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