Chemical agents
Chemical hazardous and harmful factors occurring in the work process are divided in respect to:
• type of action on the body: toxic, irritating, sensitizing, carcinogenic, mutagenic, harmful to reproductive functions, fertility in adult males and females.
• way of absorption into the body through: respiratory tract, skin and mucous membranes, digestive tract.
Chemical substances in the air at workplaces occur as: gases, vapors, aerosols, liquids or solids.
The use of materials and technological processes is acceptable provided that the degree of their harmfulness to the health of employees has been determined in advance and appropriate preventive measures have been taken.
It is unacceptable to use chemical substances and their mixtures that are not marked in a visible way, enabling their identification.
It is unacceptable to use a dangerous substance, a dangerous mixture, a hazardous substance or a hazardous mixture without having an up-to-date list of these substances and mixtures and safety data sheets, as well as packaging protecting against their harmful effects, fire or explosion.
The use of a dangerous substance, a dangerous mixture, a hazardous substance or a hazardous mixture is acceptable provided that measures are taken to ensure that employees protect their health and life.
Each organizational unit that possesses chemical substances and their mixtures, factors or conducts carcinogenic or mutagenic technological processes creates a separate list of carcinogenic substances, a register of works and exposed employees. This information is provided once a year to the Voivodship Sanitary Inspector and the competent District Labor Inspector.
More information can be found in the Regulation of the Rector of Gdańsk University of Technology No. 32/2019 on: handling hazardous chemical substances and mixtures.