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27. Prevention of health damage likely to be caused by specified chemical
substances, etc.
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Chemical substances are used in many industrial sites, and they include
not a few substances likely to cause cancer, dermatitis, neuropathy, etc.
So, to prevent such health damage, employers are obliged to do the following:
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1. Classification
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| a. |
Manufacturing-prohibited substances
It is prohibited to manufacture, import, transfer, offer or use nine substances
including benzidine, salts thereof, beta-naphthylamine, salts thereof,
amosite and crocidolite, and preparations and the like containing more
than 1% of any of them.
However, the above prohibition does not apply to cases where a substance
is manufactured or imported or used for testing or research and is used
according to the standard specified by the Minister of Health, Labor and
Welfare subject to a permission by the Director General of Prefectural
Labor Office.
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| b. |
Class-1 substances
Seven substances including dichlorobenzidine, salts thereof, alpha-naphthylamine,
salts thereof and PCB, and preparations and the like containing more than
1% of any of them can be manufactured subject to a permission by the Minister
of Health, Labor and Welfare.
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| c. |
Class-2 substances
| a. |
Specified class-2 substances
Nineteen substances including acrylamide and acrylonitrile, and preparations
and the like containing any of them
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| b. |
Auramine, etc.
Auramine, magenta and preparations containing either of them
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| c. |
Class-2 substances under supervision
Fifteen substances including alkyl mercury compounds, asbestos, cadmium
and cadmium compounds
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| d. |
Class-3 substances
Ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, sulfur dioxide,
phenol, phosgene, formaldehyde, sulfuric acid, and preparations and the
like containing any of them
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| e. |
Substances under specified supervision
Specified substances among class-1 and class-2 substances that have been
found carcinogenic to the human body as a result of epidemiological study,
and other substances |
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2.Installation of local exhaust ventilation system, etc.
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| a. |
Class-1 substances
Equipment for hermetically containing an emission source of gas, vapor
or dust, or local exhaust ventilation systems with the enclosure type hood.
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| b. |
Specified class-2 substances and auramine, etc.
The manufacturing equipment should be hermetically sealed. These substances
should be handled by remote control unless they are moistened. If it is
difficult to use such equipment, a hooded local exhaust ventilation system
should be installed.
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| c. |
Specified class-2 substances and class-2 substances under supervision
Equipment for hermetically sealing the emission source or a local exhaust
ventilation system should be installed. In the case of short-time temporary
work, the installation of a general ventilation system, or moistening,
or use of protectors, or the like is needed.
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| d. |
The provision for b and c can be disregarded in the case where the Chief
of Labor Standards Inspection Office judges that no harmful level is reached.
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| e. |
Every local exhaust ventilation system must have the performance specified
by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare.
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3. Waste treatment
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| a. |
Dust collection method
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For an exhaust duct or local exhaust ventilation system for a dust-containing
gas, a dust collection method (filtration, electrostatic precipitation,
multicyclone, etc.) suitable for the particle size of the dust should be
employed.
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| b. |
Exhaust gas treatment method
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An exhaust gas treatment method (absorption, direct combustion, oxidation-reduction,
etc.) suitable for the exhaust gas or vapor concerned should be employed.
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| c. |
Waste liquid treatment method
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A waste liquid treatment method (oxidation-reduction, neutralization, activated
sludge, etc.) suitable for the waste liquid concerned should be employed.
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4. Actions for specified chemical facility
For the facility used for manufacturing or handling any of specified class-2
substances and class-3 substances (specified chemical facilities), the
following actions should be taken.
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| a. |
Use materials less likely to be corroded when making the facility.
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| b. |
To prevent the leak from a joint, use a gasket, etc.
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| c. |
For valves, cocks and the like, indicate the closing and opening directions,
and use colors for discrimination.
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| d. |
For an indoor workplace, make two or more exits.
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| e. |
For a reactor or the like in which exothermic reaction takes place, install
measuring instruments such as a thermometer, flow meter and pressure gauge.
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| f. |
Install an automatic alarm system for early knowing abnormal reaction,
etc.
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| g. |
For a reactor or the like in which exothermic reaction takes place, install
an emergency interruption device.
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| h. |
Install a standby power source.
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| i. |
Prepare an adequate work prescription.
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| j. |
Unauthorized entry into a place where any of class-1 or group-2 substances
is manufactured or handled should be forbidden.
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5. Exemption from application of the provision
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| a. |
Appointment of operations chief
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For work involving manufacturing or handling a specified chemical substance
or the like, an operations chief who has completed a definite skill training
course should be appointed.
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| d. |
Execution of periodical voluntary inspection
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Periodical voluntary inspection of a local exhaust ventilation system or
waste treatment equipment should be carried out at least once a year.
Periodical voluntary inspection of a specified chemical facility should
be carried out at least every two years.
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| c. |
Working environment measurement
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| (a) |
In a place where a class-1 or class-2 substance is manufactured or handled,
concentrations in air should be measured at least every 6 months, and the
results should be preserved for 3 years.
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| (b) |
The control class that the working place falls under among the first to
third control classes should be identified in reference to the result of
measurement. In the case where the working place falls under the third
management class, efforts should be made to improve the equipment, working
process, working method and the like to ensure that the place can fall
under the first or second control class.
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| d. |
Regulations for special work
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The following kinds of work are specially regulated to ensure the prevention
of contamination, use of personal protective equipments, prevention of
leakage, inhibition of unauthorized entry, etc. |
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| (a) |
Work involving handling of chlorinated biphenyl
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| (b) |
Work involving spraying, removing and other of asbestos
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| (c) |
Work involving manufacture of coke
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| (d) |
Work involving fuming
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| (e) |
Work involving manufacture of dynamite
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| (f) |
Work involving handling of benzene as a solvent
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| e. |
Medical examination
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| (a) |
For every person who is engaged in the work involving handing of a specified
chemical substance, special medical examination should be carried out at
least every 6 months, and the record should be preserved for 5 years.
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| (b) |
The result of the special medical examination for a person who handles
a substance under specified supervision should be preserved for 30 years.
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| (c) |
The results of every special medical examination should be submitted to
the Chief of Labor Standards Inspection Office.
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| f. |
Notice |
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For a workplace where a substance under specified supervision is manufactured
or handle, a notice stating the following items should be put up. |
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| (a) |
Name
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| (b) |
Influence on the human body
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| (c) |
Cautions for handling
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| (d) |
Personal protective equipment to be worn |
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The next article in the series will be on the prevention of anoxia, etc.
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