Working environment factors
How does Chlorine affect workers’ health?
Dec
Chlorine (Cl₂) is a common chemical in manufacturing, but its impact on worker health is often overlooked. This article will analyze how Chlorine affects the body, the potential risks when working in an environment containing this chemical, and effective safety measures.
1. What is Chlorine (Cl₂)?
Chlorine is a chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17, which exists naturally as a diatomic gas molecule, Cl₂. It is a greenish-yellow gas with a characteristic pungent odor and is very toxic when inhaled at high concentrations. Chlorine belongs to the halogen group in the periodic table and has strong oxidizing properties, making it commonly used in many industrial applications.
The chemical formula Cl₂ indicates that each chlorine molecule is composed of two chlorine atoms linked together by a covalent bond. Under standard conditions, chlorine gas is easily liquefied and dissolves well in water, forming a weakly acidic solution called chlorine water.
| No. | Chemical Name in Vietnamese | Chemical Name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical Formula |
| 1. | Clo | Chlorine | 28011000 | 7782-50-5 | Cl₂ |
See more services chemical safety training according to Decree 113/2017/NĐ-CP
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2. Where does Chlorine (Cl₂) originate from in the production process?
During the production process, Cl₂ gas is often generated from industrial activities that use chlorine as a primary raw material or a byproduct. Chemical manufacturing plants producing substances like sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and chlorine-containing organic compounds are major sources of Cl₂ gas. The electrolysis of sodium chloride (NaCl) solution to produce chlorine is also a common source of emissions.
In addition, in the water treatment and disinfection industry, Cl₂ gas can be generated when chlorine-containing compounds are used to kill bacteria and remove impurities. The storage and transportation of chlorine in high-pressure tanks or cylinders can also lead to leaks of Cl₂ gas into the environment if not strictly controlled.
Some industries such as paper, textile, and PVC plastic manufacturing use chlorine for bleaching and chemical synthesis, which also contributes to the generation of Cl₂ gas in the air.
3. Industries that use Chlorine (Cl₂) in production
In production, Cl₂ gas is widely used in many important industries. The chemical industry is one of the largest users of Cl₂, for the purpose of producing compounds such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and many chlorine-containing organic compounds. These chemicals are used as basic raw materials for many other industrial processes.
The water treatment industry uses Cl₂ to disinfect and remove harmful microorganisms in clean water supply systems and wastewater treatment. This application plays a crucial role in protecting public health and ensuring the quality of drinking water.
In the paper and pulp industry, Cl₂ is used to bleach pulp, helping to improve the brightness and quality of the product. Similarly, the textile industry also uses Cl₂ in fabric bleaching processes and to remove impurities, helping to enhance the aesthetic value and quality of the product.
The plastics industry, especially the production of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), uses Cl₂ as an essential raw material. The synthesis of PVC requires the participation of chlorine to create intermediate compounds, which are then used to produce high-quality plastic products.
In addition, the food and beverage industry also uses Cl₂ for disinfecting equipment and treating water, ensuring food safety and hygiene. These industries all exploit the strong disinfecting and oxidizing properties of Cl₂ to serve diverse production needs.
4. How does Chlorine (Cl₂) affect workers?
In the workplace, Cl₂ gas can cause many serious health effects for workers if not strictly controlled. Inhaling Cl₂ gas at low concentrations can lead to respiratory irritation, causing coughing, difficulty breathing, and a burning sensation in the nose and throat. At higher concentrations, this gas can cause severe lung damage, leading to chemical pneumonia or acute pulmonary edema, which is life-threatening.
Contact with Cl₂ through the skin or eyes can cause chemical burns, severe irritation, or soft tissue damage. In the event of an uncontrolled leak or release of Cl₂ gas, workers may be affected systemically, with symptoms including headache, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. These symptoms are usually due to the effect of Cl₂ gas on the nervous and circulatory systems.
People who work for long periods in an environment containing Cl₂ are at high risk of developing chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis or occupational asthma. Furthermore, repeated exposure to Cl₂ gas without appropriate protective measures can also weaken the immune system and overall health of workers.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Chlorine (Cl₂) for human exposure
The permissible safe concentration for exposure to Cl₂ gas is regulated by health and occupational safety agencies. According to organizations such as OSHA (the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ACGIH (the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), the maximum concentration of Cl₂ in the air should not exceed 0.5 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hour workday. This is the concentration level to which workers can be exposed without experiencing serious health effects.
If the concentration of Cl₂ exceeds this level, the risk of health effects will increase, and protective measures must be implemented immediately. These organizations also recommend that the short-term maximum concentration, possibly over a 15-minute period, should not exceed 1 ppm. This is the level to which workers can be temporarily exposed without suffering immediate serious injury.
On a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, it is important to adhere to safety standards and limit exposure to Chlorine. Organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States provide guidelines and safety principles to protect workers from the negative impacts of chemical substances.
6. Measures to minimize the health effects of Chlorine (Cl₂) on workers
To minimize the health effects of Cl₂ gas on workers, protective and control measures must be strictly applied in areas where chemicals are produced and stored. One of the most important measures is to maintain a good ventilation system, which helps to dilute and remove Cl₂ gas from the air, ensuring that the gas concentration in the workspace is always at a safe level. The ventilation system should be designed so that toxic gas does not accumulate in areas with a high density of workers.
Providing adequate personal protective equipment for workers is an indispensable factor. Workers must wear respirators or other respiratory protection devices when working in an environment with a risk of exposure to Cl₂ gas. In addition, protective clothing, gloves, and safety glasses should also be used to protect the body from the direct effects of gas or solutions containing Cl₂.
Training and instructing workers on safety measures when working with Cl₂ gas is extremely important. Workers need to be equipped with knowledge about warning signs, first aid measures in case of exposure to toxic gas, and procedures for handling incidents when there is a gas leak. Along with that, it is necessary to establish strict safety procedures to control and monitor the concentration of Cl₂ in the air.
In addition, the use of modern technologies, such as toxic gas warning systems and automatic leak detection devices, which help to detect leaks or levels of Cl₂ gas exceeding the permissible limit early, is very necessary to protect the health of workers.
Occupational safety training: Workers need to be trained and educated about the risks and safety measures when working with this type of chemical. This training should be provided periodically and regularly to ensure understanding and proper compliance with safety rules.
Periodically organize occupational environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, to collect and analyze factors harmful to workers, thereby adjusting to reduce the level of hazard to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. Nationwide Occupational Environment Monitoring Center
Nam Viet’s Occupational Environment Monitoring Center is a professional unit for monitoring and measuring the quality of the working environment across all provinces in Vietnam. With a team of experienced monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports clients in planning, handling, and tracking occupational environment issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center is concerned with customer satisfaction, meets all customer needs, and is committed to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in technology, engineering, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has become one of the reputable units in the field of occupational environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
- We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
- We provide our customers with the best and most suitable options possible.
- Along with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- By coming to the Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field. At the same time, you will get the best cost incentives.
8. Quotation for occupational environment monitoring
To help businesses conduct occupational environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet provides our valued customers with a price list for quality and reasonably priced occupational environment monitoring services.
- Our monitoring price list provides detailed information on the prices of the monitoring services we offer. This includes costs related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting of results. Our valued customers can be completely assured of the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring result reports we provide.
- We are committed to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are also always ready to provide advice and answer any questions about our monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring price list, our valued customers can easily choose the service packages that suit their needs. We are committed to bringing our customers the highest satisfaction with our professional quality services.
