Workplace
Health & Safety
Chlorine at the Work Site
Chlorine presents a potential health
hazard to workers at the work site.
Worker exposure to chlorine can occur
during its manufacture or in its many
industrial applications. To ensure
protection against exposure to chlorine,
both workers and employers must be
aware of its properties, how it affects the
body and what to do in emergency
situations.
Uses of chlorine
Chlorine is used to disinfect swimming
pools, to purify drinking water, and to
treat sewage. Chlorine is a basic
ingredient of bleaches which have
application in the laundry, textile, and
pulp and paper industries. In addition,
chlorine is used by the chemical industry
as a raw material for the manufacture of
a broad range of other chemical
products. These include inorganic
materials, organic solvents, plastics,
pesticides and rubber products.
CH028 June 1998
Chemical Hazards
June 1998
Properties of chlorine
Chlorine exists as a greenish-yellow gas
at room temperature, and has a very
unpleasant, sharp odour. The gas is
twice as heavy as air and, if its
concentration is high enough, it will
collect in low lying areas. If the
temperature of the gas is reduced, or if it
is pressurized, chlorine can be liquified.
This makes it easier for shipping and
storage.
Although chlorine is not flammable,
potentially explosive mixtures may be
formed when it is mixed with flammable
gases. Such a mixture could result in an
explosion if there is a source of ignition.
It must be noted that many materials can
burn in a chlorine atmosphere, even if
there is no oxygen. Chlorine is a
powerful oxidizing agent which reacts
violently with easily-oxidized materials.
Therefore, materials such as turpentine,
ammonia, acetylene, hydrocarbons,
powdered metals, etc., must not be
mixed with chlorine.
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Cases of poisoning have occurred when
cleaners containing chlorine bleach have
been mixed with acids to release
chlorine.
Effects on the body
Chlorine gas is a severe irritant to the
eyes and respiratory tract because it
reacts with body moisture to form acids.
The first symptom of exposure to low
airborne levels of chlorine is irritation of
the eyes, nose and throat. Airborne
levels as low as 1 part of chlorine per
million parts of air by volume (ppm) can
be noticed by smell. This concentration
is above the 8 hr Occupational Exposure
Limit for Alberta. Levels this low may
also result in irritation of the eyes and
nose. Continued exposure to slightly
higher levels may cause headache,
dizziness, intense coughing, chest pain
and vomiting. Suffocation may result
because chlorine can cause muscle
cramping of the throat and swelling of
the lining of air passages.
Workers exposed to high airborne levels,
(i.e. well in excess of the Alberta
Occupational Exposure Limits), even for
brief periods, can experience serious
respiratory problems. Even a few
breaths of very high airborne levels of
chlorine can cause the lung tissues to
swell and fill up with fluid (pulmonary
edema). These symptoms may be
delayed in onset and the effects may be
irreversible. Therefore, workers who
inhale high airborne levels of chlorine
should be kept under medical
observation for at least 72 hours
following exposure. Severe exposures to
chlorine may be fatal. Concentrations of
30 ppm can be immediately dangerous to
health.
CH028 June 1998
Direct contact with concentrated
chlorine gas may result in skin burns and
blisters. Liquid chlorine can also cause
severe eye and skin burns on contact.
The suffocating odour and irritating
effects of chlorine provide a warning of
its presence. However, workers who are
constantly exposed to chlorine may lose
the ability to detect its odour at airborne
levels below those that cause irritation.
Workers exposed to low levels of
chlorine (even slightly above the Alberta
Occupational Exposure Limit) over long
periods of time may develop breathing
problems.
Employer responsibilities
The Alberta Occupational Health and
Safety Act sets out the employer’s
responsibility to ensure the protection of
workers at the work site.
Regulations under this Act have been
established to define standards related to
protection from specific hazards. The
General Safety Regulation (AR 448/83)
provides standards respecting safety
aspects at the work site. The Chemical
Hazards Regulation (AR 393/88) covers
requirements relating to the control of
chemical hazards and deals with aspects
related to the Workplace Hazardous
Material Information System (WHMIS).
It also lists Occupational Exposure
Limits (OELs) for various chemicals.
OELs are subject to periodic change.
Please check the Chemical Hazards
Regulation for the current limit.
In Alberta, workers may not be exposed
to airborne levels of chlorine which
average more than 0.5 ppm over an 8-
hour work day. At no time may
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workers be exposed to levels of chlorine
which exceed 1 ppm.
It is important to note that OELs
represent minimum standards for worker
protection. In order to protect workers
from the hazards of chlorine, the
employer must use control measures
which will be effective in keeping
chlorine levels as low as possible. As
previously outlined, there are several
control options available to the
employer. The methods used will
depend on the conditions at the work
site. If personal protective equipment is
used, it must be properly selected and
cared for. Workers must also be trained
in its use.
Employers must provide material safety
data sheets (MSDS) and labels for
chlorine. The MSDS outlines the health
and safety hazards, safe handling and
use information, and precautions to be
taken. Using the information, the
employer must instruct workers on the
hazards of chlorine, the safe handling
and use procedures, and emergency
procedures.
Worker responsibilities
The Alberta Occupational Health and
Safety Act also places responsibilities on
the worker for health and safety at the
work site. The Alberta Occupational
Health and Safety Act and Regulations
require the worker to take reasonable
care of himself and others at the work
site. This includes co-operating with the
employer for the purpose of protecting
himself and others. The worker must:
- become aware of the
hazards associated with
chlorine,
CH028 June 1998
- follow safe work
procedures developed by
the employer,
- wear protective
equipment required to
ensure protection and
follow instructions on
correct usage, and
- participate in education
programs provided by the
employer.
In case of an emergency
Workers and employers both have
responsibilities in emergency situations.
The employer must:
- have emergency
procedures developed in
advance of any potential
emergency involving
chlorine leaks or spills;
- ensure that workers are
aware of the procedures,
are trained and are
adequately supervised in
an emergency;
- provide workers will full
facepiece, positive
pressure, self-contained
breathing apparatus
(SCBA), and other
protective equipment for
use in an emergency.
The worker must:
- avoid breathing chlorine
while quickly leaving the
area for fresh air (if
available, quickly put on
nearest respirator);
- immediately wash off
skin with plenty of water
and wash out eyes for at
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 least 15 minutes in case
of contact;
- seek medical attention
right away if large
amounts of chlorine are
breathed in or if chlorine
comes in contact with the
skin or eyes;
- NOT re-enter a chlorine-
filled area of unknown
concentration unless
equipped with full
facepiece, positive
pressure self-contained
breathing apparatus;
- be prepared to assist
fellow workers, while
making sure the correct
emergency procedures are
followed. It is important
not to take unnecessary
risk when rescuing or
assisting a fellow worker.

For more information about workplace safety or safe work practices, contact the Alberta
Human Resources and Employment, Workplace Health and Safety Call Centre by
dialling toll-free:
% 1-866-415-8690
Deaf or hearing impaired call:

ä Edmonton (780) 427-9999 Other locations 1-800-232-7215

For more publications, visit our web site at: www.whs.gov.ab.ca

To obtain copies of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations,
view and download them from our web site or contact the Queen’s Printer by dialling
toll-free 310-0000 and one of the numbers listed below:

ä Edmonton……(780) 427-4952 Calgary………..…(403) 297-6251

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