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Health & Safety at Work Hazards from Aerosols

Health & Safety at Work Hazards from Aerosols. Objective. To understand the hazards associated with aerosol products. Understand how to control these hazards in the workplace. Safe aerosol handling. Fire triangle. HEAT SOURCE. FUEL SUPPLY. Hazards. EXPLOSIONS. FIRE. MISSILES.

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Health & Safety at Work Hazards from Aerosols

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  1. Health & Safety at Work Hazards from Aerosols

  2. Objective • To understand the hazards associated with aerosol products. • Understand how to control these hazards in the workplace. • Safe aerosol handling.

  3. Fire triangle HEAT SOURCE FUEL SUPPLY

  4. Hazards EXPLOSIONS FIRE MISSILES

  5. Hazardous Material • Liquid Petroleum Gas as propellant • Product base – possibly alcohol or similar flammable liquid.

  6. Flashpoint “ The lowest temperature of a liquid at which the vapour given of forms a flammable mixture with oxygen in the air”

  7. Auto - Ignition • Temperature required to cause ignition of flammable liquids / vapours. • Typically greater than 400 degrees C. • Generally in open conditions (workplace) temperatures required for auto-ignition are much higher.

  8. Pressurised Containers • Propellant provides about 3 bar pressure in cans. • Vapour pressure increases if temperature of can contents increase. • Cans typically designed to survive 16 bar pressure. • At 70 – 80 degrees pressure will cause cans to burst. • Top / bottom of can distorts first. • Tin plate cans – top / bottom flies off = missiles. • Aluminium cans usually split on body.

  9. Behaviour of cans In fire • Fire around can heats contents very quickly. • Internal pressure rises. • Can distorts. • Can bursts. • Flammable contents instantaneously released. • Fireball created. • Can fragments ejected as missiles.

  10. The aftermath!

  11. Total Devastation!

  12. Basic Principles Of Safety “ The fundamental safety philosophy which ensures that an item of equipment can be operated, or an operation performed, in a safe manner with risks that area as low as practicable”

  13. Basis of safety • Preventive measures i.e. prevention of the initiation of fire or explosion. • Protective measures i.e. acceptance that a fire or explosion can arise but aim to control the consequences. • Decision is based on Risk versus Likelihood and Consequences.

  14. Preventive Measures • Avoidance of flammable atmospheres • (So no hazard, or else flammable volume insufficient to be an explosion hazard) • Elimination of ignition sources

  15. Protective Measures • Extinguishment of fires. • Containment / control of fires. • Containment of explosion. • Explosion suppression. • Explosion venting.

  16. Consider this!! Wrapped packs of cans on pallets, in racking or on the floor. Pallets moved by Mechanical Handling Equipment or by automated systems. What are the potential fire hazards?

  17. Fire Hazards • Ignition of leak from aerosols • (propellant or product base) • Ignition of packaging material. • Fire on MHE. • Fire in battery charging area.

  18. Are there any potential explosion risks?

  19. Explosion Hazards • Cans spontaneously bursting • Faulty products • Cans overheated in storage • Cans releasing propellant to form flammable atmospheres • Leaking cans taken into storage • Cans damaged during handling

  20. Ignition Sources (Generic) • Naked flames • Electrical sparks • Impact sparks • Static electricity • Hot surfaces

  21. Ignition Sources (Specific) • Sparks or hot surfaces from fixed electrical equipment. • Sparks or hot surfaces from MHE or cranes. • Sparks from an impact involving MHE or crane e.g. forks hitting nail in a pallet. • Static electricity. • Hot work • Smokers’ material

  22. BEWARE!

  23. Fire Protection AVOID CAUSING CANS TO LEAK; • Care when mechanical handling. • Care when stacking pallets on racks. • Minimum exposure to high temperature.

  24. Fire Protection IDENTIFYING LEAKING CANS; • Wet Packs. • Smells of perfume. • MHE accidents / fallen pallets. • Checks before moving pallets. • Manual checks on individual cans. • Loading and unloading wrapping machines.

  25. Fire Protection IF / WHEN LEAKING CANS ARE FOUND; • Remove to outdoor reject bin / cage • Remove pallets to outside before breaking. • Do not move pallet with electric MHE – use hand pallet truck.

  26. Fire Protection IF A PALLET CONTAINING AEROSOLS IS DROPPED OR HIT BY MHE; • Immediately STOP! • Switch off MHE. • Identify leaking cans and remove by hand.

  27. REMEMBER! • Aerosols are perfectly safe IF handled with care. • Safe working practices and adherence to safe working systems are essential. • Do not take risks! • If you are unsure about any situation then cease work, turn off MHE and seek guidance.

  28. WORK SAFELY – ALWAYS! • Report all accidents, incidents and near misses immediately. • Ensure your colleagues are also working safely and not taking unnecessary risks. • Do not allow the pressure of work to force you to take short cuts.

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