Systems ventilated for the elimination or reduction of the amount of chemical agents present

The conclusions of the comprehensive study carried out by the ISTS which is diagnosed the situation of the chemical risk in Spain are:

1. There is a worrying lack of data on production, consumption and use of chemical substances in the various sectors and economic activities which makes it very difficult to estimate the magnitude of the problem.
2. Sources of data available suggest that the exposure of workers to the most dangerous chemical substances (CMR, disruptors, biocumulativos, etc.) is widespread.
3. Official statistics show only the tip of the iceberg of the damage produced by the use of chemical substances in the production and trade. The use and handling of chemical substances is a considerable risk to the safety of workers, but above all produces massive damage to the health not recognized.
4. The collected opinions note that users, employers and workers have a great lack of knowledge of the damage caused by exposure to chemicals and show a little sensitivity to this issue.
5. The participation of workers in the management of the chemical risk in companies is scarce and when it takes place is a participation of a sporadic nature.
6. Risk assessments concerning the chemical risk information is of very low quality and is evident that there is a clear bias in favour of the safety aspects in its treatment.
7. The preventive action from the chemical risk in enterprises is generally timely and reagent status with accidents or incidents. Dominate the measures and personal protection against the collective, and when they exist usually present problems of adjustment and maintenance. The elimination and replacement of the origin of the risk substances do not constitute the priority in enterprises.
8. Health surveillance is an aspect of the preventive activity that does not integrate or in risk assessment or in the preventive management of the company as a whole.
9. The regulatory table referred to the control of the chemical risk is too complex and needs to be clarified. On the other hand, is required a greater integration of the slopes of the occupational health and environmental regulations.
10. Collective bargaining concerning the prevention and control of chemical risks in enterprises is very poor, and items of interest can be found only in the environmental aspects.

These conclusions are demonstrated the precarious state in which you shortly must cope with their daily work with the chemical risk.

The main causes of the lack of perception of the chemical risk are:

• No immediate danger. Lack of awareness of the cumulative effect.
• The adaptation time to work with the presence of chemical agents in the environment.
• The lack of knowledge of the environmental limit values (VLA) and their effects.
• Olfactory higher than the value of the chemical.

It is usual to be aware of the risk by accident but not the risk for disease in the long term.

In the above-mentioned RD 374/2001 refers to the environmental limit values for occupational exposure to chemical agents at Spain. In this document are established the "values of reference for the concentrations of chemicals in the air, and they represent conditions to which the majority of workers can be exposed day after day throughout his working life"", without suffering adverse effects to their health".

Among the measures to be taken must be taken into account the following points:

• hazardous properties
• provider information
• working procedures
• level, type and duration of exposure
• occupational exposure limit values
• effect of preventive measures
• conclusions of the monitoring of health

These measures can be general or specific:

General:

• design and organization of work systems
• provision of appropriate work equipment of peacekeeping operations
• reduction in the number of exposed workers
• reduction in the duration and intensity of exposure
• appropriate hygienic measures
• reduction in the amount of chemical agents present at the workplace
• appropriate working procedures.

Specific:

• replacement
• enclosure
• localized extraction
• ventilation
• personal protective equipment
• specific technical and/or organisational measures.

In this inspection can be stop immediately work where the findings so indicate or open a requirement with proposal of corrections. All of this accompanied by sanctions where appropriate.

According to the operation of the ventilated system we can make the following classification (among others):

1. extraction hood
2. table with suction
3. localized smoke Extractor
4. showcase with duct abroad
5. Cabinet of aspiration and filtration of gases Cruma

Below are the main advantages of named systems detailed:

Choice of the ventilated system

In choosing the best system ventilated for each case will have to take into account the following points:

1. future location of the team
2. to use chemicals
3. working temperatures
4. rigged amounts
5. frequency of manipulation

In any case, once selected properly ventilated system should be account that an appropriate preventive and corrective maintenance is necessary for a proper use.

Cruma has own assistance service.

1. "Diagnosis of the use of chemicals in the Spanish industry". Union Institute of work, environment and health (ISTS) 2005.
2. Law on prevention of labour risks 31/1995
3. Royal decree 374/2001
4. Occupational exposure limits to chemical agents adopted by the National Institute for occupational safety and health at work (INSHT) for the year 2006.
5. Conference "do we we protect adequately the hazard?" "Evaluation, prevention and ventilated systems" presented by Material laboratory Cruma, s.a. in Expoquimia.

In the laboratory, it is customary to be aware of the risk by accident but no disease in the long term.

RD 374/2001 is obliged fulfilment for the entrepreneur and regulates "the exposure of workers to the set of risks that may have origin in the chemical agents present in the workplace," including both those risk factors whose effects are manifested in the long term as those who do so in the short term. The inclumplimiento of this can result in sanctions in the inspection process.

The evaluation and prevention of the risk by chemical agents follows a scheme with some actions and their corresponding measures to eliminate or minimize the risk by the presence of chemical agents at work.

The measures to be taken include the use of ventilated systems. There are different types of systems ventilated depending on its operational that bring us some advantages and disadvantages each another.

The preliminary study of the application that will be used as well as the future location of the computer is necessary for choosing the most suitable ventilated system.

In any case, selected once correctly ventilated system must be taken into account that a proper preventive and corrective maintenance is necessary for a correct use