How should we prevent the harm of organic solvents?

When an organic compound is used as a solvent, the organic compound is simply called an organic solvent. Common organic solvents include ethanol, dichloromethane, benzene, tetrachloromethane, chloroform, etc. Organic solvents are a large class of organic compounds widely used in life and production. They have small molecular weight and are liquid at room temperature. Organic solvents include many types of substances, such as alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, amines, esters, ethers, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogenated hydrocarbons, terpene hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds and sulfur-containing compounds, etc. etc. Most of them are toxic to the human body. If a person inhales the vapor of organic solvents for a long time, it will cause chronic poisoning. However, short-term exposure to high concentrations of organic solvent vapors may also lead to the risk of fatal acute poisoning. In terms of industrial hygiene, the harm of organic solvents to the human body is closely related to the volatility of the solvent. At normal temperatures, low-volatility solvents are less likely to cause danger in the air. Other hazards to the human body include the solvent's fat solubility, reactivity, impurity content, human body absorption methods and pathways, human body's metabolic rate, accumulation, individual feelings and sensitivity, length of exposure, etc. 1. In workplaces where the retention of organic solvent vapor may lead to explosions, measurements should be made before work. When the concentration reaches more than 30% of the lower explosion limit, relevant personnel should be ordered to retreat to a safe place. 2. Effective ventilation facilities (local exhaust or overall ventilation device) should be installed. 3. Operation inspection points and regular inspections and key inspections of local exhaust devices should be implemented in accordance with regulations. 4. Organic solvent workplaces should conduct working environment measurements (concentration measurements in the air) at least once every six months, and measurement records should be kept for at least three years. 5. Organic solvent workplaces should dispatch personnel with knowledge of organic solvent poisoning prevention (organic solvent operations supervisors) to engage in supervision and management. 6. Containers of organic solvents should be tightly closed regardless of whether they are in use to prevent volatilization from escaping. Hazards should be marked and material safety data sheets () should be provided at the work site. 7. Appropriate respiratory protective equipment (activated carbon gas mask or air respirator) should be provided in the workplace where organic solvents are used for the convenience of organic solvent workers. 8. Organic solvent operators should receive safety and health education and training necessary to prevent disasters in accordance with laws and regulations (an additional three hours of organic solvent poisoning prevention education and training are required). 9. Pre-job occupational health examinations and regular occupational health examinations should be carried out. 10. Fireworks should be strictly prohibited in organic solvent workplaces to prevent explosions. 11. Only the organic solvents that need to be used that day can be stored in the organic solvent working area, and the working time of organic solvents should be minimized. 12. When users enter a confined space where organic solvents exist, they should take precautionary measures against hazards in confined space operations.