equipment to seal up the emitting
source of organic solvent vapour, local exhaust ventilation system or push-pull
type ventilator
|
Class-3 organic solvents, etc.: Equipment to seal up the emitting source
of organic solvent vapour, local exhaust ventilation system, push-pull
type ventilator or general ventilator. Nevertheless, for work carried out
in a tank, a general ventilator must not be used.
For an indoor workplace of which the walls have two or more open sides
or when workers put on air-supplied respirator for short-time work, the
installation of equipment may be omitted.
|
| b. |
Health examination
|
Work to handle class-1 and class-2 organic solvents, etc. in indoor workplaces
and work to handle class-3 organic solvents, etc. in tanks (Health examination
required at least once every 6 months).
|
| c. |
Performance standards of local exhaust ventilation system, etc.
|
For local exhaust ventilation system, etc., the type of hood, air cleaner,
the position of exhaust opening, the controlled air velocity, the ventilation
volume and the like are stipulated.
|
|
4. Management
|
| a. |
Appointment of operations chief
|
For work involving manufacturing or handling a substance listed in (1),
an operations chief who has completed a definite skilll training course
must be appointed.
|
| b. |
Periodical voluntary inspection
|
Periodical voluntary inspection of local exhaust ventilation sysytem, etc.
should be carried out at least once a year, and the results and records
of repair must be kept for three years.
|
| c. |
Notice
|
A notice indicating the following matters should be posted in a prominent
place for workers handling organic solvents:
|
|
|
(a) |
Effect of organic solvents on the human body
|
|
(b) |
Precautions in handling organic solvents, etc..
|
|
(c) |
First aid treatment in the case of organic solvent poisoning
|
| d. |
Indications of organic solvent classes
|
|
Class-1 organic solvents, etc.: Red
Class-2 organic solvents, etc.: Yellow
Class-3 organic solvents, etc.: Blue
|
| e. |
Working environment measurement
|
|
In indoor workplaces where class-1 and class-2 organic solvents are handled,
the working environment should be measured at least every 6 months and
equipment or working processes should be improved.
|
|
5. Exemption from application of the provisions
In case only a small amount of an organic solvent is consumed, such obligations as the installation of equipment, assignment of an operations chief, posting of a notice, indications and so forth are exempted.
|
The next article in the series will be on the prevention of health damage likely to be caused by specified chemical substances, etc.
|
|
top