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Hazardous substances at the workplace
There are currently around 8 million known chemical compounds in the world around us. And ever day the number rises. At least 100,000 are sold on the market as chemicals in one form or another.
Not everything that leaves a chemical plant is a hazardous substance and not every hazardous substance comes from a factory. One example is asbestos. This natural mineral was formerly thought to be a "wonder substance". It could effectively protect both people and machine components against heat. In the meantime we have discovered the other side of the coin. Very fine fibres can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause asbestosis and cancer. The step from being a wonder substance to being a hazardous one is sometimes only very small.
The Chemicals Act, the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances and an entire system of technical rules and regulations ensure safety in the handling of chemicals. From the setting of occupational exposure limits to stipulating exact measuring methods; from regulating safety guidelines for handling hazardous substances to notifying the authorities about new substances; from prescribing regular occupational medical check-ups to banning particularly hazardous substances.
From coffee powder to computer chips, from petrol to a Barbie doll - very few products today can be made without chemicals. The discoveries of chemistry have made the modern industrial world possible. Artificial fertilisers and pesticides have increased harvests many times over. New medicines have alleviated many diseases.
