Hazardous substances, due to their toxic, corrosive, irritant or flammable nature, should be handled with extreme care, with strict adherence to all necessary precautions regarding their use at the workplace.
Talking Social Security with NSSA
It is important that both employers and employees take appropriate measures to ensure that the manufacturing, packaging, labelling, selling and general handling of hazardous substances is done in such a way that it does not endanger the health of those involved in these activities.
It is mandatory for every employer to ensure the safety of employees who are involved in the handling of hazardous substances such as chemicals, paint, cleaning agents, fuel, pesticides and solvents.
Employers should provide employees with the appropriate protective equipment and clothing required for the handling of dangerous substances.
Such equipment and clothing may include specialised respirators, chemical resistant boots, gloves, aprons, facemasks and hoods, depending on the nature of hazardous substances that are handled at a particular workplace.
They should also ensure that protective clothing used during the handling of hazardous substances is regularly inspected and replaced if damaged.
Employees should make use of the protective clothing supplied to them, wearing it whenever they handle the substances that the protective clothing is intended for. Employers also have an obligation to educate their employees on the impact of exposure to the substances and the importance of wearing the protective clothing provided and to ensure that employees do wear it.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
It is important that there is always someone readily available who is capable of administering the appropriate first-aid treatment in the event of an accident caused by the handling or ingestion or inhalation of the hazardous substances.
The appointed person should be properly equipped for this purpose and should hold a valid certificate of competency issued by the Red Cross or some other approved organisation.
Employers should not authorise the handling of any hazardous substance unless they ensure that those who are to handle such substances are aware of the prescribed warnings, signs, symbols and risks involved in exposure to these substances.
Repackaging of dangerous substances should not be done unless those who are to undertake this take all the necessary precautions for the handling of such substances minding that the workplace design itself is also appropriate for the purpose.
Care must be taken to ensure that hazardous substances are not packaged in a container that may react chemically or physically with them. The container must also be strong enough to prevent the escape of any of its contents under normal handling and transporting conditions.
People not involved in the handling of the hazardous substances should be kept away from exposure to them and be made aware of the risk of exposure.
Regulations concerning the handling of hazardous substances, including special obligations of employers who authorise the handling of such substances, are set out in Statutory Instrument 12 of 2007, Environmental Management (Hazardous Substances, Pesticides and Other Toxic Substances) Regulations, 2007.
These require that those handling hazardous substances should, when they have finished handling them, wash thoroughly all parts of their bodies that could have been in contact with the substance, change and launder their protective clothing daily, wash their waterproof boots thoroughly and dry them and wash their gloves thoroughly with soap or detergent and water before and after removing them.
Those using respirators and face masks have to clean them, as well as their faces, thoroughly after using them, sponging them with soapy water, followed by sponging them with clear water.
The regulations place on the employer an obligation to ensure that these requirements are adhered to and that employees take frequent rest breaks to remove protective clothing if high temperatures make the wearing of such clothing unbearable.
Employees should report immediately to the employer any accidental spillages of hazardous substances.
It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that any employee who feels ill while working with a hazardous substance is taken for immediate medical attention.
All manufacturers, importers, sellers, transporters and users of hazardous substances products must apply for a Hazardous Substance Licence to the licensing officer for Hazardous Substances and Articles.
It is illegal in Zimbabwe, to use any pesticide or toxic substances for commercial agriculture, public health, pest control or veterinary vector control without a licence. A licence holder should also comply with the conditions attached to the licence.
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has passed a policy that will change the chemical toxicity symbols we have used for a long time in Zimbabwe. We will do away with triangles coloured green, yellow, amber, red or purple to depict the toxicity of hazardous or dangerous substances. Watch this space for more information.
Talking Social Security is published weekly by the National Social Security Authority as a public service. There is also a weekly radio programme, PaMhepo neNssa/Emoyeni le NSSA, discussing social security issues at 6.50 pm every Thursday on Radio Zimbabwe and every Friday on National FM.
There is a similar programme on Star FM every Wednesday between 5.50 and 6pm.
Readers can e-mail issues they would like dealt with in this column to [email protected] or text them to 0772 307 913. Those with individual queries should contact their local NSSA office or telephone NSSA on (04) 706517-8 or 706523 5.
