Safe Storage of Chemicals

Chemicals, especially hazardous chemicals, must be stored in such a way that they endanger neither health nor the environment. Knowledge of the potential danger involved is the best basis for initiating appropriate safety measures. Such measures are reflected in the Technical Regulations as Applied to Hazardous Materials (Technischen Regeln für Gefahrstoffe, TRGS) and in special laws, particularly those applying to accident prevention (Unfallverhütungsvorschriften, UVV).

Storage is the keeping of materials for later use, disposal or onward transport to third parties. Transferring to third parties includes preparation for transport.

The potential for danger generated by the storage of chemicals depends not only on the quantities but also from the degree of hazard involved. If chemicals are simply stored without taking into account their specific degree of hazard, the potential danger is increased proportionately. In order to avoid the necessity for evaluating each and every chemical prior to storage, the Association of the Chemical Industry (Verband der Chemischen Industrie, VCI) has developed a "Concept for storing chemicals together" whereby each product is allocated a particular "storage class". This concept takes into account the laws and regulations applicable in Germany to the storage of chemicals. For those areas not subject to regulation, recommendations are given.

Each chemical is allocated one storage class only; those with more than one hazard characteristic are allocated according to the ranking of their hazard characteristics. This ensures that in the case of chemicals with similar or identical hazard characteristics, the same safety measures can be taken, especially against fire and explosion. Liquid or solid substances as well as preparations and products that do not fulfil the criteria of classes 1-8 are characterized as being of classes 10-13. No further differentiation in class is made between classes 10, 11, 12 and 13 as these are all substance-orientated; the flammability of the substance/package unit cannot be assessed in these cases.

There are no legal restrictions pertaining to the storage together of substances within classes 10-13. If articles belonging to class 10-13 are to be stored together with substances of other classes, the table should be used and the flammability of substance and packaging taken into account.

LGK        Designation

1        Explosive material (2nd German Explosives Act: Storage groups  1.1 - 1.4)
2 A        Compressed, liquified, or pressure-dissolved gases
2 B        Pressurized gas packages (aerosol containers)
3 A        Flammable liquid materials (Flp below 55 °C)
3 B        Flammable liquids (VbF Hazard class: A III)
4.1 A        Flammable solid materials (2nd German Explosives Act: Storage groups I-III)
4.1 B        Flammable solid materials (EC Method A 10)
4.2        Spontaneously combustible materials
4.3        Materials that form flammable gases in contact with water
5.1 A        Oxidizing agents (TRGS 515 Group 1)
5.1 B        Oxidizing agents (TRGS 515 Groups 2+3)
5.1 C        Oxidizing agents (TRGS 511 Groups A-C)
5.2        Organic peroxides
6.1 A        Flammable toxic materials
6.1 B        Non-flammable toxic materials
6.2        Infectious materials
7                Radioactive materials
8 A        Flammable corrosive materials
8 B        Non-flammable corrosive materials
10        Flammable liquids if not LGK 3A or 3B
11        Flammable solids
12        Non-flammable liquids in non-flammable packages
13        Non-flammable solids in non-flammable packages


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Ergonomics

Ergonomics is a consideration of workstation design and arrangement to lessen stress on the workers' body.


Contributing Factors:-
Excess force, Repetitive motion, Awkward posture, Overreaching

Solutions:-
Chair height, Length of reach, Ergonomic keyboards, Adjustable desktops



Organize your workstation so that routine operations are within reach and the work is directly in front of you and is as close and comfortable to the body as possible. The work space should also accommodate the operator, allow full range of motion, and provide adequate room for all equipment and materials.


Yoh employees must follow employer client outlined procedures for use of specific tools, chairs, and adjustable benches as well as task rotation as a preventative measure.



Be introduce yourself with the insight of ergonomics.

RISK MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS RISK ASSESSMENT?

Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control

WE ARE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS AND THE RISKS IN OUR ACTIVITIES AND HAVE PRIORITISED THEM ON HOW WE WILL MANAGE THE RISKS.

It is the first step to making your workplace Healthy & Safe.

Risk Assessment is Required By Law

All employers must now conduct Risk Assessments in a planned way.

Risk Assessment is a Guide for Employers

It’s a way to identify significant risks in the workplace - and then take steps to
prevent accidents & ensure good health.

Why should we learn about Risk Assessment?

Because keeping your workplace Healthy and Safe requires Teamwork.

WHAT WILL BE ASSESSED?

Depending on the Nature of Your Work, Risk Assessment May Cover:

The Management of Health & Safety

Are safe work systems in place & used?
Are accident & hazard reporting procedures followed?
Are Health checks adequate if used?
Have workers most at risk (due to inexperience, disability, etc.) been identified?

The Workplace
• Are walls, flooring, stairs & passages in good condition?
• Is lighting adequate?
• Is there proper ventilation, heating & cooling?
• Is there sufficient space to work safely?
• Are there adequate facilities for washing, eating, resting, etc?

• Is the workplace tidy & waste disposed off properly?
• Is noise adequately controlled?
• Does everyone know Emergency Procedures & Escape Routes?
Manual Handling

• Is manual handling necessary?
• Are proper Lifting & Moving Procedures followed?

