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Esin A. KÜRKÇÜ
Occupational Health and Safety Expert
(Chemical Engineer)
Ankara – May 2010
RISKS AND CONTROL MEASURES RISKS AND CONTROL MEASURES
IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRYIN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
ContentContent
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
DefinitionsDefinitions
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)
DefinitionsDefinitions 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, 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 HaThe Hazardszards associated with associated with ChemicalsChemicals
Chemical agents can cause harm;
1. either directly
2. or by producing some form of energy (such as fire or explosion)
The HaThe Hazardszards associated with associated with ChemicalsChemicals
For the 1st 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 ChemicalsThe Harm Caused by Chemicals
For the 2nd 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 HThe Hazard Posed azard Posed by Chemicalsby 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 Risks of chemicals to be assessed;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 Section 2Physico-chemical Properties Section 9
Use
Recommended uses and restrictions Section 16Handling and Storage Section 7 and 15User Protection Section 8Exposure Limit Values Section 8 and 15
Application of Safety Data Sheets
Hazards
Safety: Flammability, explosiveness, reactivity Section 3,9,10Health: Toxicity Section 3 and 11Environment: Ecotoxicity Section 3 and 12
Emergencies
First aid Section 4Fire Section 5Leaks/releases 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
Workplace Work Method
1 Risk elimination Total substitution of the agent
-Modification of the process
-Use of intrinsically safe equipment
Automation
2 Risk reduction/control
-Partial substitution of the agent
-Change of form or physical agents (1)
-Closed process
- Local extraction
-Safe storage-Segregation of dirty departments-Ventilation by dilution-Fire prevention
-Safe handling
-Safe internal transport
3 Worker protection -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
+ - + 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 explosion;
To avoid the possibility of an explosion or the emission of toxic
flammable or corrosive gases:
Store two incompatible chemicals at least 3m apart.
Where the goods could react violently, store them at least 5m
apart.
Consider storing some chemicals especially unstable
chemicals in separate fire rated enclosures or separate
buildings with appropriate fire suppression equipment.
THANK YOU
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