Risk from chemical agents

What is chemical risk?

Exposure to chemical agents

Chemical risk refers to the likelihood of being exposed to ‘chemical agents’, which, by interacting with our body, can cause immediate (e.g. toxicity) or long-term (e.g. allergies and illnesses) damage.

A chemical agent is any chemical element or compound, on its own or admixed, as it occurs in the natural state or as produced, used or released, including release as waste, by any work activity, whether or not produced intentionally and whether or not placed on the market.

Applicable regulations

Legislative Decree 81/08, Title IX, Chapter I, “Protection against chemical agents”, regulates the use of chemical agents in work tasks – how to recognise and assess them, and what preventive and protective measures to take to safeguard occupational health and safety.

Regulations No 1907/2006 (REACH) and No 1272/2008 (CLP) are the European Union regulations governing the protection of health from the risks of chemicals and the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

Where can it occur?

Chemical agents are used in a variety of tasks

Many tasks involve exposure to chemical agents in different ways and to different levels. This can occur in laboratories, as well as elsewhere.

In particular:

in biology, biomedicine and geochemistry laboratories, where chemical agents are essential to research
in workshops (e.g. lubricating oils and powders)
in crop fields (plant protection agents)
in barns (disinfectants)
in operating theatres (anaesthetic gases)
in restoration sites (e.g. pigments).

How to prevent it?

Knowing and assessing it

Preventive and protective measures aim to reduce exposure to a minimum, and in any case to a level that does not affect the health and safety of workers.

A careful risk assessment is the first and most important preventive and protective measure (link). The assessment requires a good knowledge of the chemical agents involved in any research process, whether in the laboratory or elsewhere. Chemical agents are described in safety data sheets drawn up and managed according to EU regulations.

Classification and labelling of chemical agents

One of the most important safety rules to follow is: know the chemical agent you are handling.

To ‘know’ a chemical agent means to be able to clearly identify it, be aware of the properties of the class of compounds in which it is included, be able to read its label quickly and the safety data sheet that accompanies it more carefully, as well as using online databases, which provide a lot of chemical and toxicological information about the substances available on the market.

The labels and safety data sheets that accompany hazardous chemicals are key tools to learn about the inherent hazards posed by a chemical agent.

Chemical agent identification [.pdf] - ALLEGARE

Criteria for classification and labelling of chemicals under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 – CLP [.pdf] - ALLEGARE

H-phrases [.pdf]

P-phrases [.pdf]

Preventive measures

Knowledge of chemical agents and the risk assessment inform preventive and protective measures, the most important of which include training on how to behave properly, instruction on work procedures, proper use of personal protective equipment, and appropriate use of collective protective equipment.