Enhancing Chemical Safety in Manufacturing: Lessons from Major Chemical Spill Incidents and the Role of Ergonomics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/5g70b908Keywords:
Safety, Ergonomics, Pollution, Chemical spillAbstract
Chemical spills in manufacturing industries pose serious dangers to the safety of the environment, the health of employees, and the effectiveness of operations. This study examines the root causes and effects of significant chemical spill incidents. The analysis focuses on the lessons learned from these incidents, ergonomic and safety issues, and missed preventive measures. The thorough evaluation emphasizes how weak safety measures and poor ergonomic practices contribute to the rise of such incidents. The proposed alternative solutions focus on integrating chemical safety measures with ergonomic principles to reduce hazards and improve worker safety. The findings help to create safer industrial settings by providing industries with insights to prevent future chemical accidents and enhance worker well-being and operational sustainability.
References
[1] Zhang, L., Wang, Y., Li, J., & Chen, X. (2022). Characteristics and Statistical Analysis of Large and above Hazardous Chemical Accidents in China from 2000 to 2020. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15603.
[2] Whitehead, C., Maier, M. A., Rao, M. B., Eturki, M., Snawder, J. E., & Davis, K. G. (2022). Impact of ergonomic posture on the chemical exposure of workers in the petroleum and Chemical Industry. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 66(8), 1022–1032.
[3] Zhang, X., Li, J., & Wang, L. (2020). Chemical accidents and their prevention in manufacturing. Journal of Environmental Protection, 11(3), 309-320.
[4] Smith, R., & Lee, H. (2021). Ergonomics and chemical safety: A critical intersection. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 65(2), 42-49.
[5] Brown, T., & Smith, R. (2019). The impact of ergonomic deficiencies on chemical safety. Journal of Occupational Health and Safety, 22(2), 53-58.
[6] Yahya, M., Abdullah, Z., & Noor, F. (2020). The Pasir Gudang toxic waste dumping: Lessons learned and the way forward. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(12), 13245–13254.
[7] Salleh, S. M., Rahman, A., & Wong, L. (2020). Occupational safety and health concerns during chemical spill management. Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 17(1), 55–62.
[8] Mallin, M. A., Williams, K. E., & Cahoon, L. B. (2017). Assessing impacts of the Elk River chemical spill. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189(9), 451.
[9] Brown, T., & Smith, R. (2019). Ergonomic challenges in industrial chemical spill responses. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 63(7), 767–776.
[10] Kertesz, A., Kiss, G., & Fekete, Z. (2013). Environmental impact of the Ajka red mud spill, Hungary. Environmental Earth Sciences, 70(7), 3063–3074.
[11] Smith, R., & Lee, H. (2021). Integrating ergonomics into emergency response: Lessons from industrial disasters. Workplace Health & Safety, 69(5), 201–208.
[12] Santos, A. B., Ferreira, J. L., & Silva, R. M. (2021). Secondary containment systems: A preventive measure for yyyyyyhazardous chemical handling. Industrial Safety Journal, 35(4), 421–436.
[13] Clarke, S., & Cooper, C. L. (2019). Effective training strategies for reducing chemical hazard risks in industrial environments. Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 26(2), 112–124.
[14] Jensen, P. L., & Johnson, W. M. (2019). Implementing ISO 45001: Integrating safety into management systems. Journal of Safety Research, 68(1), 45-52.
[15] Santos, L. E., Pereira, J., &Costa, M. (2021). Lessons learned from industrial accidents: The role of incident investigation reports. Process Safety Progress, 40(3), 124-136.
[16] Syed Ismail, S. N., Zainal Abidin, E., & Rasdi, I. (2020). A case study of Pasir Gudang chemical toxic pollution: A review on health symptoms, psychological manifestation and biomarker assessment. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 16(SUPP11), 175-184.
[17] Aja O.C., Al-Kaviem H.H., Zewge M.G., Joo M.G.Z.A.M.S. Management of Hazardous Wastes. IntechOpen; London, UK: 2016. Overview of Hazardous Waste Management Status in Malaysia. Chapter 5, 69-87.
[18] IFRC, Hungarian Red Cross, & Hungarian National Directorate for Disaster Management. (2020). A case study: Chemical spill red sludge.
[19] Scaggs, M., Sarver, E., & Mendoza, L. R. (2015, April). The Elk River MCHM spill: A case study on managing environmental risks. Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering, Virginia Tech.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
