According to the Organic Law of Georgia “On Labor Safety,” chemical factors represent chemical exposure during work, which may harm human health and cause temporary or permanent damage to working capacity. Employers are obligated to ensure that physical, chemical, and biological risk factors do not endanger the safety and health of employees and other persons in the workplace.
Small and medium-sized enterprises constitute 92% of the chemical industry. These workplaces are abundant in chemicals and chemical processes. Employers are responsible for ensuring that the use, handling, storage, and transport of all chemicals are safe for health. The chemical industry produces a wide variety of substances and preparations necessary for virtually all sectors of the economy, including:
- Basic chemicals (petrochemicals and derivatives, mainly inorganic substances and polymers), typically produced in large volumes.
- Specific professional chemicals (active ingredients and co-formulants for the pharmaceutical industry and plant protection, industrial processes, dyes and inks, auxiliaries, biocides, dyes, and pigments).
- Consumer chemicals (soaps and detergents, perfumes, and cosmetics).
The chemical industry is one of the sectors with the most stringent safety regulations. It is essential to conduct regular inspections, and to use and maintain each device properly.
Employees may come into close contact with hazardous chemicals. Notably, according to the National Health and Safety Commission, approximately 2,300 workers die each year due to exposure to hazardous substances. Exposure to hazardous chemicals can have various health effects, including:
- Immediate and acute effects, such as poisoning and swelling.
- Long-term effects, such as respiratory diseases and occupational cancer.
- Serious health damage, such as skin diseases, allergies, reproductive problems, and defects in newborns, which may result from direct contact with contaminated surfaces, ingestion of strong acids or liquids, or inhalation.
In terms of occupational safety, a correct management approach involves creating a reliable and safe system. The labor safety specialist or service should be integrated into the general management. Labor safety should be carried out by a specialist through:
- Basic study of work processes.
- Assessment of risks related to job performance for employees at all levels.
- Regular inspection and maintenance of each device.
- Raising employee awareness regarding the risks of contact and exposure to chemicals.
- Development of a safe work system.
Selection and monitoring of the use of individual and collective protection means for specific employees according to their specific work.
It is the responsibility of management to establish a culture of occupational safety within the organization, and it is the responsibility of employees to adhere to the recommendations of the employer and the occupational safety specialist to ensure a safe work process and maintain their working capacity.