Hazardous substances are substances that can harm people’s health. They may be solids, liquids, or gases. In the workplace, they are often in the form of fumes, dusts, mists, and vapours.
You can inhale hazardous substances or absorb them through the skin. They can cause immediate and long-term health problems. Health effects include poisoning, irritation, chemical burns, sensitisation, cancer and birth defects. Hazardous substances can also cause diseases of organs such as the skin, lungs, liver, kidneys and nervous system.
Other effects maybe:
Some suggestion on how to reduce the risk of exposure at your workplace:
