Clearing the Air - The Unlikely Risks From Chemical Fumes at Work

One of the slightly less obvious ways some can get injured at work is to come into contact with chemical vapors, often in unusual circumstances or from unlikely sources such as cleaning products. For the vast majority of the time, these products are perfectly safe to use. However there are cases out there where employers either consciously or unintentionally have exposed their employees to harmful chemicals without the appropriate protection or training.

An example of this recently was a cleaner at a swimming baths and leisure center who had been exposed to fumes from cleaning products whilst working in one of the steam rooms at her work. In an enclosed space these fumes had not dissipated as they would normally, and left the cleaner with breathing difficulties and a sore throat for several months after the incident.

This case serves as a reminder to both employers and employees of the dangers that can arise from using cleaning products that are unsuitable for confined or badly ventilated areas.

Several common chemicals used in workplaces can give off fumes that when present in a concentrated amount are harmful to health. One well-known example is chlorine, used in swimming pools and health centers to treat water, which can give off very dangerous fumes that can lead to very serious damage to the eyes, mouth and lungs.

Another less well-known source of dangerous fumes are the large printing and photocopying units common to many office buildings, which give off ozone and other fumes from the inks and toners they use for printing. In a normal environment these fumes will not be present in anywhere near high enough concentrations for there to be any danger to the people using them or working nearby. But in a confined space with poor ventilation the concentrations can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.