7.1 Forms of, Classification of, and Health Risks from Hazardous Substances

Question 1

There are five criteria for a substance to be classified as hazardous under Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (CoSHH). What are they?

Answer 1

(a) CHIP Regulations specify
(b) HSE has approved a workplace exposure limit (WEL)
(c) Biological agents
(d) Dust present at certain concentrations in air
(e) Any substance, which because of its chemical or toxicological properties and the way it is used or is present at the workplace creates a risk to health.

Question 2

The main classes of harmful biological agent (micro-organisms) are:

Answer 2

 Bacteria;  Viruses; and  Fungi.

Question 3

The primary classification system for substances hazardous to health is as follows:

Answer 3

 Irritant; 
 Corrosive; 
 Harmful; 
 Toxic; 
 Very toxic; 
 Carcinogenic; 
 Mutagenic; and 
 Reproductive toxin.

Question 4

The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009 (CHIP4) applies to the supply of chemicals and is intended to protect people and the environment from the ill effects of chemicals by requiring suppliers to:

Answer 4

 identify the hazards (dangers) of the chemicals they supply;
 give information about the chemicals’ hazards to their customers; and
 package the chemicals safely

Question 5

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that at very low levels cause damage to health.

Answer 5

Very Toxic

Question 6

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that at low levels cause damage to health

Answer 6

Toxic

Question 7

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that may cause damage to health.

Answer 7

Harmful

Question 8

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that may destroy living tissue on contact.

Answer 8

Corrosive

Question 9

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that may cause inflammation to the skin or other mucous membranes.

Answer 9

Irritant

Question 10

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that may cause cancer or increase its incidence.

Answer 10

carcinogens

Question 11

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that induce heritable genetic defects or increase their incidence.

Answer 11

mutagens

Question 12

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that produce or increase the incidence of non-heritable effects in progeny and/or an impairment in reproductive functions or capacity.

Answer 12

reproductive toxins

Question 13

Identify the following hazard category:

Chemicals that may present an immediate or delayed danger to one or more components of the environment.

Answer 13

Dangerous for the environment

Question 14

Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) are concentrations of hazardous substances in the air, averaged over a specified period of time, referred to as a time-weighted average (TWA). Two time periods are used:

Answer 14

 long-term (8 hours)  short-term (15 minutes)

Question 15

Sudden or short term high exposures to chemicals…

Acute or chronic toxicity?

Answer 15

Acute

Question 16

Repeated low exposures over time to chemicals…

Acute or chronic toxicity?

Answer 16

Chronic

Question 17

Hazardous substances enter the body in one of four main ways:

Answer 17

 Inhalation (Breathing in);  Absorption (Skin contact);  Injection (Skin puncture); and  Ingestion (Swallowing)

Question 18

What are the minimum dust concentrations in air for a dust to be considered hazardous under the COSHH regs?

Answer 18

inhalable dust: 10 mg/m3respirable dust: 4 mg/m3both are as a time-weighted average over an 8-hour period