Módulo 2.Medidas, prácticas y modelos de gestión y prevención de riesgos de enfermedades relacionadas con el trabajo en los sectores existentes y emergentes que utilizan sustancias y productos químicos peligrosos, incluidos los explosivos, peligrosos para el medio ambiente, tóxicos, cancerígenos, etc. /free/

Hazardous substances present one of the major hazards that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) professionals need to consider regarding health at work.

Hazardous substances are used for a variety of tasks, from simple cleaning operations to complex chemical processes. Hazardous substances have the potential to harm human health. They may be solids, liquids or gases; they may be naturally occurring, manufactured as a single substance or mixture, or can be a by-product of an industrial process. When used in the workplace, these substances often generate vapours, fumes, dusts and mists. A wide range of industrial, laboratory and agricultural chemicals are classified as hazardous, as are many biological agents and nanoparticles.

Hazardous substances can cause a wide range of health effects, from localised (skin irritation or burns from irritating or corrosive substances) to systemic (such as occupational cancers and lung disease).

Although hazardous substances can also lead to fire, explosion and environmental risks, this guidance will only focus on the health risks arising from occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals.