How are hazardous substances dangerous, how to deal with them and the dangers they can cause.
The Hazardous Substances Regulation is complimented by the Hazardous Substances Advisory Standard. The aim of the regulation is to minimize the risk to health from work with hazardous substances. This package was developed nationally with the aim of ensuring uniform legal standards.
Hazardous substances are chemicals and other substances that can affect workers' health, causing Illness or disease. If hazardous substances are not properly controlled in the workplace, the effect on workers health and the associated costs to workers families, employers and the community, can be significant. Hazardous substances are of particular concern to the hospitality industry because of the wide range of substances used and the potential adverse health effects that these can have. Products such as cleaning agents, beer line cleaners and pesticides often contain hazardous substances and are commonly used in the industry. The regulations are important because they describe how to manage hazardous substances properly in the workplace; so as to protect workers health and prevent costly work related illness or disease.
A range of different health effects can be caused by exposure to hazardous substances. The most common health effect is skin irritation (dermatitis). Other health effects include occupational asthma, chemical poisoning, chemical burns from corrosives, and long-term diseases such as cancer. The type of health effects will depend on the particular hazardous substances.
Whether illness or disease actually occurs depends on the amount of exposure. Other factors also play a part, such as whether a ...