Ministry of Manpower (MOM)

Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

Risk Compendium for

Chemical Handling and

1
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

1a. 1b. 1c. 1d. 2a. or 3a.

No. Work Activity Hazard Possible Accident / Ill- Possible Risk Control
Health
1 Receiving bulk chemicals Moving vehicles Injuries or deaths from • Attend and complete forklift driver training
traffic accident • Abide by speed limit
• Designate loading/unloading bay
• Install warning alarms
Leaking drums / Chemical spill, excessive • Install gas/vapour detection systems
containers inhalation / skin • Place drum/containers on spill control pallets
absorption of chemicals • Build bund walls
• Implement emergency plans
• Conduct regular drills
Inhalation of fugitive Ill-health from chemical • Install gas/vapour detection systems
chemical emissions overexposure • Install ventilation system in storage area
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
Inhalation of hazardous Ill-health from chemical • Engage competent person in charge to manage hazardous
products from overexposure substances
undesirable reactions • Segregate incompatibles
upon incompatible mixing • Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Label chemicals
• Obtain and use information in MSDSs
• Provide hazard communication training
• Implement safe work procedures
Fire and explosions from Injuries / deaths • Segregate incompatibles
excessive heat produced • Prohibit ignition, heat sources, smoking and open flames
and flammable vapours • Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Label chemicals
• Obtain and use information in MSDSs
• Provide hazard communication training
• Implement safe work procedures
• Install deluge / fixed water systems
• Implement emergency plans
• Conduct regular drills

2
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

1a. 1b. 1c. 1d. 2a. or 3a.

No. Work Activity Hazard Possible Accident / Ill- Possible Risk Control
Health
2 Weighing of raw Fire and explosions Injuries / deaths • Install local exhaust ventilation system
materials • Install dilution ventilation
• Provide well-ventilated work area
• Prohibit ignition, heat sources, smoking and open flames
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training on fire and explosion safety
• Install deluge / fixed water systems
• Implement emergency plans
• Conduct regular drills
Excessive inhalation of Ill-health due to chemical • Install local exhaust ventilation system
solvent vapours overexposure • Build enclosure around weighing scale
• Automate weighing system
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Implement safe work procedures
• Practice good housekeeping
• Provide and attend training on solvent hazards and control
measures
• Provide, use and maintain respiratory protection
Excessive skin Dermatitis, ill-health due • Automate washing/cleaning system
absorption of solvents to chemical • Implement safe work procedures
overexposure • Provide and attend training on solvent hazards and control
measures
• Provide, use and maintain eye, body and hand protection
Excessive inhalation of Ill-health due to chemical • Install local exhaust ventilation system
dust (from raw materials overexposure • Build enclosure around weighing scale
in powder or solid form) • Automate weighing system
• Implement safe work procedures
• Practice good housekeeping
• Provide and attend training on dust hazards and dust control
measures
• Provide, use and maintain respiratory, eye, face, body and
hand protection

3
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

1a. 1b. 1c. 1d. 2a. or 3a.

No. Work Activity Hazard Possible Accident / Ill- Possible Risk Control
Health
Burnt by corrosive Eye / skin burns • Install local exhaust ventilation system
solutions (e.g. acids, • Build enclosure around weighing scale
alkalis etc) • Automate weighing system
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide eye wash, emergency shower
• Practice good housekeeping
• Provide and attend training on corrosive hazards and their
control measures
• Provide, use and maintain eye, face, body and hand
protection
Splashes by chemicals Eye / skin irritation, • Install covers on mixer/blender
during agitation / mixing / dermatitis • Build enclosures around mixer/blender
blending • Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Provide, use and maintain eye and face protection
3 Mixing/Blending Limbs caught in moving Amputations, fractures, • Install machine guarding
mechanical parts of sprains • Install sensors
mixer / blender • Install warning alarms
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training on machine guarding
Fire & explosions Injuries / deaths • Install local exhaust ventilation
• Build covers on mixer/blender
• Build enclosures around mixer/blender
• Install dilution ventilation in work area
• Prohibit ignition, heat sources and open flames
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training on fire and explosion safety
• Install deluge / fixed water systems
• Implement emergency plans
• Conduct regular drills

4
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

1a. 1b. 1c. 1d. 2a. or 3a.

No. Work Activity Hazard Possible Accident / Ill- Possible Risk Control
Health
Excessive inhalation of Ill-health due to chemical • Install local exhaust ventilation
solvent vapours overexposure • Build covers on mixer/blender
produced by agitation, • Build enclosures around mixer/blender
mixing or blending • Install dilution ventilation in work area
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training on solvent hazards and control
measures
• Provide, use and maintain respiratory protection
Excessive noise Noise induced deafness • Substitute noisy mechanical parts with quieter ones
exposure from moving • Build enclosures padded with noise-absorbing materials
mechanical parts of around mixer/blender
mixer / blender • Maintain mechanical parts regularly
• Provide and attend hearing conservation training
• Implement safe work procedures
• Put up warning signs
• Provide, use and maintain hearing protection
Splashed by chemicals Eye / skin irritation, • Install covers on mixer/blender
during agitation / mixing / dermatitis • Build enclosures around mixer/blender
blending • Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Provide, use and maintain eye and face protection
4 Packing into smaller Fire & explosions Injuries / deaths • Automate packing system
containers / drums • Install local exhaust ventilation system
• Install dilution ventilation in work area
• Prohibit ignition, heat sources and open flames
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training on fire and explosion safety
• Install deluge / fixed water systems
• Implement emergency plans
• Conduct regular drills

5
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

1a. 1b. 1c. 1d. 2a. or 3a.

No. Work Activity Hazard Possible Accident / Ill- Possible Risk Control
Health
Excessive inhalation of Ill-health due to chemical • Automate packing system
solvent vapours overexposure • Install local exhaust ventilation system
produced during packing • Install dilution ventilation in work area
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Provide, use and maintain respiratory protection
Splashed by chemicals Eye / skin irritation, • Automate packing system
during packing dermatitis • Build enclosures around packing system
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Provide, use and maintain eye and face protection
Repeated lifting of Back aches, strains • Automate packing system
packed containers / • Use pallets with adjustable heights that respond to weight of
drums packed containers/drums
• Provide mechanical lifting aids
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend ergonomics training
• Use proper lifting posture
• Provide adequate breaks
5 Maintenance of Electrocution Electric shock, deaths • Implement log out/tag out
mixer/blender • Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Put up warning signs
Limbs caught in moving Amputations, fractures, • Implement log out/tag out
mechanical parts of sprains • Implement safe work procedures
mixer / blender • Provide and attend training on machine guarding
• Put up warning signs
6 Cleaning/washing of Electrocution Electric shock, deaths • Implement log out/tag out
mixer/blending • Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Put up warning signs

6
Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD)

1a. 1b. 1c. 1d. 2a. or 3a.

No. Work Activity Hazard Possible Accident / Ill- Possible Risk Control
Health
Limbs caught in moving Amputations, fractures, • Implement log out/tag out
mechanical parts of sprains • Implement safe work procedures
mixer/blender • Provide and attend training on machine guarding
• Put up warning signs
Excessive skin Dermatitis • Automate washing/cleaning system
absorption of solvents • Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training
• Provide, use and maintain eye, body and hand protection
Excessive inhalation of Ill-health due to chemical • Install local exhaust ventilation
solvent vapours overexposure • Install dilution ventilation in work area
• Provide well-ventilated, non-air-conditioned work area
• Implement safe work procedures
• Provide and attend training on solvent hazards and control
measures
• Provide, use and maintain respiratory protection

This material is not intended to be an exhaustive list of hazards and control measures for the above activities. Companies are to conduct risk
assessment on the work activities specific to their workplaces by identifying the hazards, evaluating the risk and determining suitable control
measures where appropriate. References should be made to the relevant regulations and code of practices when in doubt.