Occupational Safety Concerns for Acrylic Acid Production Plant - Research Paper Example

 In the production of acrylic acid, there are several hazards involved which may include: Physical, fire, explosive, reactive, health, systematic, and target organ hazards. A chemical may have physical hazards when it burns or supports fire, i.e. ethyl acetate, isopropyl ether with a high flammable rating of 2.0, it can release high pressures which might cause injury to the body, when it can spontaneously react on its own or when exposed to water i.e. isopropyl ether.

Direct exposure to ethyl acrylate vapors can cause lethargy, headache, nausea, drowsiness, and respiratory and gastrointestinal irritation. Of all the above solvents the use of diisobutyl ketone is less hazardous since it is miscible with most organic solvents and immiscible with water, it has a slow evaporating rate but has a high boiling point, has a good viscosity reduction, reduction of surface tension in the high-solid coating. The major damage can be caused by spillages which may result in irritation and burns to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, rashes to the skin, there might be cases of skin allergy with rash and itchiness.

This can be controlled via the use of Butyl neoprene (gloves and boots), coveralls, and respirators (full facepiece APR with OV cartridges 20ppm supplied air.). The basic function of any respirator is usually to protect from inhaling hazardous chemicals or gases, they include a full-facepiece respirator, half-mask piece respirator, and quarter-mask respirator.