Work Equipment & Work Practices
• Is equipment safe & suitable for the job?
• Is equipment stored & maintained properly?
• Are hazardous substances identified, used & stored properly?
• Do employees have proper Information, Instruction, Training & Supervision?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Does PPE meet current standards?
• Is it suitable for the task?
• Have employees been properly trained to use PPE?
• Is it used, maintained & stored properly?
• Is the PPE issue based on Risk Assessment?

Display Screen Equipment
• Is the work area set up correct for the user?
• Is hardware & software suitable for the task & easy to use?
• Is DSE Risk Assessment
carried out?

How Are Risk Assessments Carried Out?

Most Assessments have these elements in common:

Competent Personnel Conduct the Assessment

In some cases, a group of competent people or one or more specialists may be required.

We Should
• Identify hazards & if possible remove them.
• Evaluate the Risks.
• Control Risks or Reduce them to insignificant levels.
• Record the Assessment.
Hazards are Identified
Anything that could cause harm is noted. e.g.
• Slippery floors.
• Dangerous machine parts.
• Harmful Chemicals Leaks
Managers, Supervisors, Safety
Representatives, etc., should then review
the preliminary report
.
Risks Are Evaluated
The risk of each hazard is analysed in terms
of its:
• Likelihood for causing harm.
• Potential for serious injury.
A risk-rating scale is then used to help decide which hazards are to be given top Priority.

Control Measures Are Evaluated
Methods to reduce risks to insignificant levels are analysed.

The Assessment is Recorded

It becomes a part of your Health & Safety Policy.

Remember!Keeping the Workplace Healthy & Safe takes a Team Effort.

Risk Assessment Reviews
In general, a review is required when:
• New Machinery, Equipment, Process, New Chemicals, etc., is introduced.
• Work flows, Procedures, etc., change.

HAZARD

Hazard is a physical situation or source with a potential for human injury, damage to property, damage to environment or a combination of all.
A Hazard is a source of danger, such as a knife.


RISK

Risk is a measure of both the Probability and Consequences of all hazards in an activity.
A Risk is exposure to danger, such as handling the knife, which could result in a lacerated wound.

LOGICAL APPROACH TO DEALING WITH HAZARD


IDENTIFCATION OF HAZARDS

2. ELIMINATION OF HAZARDS WHERE POSIBLE

3. SEGREGATION OF HAZARDS FROM THOSE AT RISK

4. REDUCTION OF RISK IF ELIMINATION OR SEGREGATION IS NOT PRACTICABLE

5. PROVISION OF INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO MAY CREATE HAZARDS OR BE AT RISK FROM THEM

6. MONITORING AND REVIEW OF THE HAZARD AND RISK OF EXPOSURE.

IDENTIFY - WHAT CAN GO WRONG?

The first and most important stage in any hazard study is to identify the activities that can go wrong and result in accidents or operating problems.

2. HOW SEVERE WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES?
We need to know the consequences to the People, Plant, Equipment & Environment.

3. HOW OFTEN WILL IT OCCUR?
We need to know how often the hazard will occur. The best way is to look at past experience, but sometimes there is no record.
Then, we have to use synthetic methods.

4. WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
We should compare the risk with generally accepted Codes and Standards or with the other Risks around us.

5. IS IT WORTH THE COST?

We should also compare the cost of prevention with the cost of the accident, in order to see if the remedy is ‘reasonably practicable’ or if we should look for less expensive solution.


6. PREVENTION (1)
How can we prevent the accident from occurring, or make it less probable or protect people from the consequences ?

7. PREVENTION (2)
Perhaps our method of prevention has disadvantages. We can think of a better method.


8. PREVENTION (3)
Perhaps our method of prevention has disadvantages. We can think of a still better method.

Reactive Material Hazards

Many facilities have chemically reactive materials and systems without knowing the hazards theypose. Others are aware of the hazards, but have inadequate safeguards. Still others have situationswhere materials are adequately controlled individually, but the potential for a major incident existsif materials are inadvertently combined.
Here are five examples:
**
Rainwater leaked into a room where hundreds of drums of dry swimming pool chemicalswere stored, causing an explosion. The explosion and resulting fire set off the sprinklersystem that soaked the remaining drums. The fire, explosions and chlorine releases lastedthree days. Over 25,000 people were evacuated, and 275 people went to the hospital withskin burns and respiratory problems.
* *
Twenty-three people were sent to the hospital after a chemical release at a resort casino.Two cleaning agents were apparently mixed together in the basement of the building,generating vapors that permeated part of the resort.
**
A runaway reaction and reactor explosion occurred in a resins production facility that killedone worker and injured four others. To control the reaction rate, an operating procedurecalled for the slow addition of one of the raw materials to the reactor. The runaway wastriggered when the raw materials and catalysts were improperly charged to the reactorsimultaneously, followed by heat addition.
**
A massive explosion and fire occurred at an agricultural chemical packaging facility inArkansas, killing three firefighters and injuring a fourth. The likely cause was a supersackof azinphos-methyl (an insecticide) being placed near a hot compressor exhaust pipe.
**
Five workers were killed when a blender exploded. The blender was used to mix several drypowders, including aluminum powder and sodium hydrosulfite. The likely cause of theexplosion was the unintentional introduction of water into the blender, possibly through aleaking water-cooled seal.

Thus, do not ignore reactive material hazards.