Exam 6: Biological and Chemical Agents

Recalling the 12 toxic substances,what three would be the most likely to result in adverse health effects for firefighters?

A chef working in the kitchen burns his hand on a hot stove,resulting in blisters.What type of toxicity should the restaurant manager be concerned about for his kitchen workers?

Medical surveillance programs only require the health records of the employee after the exposure.

No toxicity data is available for about 80% of the chemicals that are used commercially.

Requiring workers to work overtime on a regular basis could produce a synergistic effect.

Differentiate between chemical and biological agents.Identify a biological or chemical agent present in your workplace or in a workplace with which you are familiar (either by knowing someone who works there or by being a customer/patient).Explain the route of entry,type(s)of toxicity involved,and the health effects that this specific agent can have on the human body.Describe the controls that should be put in place to control this hazard.

Which of the following is most likely to create a synergistic effect with airborne chemicals in a manufacturing plant?

Through what physiological system would poison ivy have an effect on gardeners and agricultural workers?

Chris's restaurant in Halifax,Nova Scotia has just received a substandard evaluation from the Ministry of Agriculture's restaurant inspector.The report cited the following problems: dirty conditions in the kitchen,leaking refrigeration units,unclean restrooms,cross-contamination (e.g.cutting raw meat and vegetables without cleaning or replacing the cutting board/knife),and inadequate ventilation in the kitchen.There have been a number of cases of food poisoning in the past six months (staff and customers).The restaurant's negative rating has been posted on an online website available to current and potential customers,so Chris wants to get the problems fixed as soon as possible and have the notice removed.For each problem,identify the form and type of chemical and/or biological hazard involved.Discuss what controls Chris should put in place so that next time around the restaurant will receive a much more positive rating from the inspectors,making special note of new hazards that might arise while he is fixing the problems.

What are the types of control measures that can be used to ensure the safe handling of both chemical and low-level biological agents?

Scenario 6-1: Custodial staff (also known as janitors or cleaners) are the unsung heroes of the workplace. Going about their work while many of us are in bed, they deal with a whole host of situations that bring them into contact with a wide range of chemical and biological agents. They are exposed to residues left in the air and on surfaces from manufacturing processes, from service operations, and from human excretions (sweat, body oils, from sneezing, and so on). While employees of the firms that they service receive training about specific chemical and biological hazards, the custodial staff are often unaware of some of the hazards that they may encounter. -Custodial staff are exposed to aerosols through the cleaning products they use and as a by-product of mechanical and human activity at each workplace where they clean.What is the part of the respiratory system that is spiral shaped and could be protected from aerosols by wearing a face mask?

People most at risk of exposure to biohazards are employed in unique or specialized jobs,such as medicine,research,and farming.

Organic solvents fall into two classes-acids and bases.

Legionnaires' disease results from biological agents.

Rob's doctor has told him that his alveoli are seriously damaged.In what shape are his cilia likely to be?

What is the difference between a fume and a vapour?

By which four routes can chemicals enter the body?

A respirator is the most commonly used protection device for chemical and biological hazards.

List the seven types of chemical contaminants found in workplaces.Describe an example of one chemical hazard that office workers may be exposed to and one example of a chemical hazard that manufacturing workers may be exposed to.Describe a workplace human resource practice or policy that could address each of these health and safety issues.

Exposure to toxic gases can produce acute and systemic toxicity.