RISKS AND CONTROL MEASURES IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY Esin

RISKS AND CONTROL MEASURES IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY Esin A. KÜRKÇÜ Occupational Health and Safety Expert (Chemical Engineer) Ankara – May 2010

Content 1. Definitions 2. Hazards and Risks Arising from Chemicals 3. Labeling of Chemicals 4. Safety Data Sheets 5. Principles of Prevention 6. Safe Storage of Chemicals

Definitions Chemical agent: Means any chemical element, compound or a mixture of them, as it occurs in the natural state or as produced, used or released by any work activity or come about as waste or produced unintentionally. Implementing Regulation on the Protection of the Health and Safety Measures from the Risks Related to Chemical Agents at Work (based on the Directive 1998/24/EC)

Definitions Hazardous chemical agent: § Any substance that has one or more of characteristics that are toxic for reproduction and dangerous for the environment like being explosive, oxidizing, easily flammable, toxic, very toxic, hazardous, corrosive, irritating, allergic, carcinogen, mutagen. § Any chemical agent that is not mentioned in the classifications above but due to its chemical, physico-chemical, or toxicological properties, and the way it is used or present in the workplace, present a risk to the safety and health of workers. § Chemical agents with established occupational exposure limit value.

The Hazards associated with Chemicals Chemical agents can cause harm; 1. either directly 2. or by producing some form of energy (such as fire or explosion)

The Hazards associated with Chemicals For the 1 st case; § Harm can become apparent rapidly or even immediately after contact (Acute Effect) § Or appear in the long term due to repeated exposure over time (Chronic Effect) § If the harm is apparent at the point of the contact of chemical and the body Local Effect § Or if may appear following a process of absorption and distribution through the body Systemic Effect

The Harm Caused by Chemicals For the 2 nd case; § The harm is caused by the energy produced by the fire or explosion of chemical agents. § Explosions occur when a sudden oxidation or decomposition reaction occurs producing a temperature and pressure rise or both simultaneously.

The Hazard Posed by Chemicals Chemical agents present in workplace may pose risks to health and safety on account of; 1. Their hazardous properties (physico-chemical or toxicological) (e. g. explosive or sensitiser) 2. The temperature or pressure at which they occur in the workplace (e. g. water vapor at 150°C) 3. Their capacity to displace the atmospheric oxygen from the workplace (e. g. pressurized inert gas) 4. The manner in which they are present in the workplace (e. g. inert solid in the form of a breathable powder)

Risks of chemicals to be assessed; 1. The risk of fire and/or explosion 2. Risk generated due to the hazardous chemical reactions which may affect the health and safety of workers 3. Risk due to inhalation 4. Risk due to absorption through the skin 5. Risk due to contact with skin or eyes 6. Risk due to ingestion

To Assess the Risks of Chemicals § To determine the risks of a chemical agent; the hazardous properties of these chemicals and the way in which they are present and are used must be known. § To assess the risks first be informed about the hazardous properties of chemicals. 1. Labeling 2. Safety Data Sheets 3. Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Biological Limit Values

Labeling

Safety Data Sheets 1. Identification of substance/preparation and company 2. Composition/information of ingredients 3. Hazard identification 4. First-aid measures 5. Firefighting measures 6. Accidential spillage measures 7. Handling and storage 8. Exposure controls/personal protection 9. Physical/Chemicalproperties 10. Stability and reactivity 11. Toxicological information 12. Ecological information 13. Disposal considerations 14. Transport information 15. Regulatory information 16. Other information

Application of Safety Data Sheets § General Information Chemical Composition Physico-chemical Properties Section 2 Section 9 § Use Recommended uses and restrictions Handling and Storage User Protection Exposure Limit Values Section 16 Section 7 and 15 Section 8 and 15

Application of Safety Data Sheets § Hazards Safety: Flammability, explosiveness, reactivity Health: Toxicity Environment: Ecotoxicity Section 3, 9, 10 Section 3 and 11 Section 3 and 12 § Emergencies First aid Fire Leaks/releases Section 4 Section 5 Section 6

Risks Arising from Hazardous Chemicals

Risks Arising from Hazardous Chemicals

To Eliminate or Reduce the Risks 1. Design and organisation of systems of work at the workplace. 2. Provision of suitable equipment for work with chemical agents and maintenance procedures which ensure the health and safety of workers at work. 3. Reducing to a minimum the number of workers exposed or likely to be exposed. 4. Reducing to a minimum the duration and intensity of exposure.

Principles for Eliminating or Reducing Risks 5. Appropriate hygiene mesures. 6. Reducing the quantity of chemical agents present at the workplace to the minimum required for the type of work concerned. 7. Suitable working procedures including arrangements for the safe handling, storage and transport within the workplace of hazardous chemical agents and waste containing such chemical agents.

Application of the Principles for Prevention

Priority Objective Area of Application Chemical Agent Process or installation 1 Risk elimination Total -Modification substitution of of the agent process -Use of intrinsically safe equipment 2 Risk reduction/control -Partial substitution of the agent -Change of form or physical agents (1) 3 Worker protection -Closed process - Local extraction Workplace Work Method Automation -Safe storage -Safe handling -Segregation of -Safe internal dirty transport departments -Ventilation by dilution -Fire prevention -Eyebaths and showers -Fire and explosion protection -Respiratory, skin and eye PPE

Safe Storage of Chemicals Main Principle: in terms of prevention, the main measure is to maintain the hazardous chemical stocks at the lowest possible level. Then maintain; § Safe storage area away form process area or other hazardous areas § Avoid the combined storage of incompatible or highly reactive chemicals § Provide secure containers (sufficient physical resistance, automatic closure, appropriate for the type and quantity of chemical stored etc. )

Safe Storage of Chemicals-2 § All packages in storage shall be labeled to allow unmistakable identification of the contents. § Evacuation routes and emergency exits which are signed § Precise work instructions for storage operations § Written action procedures in the event of incidents (leaks, spillage, emissions)

Highly flammable Explosive Toxic Oxidising Harmful + - - - + - + - - - + 0 +

Examples of; Incompatible Agents § Oxidising Agents with; inflammable substances, nitrides, hydrides, sulphides, alkylmetals § Reducing Agents with: nitrates, chlorates, oxides, peroxides, fluoride § Strong Acids with Strong Bases § Sulphuric acid with: cellulose, perchloric acid, potassium permanganate, chlorate

Examples of; Unstable Substances § Products that may decompose when stored long periods: alkaline anhydrides § Substances that readily peroxidise: allylic compounds, styrene § Compounds that react violently on contact with air: phosphides, hydrides § Monomers that polymerise rapidly: styrene, acrylonitrile

To avoid explosion; To avoid the possibility of an explosion or the emission of toxic flammable or corrosive gases: § Store two incompatible chemicals at least 3 m apart. § Where the goods could react violently, store them at least 5 m apart. § Consider storing some chemicals especially unstable chemicals in separate fire rated enclosures or separate buildings with appropriate fire suppression equipment.

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