Chemicals

In very basic terms, everything around us is a chemical of some form; along with oil, there is food, soil, air, water, plastics, wood, metals, paints, pharmaceuticals, soap, cleaning products, and the list goes on.

Chemicals can be helpful (for example, drugs or water) or harmful (such as toxic gases or strong acids) to people. Crude oil is useful in many ways, but exposure to it can result in harmful effects.

Each chemical can have a different composition (its structure or makeup) and properties, such as flammability or corrosivity. It is a chemical's composition and physical properties, along with its physical form (solid, liquid, or gas), that cause potential hazards.

Many of the chemicals in crude oil are potentially hazardous substances that can pose chemical and physical hazards to people who work around or with crude oil (processing, cleanup, and so on). Also, crude oil can harm the environment if accidentally released or spilled.

Potential health hazards range from short-term effects such as: irritation of the skin, throat, and eyes; headaches; and nausea. Long-term problems can involve different parts of the body such as the respiratory system, major organs (such as the liver or kidneys), heart and circulatory system, brain and nervous system, or reproductive system.

To learn more about Crude Oil Hazards visit our Crude Oil Hazards Online Training web page.