Hoá chất; An toàn hoá chất; Nguy hại hoá chất; Tiếp xúc hoá chất; Quản lý hoá chất; ATVSLĐ; Pesticides; Chemical safety; Chemical hazards; Vai trò của hoá chất trong đời sống; Rủi ro khi tiếp xúc hoá chất; Quản lý an toàn hoá chất tại nơi làm việc; Tác độ

Chemicals play an essential role in modern life. Their benefits have been widely recognized—from pesticides that improve agricultural productivity, to pharmaceuticals used for medical treatment, and cleaning agents that ensure hygiene in daily life. Chemicals are indispensable for a healthy, convenient lifestyle and serve as fundamental components in many industrial sectors to produce goods for society.

However, alongside these benefits come significant risks. Controlling chemical exposure in the workplace and limiting their release into the environment is a shared responsibility of governments, employers, and workers. These challenges are increasingly pressing.

The hazards associated with chemicals are diverse. Pesticides may increase crop yields but can adversely affect workers during production and application, as well as cause long-term ecological damage due to residual contamination. In the pharmaceutical sector, the production and handling of active substances may expose workers to harmful chemicals. Even common cleaning agents—despite improving sanitation—can create health risks for workers who handle them regularly. Many chemicals pose wide-ranging dangers, from carcinogenic effects to fire and explosion hazards, or serious environmental impacts such as aquatic toxicity. Numerous fires, explosions, and environmental disasters in recent years have been linked to poor chemical management.

Although many studies have been conducted in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH), and despite the efforts of many countries, employers, and workers to reduce chemical-related risks, these measures remain insufficient. Incidents continue to occur, threatening human health and the environment. Workers—those directly exposed to hazardous chemicals—must have the right to work in safe and clean conditions, and must be properly informed, trained, and protected.

Given the continuous advances in science, technology, and the chemical industry, global cooperation is crucial. It is essential to develop systems and tools that ensure information on chemical hazards and preventive measures is readily accessible and implemented effectively. Likewise, organizing and managing such information in a systematic, integrated manner is vital to promoting safe chemical use in the workplace.