Routes of Entry

Another important task when assessing the workplace for chemical hazards is to determine the route(s) of entry the chemicals may take. If we know the route(s) of entry, we can then determine appropriate engineering, administrative, and PPE controls to eliminate or reduce the exposure. The four common routes of entry are:

• Ingestion: Do we eat or drink it?
• Inhalation: Do we breathe it in? This is the most common route of entry.
• Absorption: Does it pass through the skin, eyes or other membranes?
• Injection: Does it enter through a puncture or cut?