Feb 20, 2004 14:11
20 yrs ago
8 viewers *
English term
Physical Hazard
English
Other
Agriculture
Pesticide control
The following section appears in a pesticide instruction sheet:
Physical or Chemical Hazards:
Combustible. Do not use or store near heat or open fire.
How would you interpret "physical" in this context? Is it material, bodily, or maybe something else altogether?
Note that the sheet also has sections for "hazards to humans" and "environmental hazards".
Thanks.
Physical or Chemical Hazards:
Combustible. Do not use or store near heat or open fire.
How would you interpret "physical" in this context? Is it material, bodily, or maybe something else altogether?
Note that the sheet also has sections for "hazards to humans" and "environmental hazards".
Thanks.
Responses
Responses
12 hrs
Selected
2 definitions of Physical Hazard
1.
Physical hazard means a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.
2.
A Physical Hazard arises when use of a chemical is potentially dangerous due, for example, to the possibility of explosion, fire or violent reaction with water. Peroxides, sulfuric acid, diethyl ether and phosphorus pentachloride are examples of materials which present physical hazards. Often, of course, such materials will also present health hazards due to their toxicity.
Physical hazard means a chemical for which there is scientifically valid evidence that it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, explosive, flammable, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer, pyrophoric, unstable (reactive) or water-reactive.
2.
A Physical Hazard arises when use of a chemical is potentially dangerous due, for example, to the possibility of explosion, fire or violent reaction with water. Peroxides, sulfuric acid, diethyl ether and phosphorus pentachloride are examples of materials which present physical hazards. Often, of course, such materials will also present health hazards due to their toxicity.
Reference:
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/hazardous.html
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/glossary/physical_hazard.html
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "As I thought, this simple title had more to it than meets the eye. It was also a source for a very interesting contributions. It was difficult choosing in the end. Raúl, Fuad, Alex all captured the intent of the question. Raúl was generously educational and correct, but ildiko was able to find the exact answer. Fuad gets points for telepathy, he knew this was for an Arabic translation, and indeed I chose his translation for my label translation, but I have to grade based on the criteria of this language pair to be fair to all. My conclusion is that the hazard is actually "thermodynamic" based on ildiko's pointers. In other words, a hazard resulting from release of energy, causing explosion, fire, or violent reaction. Thermodynamic would have been a disastrous word to use in a safety label, the choice of Physical probably is because the hazard has a "look and feel", it is observable visually, thermally, and spatially; Physical one might say!
Thanks all for the rich exchange."
2 mins
ÇáãÎÇØÑ ÇáÝíÒíÇÆíÉ
I think that the coupling of "physical" with "chemical" and the detail of fire hazard suggest "physics" as the intended meaning.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-20 14:41:50 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It appears that the label addresses various kinds of hazards:
Physical and Chemical Hazards: Hazard arising from the physical and chemical properties of the substance. In this case, combustibility is the most relevant.
Hazards to humans: Hazard arising from contact with humans (such as when ingested).
Environmental hazards: Hazards to water, soil, etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-20 14:41:50 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It appears that the label addresses various kinds of hazards:
Physical and Chemical Hazards: Hazard arising from the physical and chemical properties of the substance. In this case, combustibility is the most relevant.
Hazards to humans: Hazard arising from contact with humans (such as when ingested).
Environmental hazards: Hazards to water, soil, etc.
+3
4 mins
substance that is a threat to safety
Reference:
A physical Hazard arises when use of a chemical is potentially dangerous due, for example, to the possibility of explosion, fire or violent reaction with water. Peroxides, sulfuric acid, diethyl ether and phosphorus pentachloride are examples of materials which present physical hazards. Often, of course, such materials will also present health hazards due to their toxicity.
ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/glossary/physical_hazard.html
A physical Hazard arises when use of a chemical is potentially dangerous due, for example, to the possibility of explosion, fire or violent reaction with water. Peroxides, sulfuric acid, diethyl ether and phosphorus pentachloride are examples of materials which present physical hazards. Often, of course, such materials will also present health hazards due to their toxicity.
ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/glossary/physical_hazard.html
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Armorel Young
0 min
|
agree |
Yusha (X)
23 hrs
|
agree |
Alexander Demyanov
1 day 57 mins
|
+2
5 mins
below
numerous google definitions, different wording, essentially same meaning:
e.g.
A chemical is a physical hazard if it possesses flammable, combustible, explosive, oxidizing, pyrophoric or reactive properties, or if it is an organic peroxide or compressed gas.
http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsp/html/hazard_eval_.shtml
--
A chemical is a physical hazard if it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, an explosive, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer or pyrophoric, flammable, or reactive.
http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsptrain/html/hazard_evaluation.htm
e.g.
A chemical is a physical hazard if it possesses flammable, combustible, explosive, oxidizing, pyrophoric or reactive properties, or if it is an organic peroxide or compressed gas.
http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsp/html/hazard_eval_.shtml
--
A chemical is a physical hazard if it is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas, an explosive, an organic peroxide, an oxidizer or pyrophoric, flammable, or reactive.
http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsptrain/html/hazard_evaluation.htm
Peer comment(s):
agree |
chica nueva
: Seems good to me. And it's a chemical hazard if... (what? If it's toxic?) Possibly from a standard Dangerous Goods classification (for handling and storage of Dangerous Goods)
6 hrs
|
agree |
Ildiko Santana
: see also: http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/glossary/physical_hazard.html and http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/hazardous.html
12 hrs
|
+1
6 mins
a hazard of direct bodily injury
This means that in addition to being able to say, poison the environment as to aggravate one's migraines, this product presents immediate danger of bodily injury on contact and/or when inhaled, etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Yusha (X)
23 hrs
|
+6
17 mins
a hazard that involves a physical (not bodily) phenomenon
Physical phenomenon is one in which there are no change in chemical composition.
Example: the explosion of a gas due to an extremely high pressure condition.
Chemical phenomenon is one in which there are some change in chemical composition.
Example: combustion of a flammable material due to the presence of oxygen. In combustion, the flammable material and the oxygen combine each other, and 'products of combustion' are generated, like CO2, CO and H2O.
Ref.: experience in translating Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's)-engineering experience.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-21 15:51:11 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Correction:
a hazard that involves a physical (not necessarily bodily) phenomenon
This is in reference to demyanov\'s disagree.
I think that the title \'Physical or Chemical Hazards\' refers directly to the basic scientific definitions of physical and chemical phenomena and their differences. They are independent of the existence of a human body in the surroundings.
Both physical and chemical hazards could be \'bodily\' -and usually they are- when a human body is present.
Example: the explosion of a gas due to an extremely high pressure condition.
Chemical phenomenon is one in which there are some change in chemical composition.
Example: combustion of a flammable material due to the presence of oxygen. In combustion, the flammable material and the oxygen combine each other, and 'products of combustion' are generated, like CO2, CO and H2O.
Ref.: experience in translating Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's)-engineering experience.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-21 15:51:11 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Correction:
a hazard that involves a physical (not necessarily bodily) phenomenon
This is in reference to demyanov\'s disagree.
I think that the title \'Physical or Chemical Hazards\' refers directly to the basic scientific definitions of physical and chemical phenomena and their differences. They are independent of the existence of a human body in the surroundings.
Both physical and chemical hazards could be \'bodily\' -and usually they are- when a human body is present.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Mario Marcolin
1 min
|
¡Thank you, Mario!
|
|
agree |
Asghar Bhatti
8 mins
|
¡Thank you, Asghar!
|
|
agree |
vixen
31 mins
|
¡Thank you, vixen!
|
|
agree |
Matthew Fagan
41 mins
|
Thank you, MatthewS!
|
|
agree |
jebeen
5 hrs
|
Thank you, jebeen!
|
|
agree |
Nado2002
9 hrs
|
Thank you, Nado2002!
|
|
disagree |
Alexander Demyanov
: 1.In all official definitions physical harard involves possibility of chemical reactions damaging to HUMANS. 2. What's "physical (not bodily)"? Is it spiritual then?
1 day 44 mins
|
1. I think that the possibility of chemical reactions is a chemical hazard. I simply tried to define the difference between physical and chemical hazards. 2. Sorry! I meant 'physical (not necessarily bodily)'.
|
|
agree |
senin
25 days
|
Thank you, senin!
|
Discussion