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HANDLING CHEMICALS

1. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE), I.E. RUBBER BOOTS, GLOVES, APRON,
FACE MASK, GOGGLES, DUST RESPIRATORS, FULL CLOTHING COVER.
APPROPRIATE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, WATER HOSE SAFETY SIGNS AND
BARRICADES.

2. SAFETY INFORMATION AND PRECAUTIONS

REFER TO: THE RELEVANT SHOC CARD SHOULD ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE IN
BOTH MUD LAB AND HOSPITAL.

APART FROM THE MAIN TYPES OF MUD AND BRINE CHEMICALS THAT ARE USED,
I.E. BENTONITE, BARYTE, CAUSTIC AND SALT, OCCASIONALLY WE ARE
REQUIRED TO HANDLE VARIOUS OTHER CHEMICALS WITH WHICH WE ARE
NOT SO FAMILIAR.

IT IS ADVISABLE THAT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE DIRECT HANDLING OF

THESE CHEMICALS GET TO KNOW THE NAME AND PROPERTIES OF THESE
CHEMICALS. THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN BOTH THE ABOVE MENTIONED
PLACES.

CHEMICAL HAZARD WARNING SYMBOLS ARE USUALLY ATTACHED TO THEIR

PACKAGING AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS. KNOW THESE SYMBOLS SO THAT YOU
MAY THEN DETERMINE THE BEST AND SAFEST METHOD OF HANDLING,
STORING, MIXING AND DISPOSING OF THESE PRODUCTS.

KNOWING WHAT A CHEMICAL LOOKS LIKE, FEELS LIKE AND SMELLS LIKE, WILL
HELP TO IDENTIFY IT IN THE EVENT OF SPILLAGE OR LEAKAGE FROM ITS
CONTAINER.

IF A CHEMICAL IS EXPLOSIVE OR FLAMMABLE, KNOW THE TYPE OF FIRE

EXTINGUISHER TO BE USED IN THE EVENT THAT A FIRE OCCURS IN OR AROUND
THE VICINITY OF WHERE THE CHEMICAL IS BEING STORED OR MIXED.

CHEMICALS WHICH PRESENT A HEALTH HAZARD, I.E. THOSE WHICH ARE TOXIC,
CORROSIVE (CAUSING SKIN BURNS) AND IRRITANTS, SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED
AND THEIR EFFECTS KNOWN. KNOW WHICH PERSONAL PROTECTION TO USE
AND ALSO WHAT FIRST AID TO APPLY.

KNOW WELL THE LOCATION OF THE NEAREST SHOWER DELUGE, EYE-WASH

STATION, AND FIRST AID STATION.

IF SPILLAGE OR LEAKAGE OCCURS WHILE ON BOARD, KNOW HOW BEST TO

CONTROL THE SITUATION AND HOW TO DISPOSE OF THE CHEMICAL IN THE
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SAFEST POSSIBLE WAY. DUE CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE
AFFECTED AREAS ON THE TENDER AND ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT, I.E. THE SEA
AND ATMOSPHERE.

WARNING SIGNS SHOULD BE PLACED AT THE AREAS WHERE HAZARDOUS

CHEMICALS ARE KEPT, TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF THEIR PRESENCE.

3. PROCEDURES
3.1 HANDLING CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING
1. LOADING ON BOARD THE TENDER, OR BACK LOADING FOR BASE.

2. HANDLING AROUND THE TENDER DECK, WITH CRANES.

3. TRANSFERRING FROM ABOVE DECK TO BELOW DECK, WITH CRANES.

4. MOVING WITH FORKLIFT, BETWEEN HATCH-WAY, STORAGE AREA AND

MIXING AREA.

5. PHYSICALLY UNLOADING FROM SHIPPING CONTAINERS OR PALLETS.

6. STORAGE.

7. USAGE/MIXING.

8. CLEANING UP SPILLS.

9. DISPOSAL OF EMPTY/USED CONTAINERS.

THESE MAIN METHODS OF HANDLING ARE NOW FURTHER DEALT WITH.

3.2 FOR LOADING OR BACKLOADING

IF A CONTAINER/PALLET IS SEEN TO BE LEAKING/SPILLING WHEN LIFTED OFF
THE SUPPLY BOAT DECK, PUT IT BACK DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND REPORT IT TO
BARGE CAPTAIN OR TOOLPUSHER, WHO WILL THEN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK TO
DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE MATERIAL. IF NECESSARY, BSP
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DSV AND BOAT CAPTAIN WILL BE CONSULTED. ONCE THE CHEMICAL IS
IDENTIFIED, IT WILL THEN BE DECIDED WHAT ACTION TO TAKE. DO NOT
CONTAMINATE THE TENDER DECK, AND THEN REPORT OR SEEK ADVICE, THAT IS
TOO LATE, AS WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
DAMAGED MATERIAL BY OFF-LOADING IT FROM THE BOAT AND LANDING IT ON
OUR DECK. ALSO, SAFETY OF PERSONNEL WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED.
THE SPILLING MATERIAL MAY ALSO CAUSE DAMAGE TO TENDER DECK.

3.3 FOR HANDLING/TRANSFERRING WITH CRANE

CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PROPER LIFTING GEAR AND
PROCEDURES ARE USED. AVOID DAMAGE TO PALLETS WHILE MOVING AROUND
THE DECK OR THROUGH THE HATCH-WAY INTO THE SACK ROOM, ESPECIALLY
DURING BAD WEATHER.

3.4 FOR MOVING WITH FORKLIFT

TAKE CARE NOT TO DAMAGE/PUNCTURE PALLETS WITH FORKS. ALWAYS
ENGAGE HANDBRAKE WHEN FORKLIFT IS PARKED. KEEP SACKROOM DECK
CLEAN AND DRY SO THAT FORKLIFT DRIVER REMAINS IN FULL CONTROL OF
THE MACHINE WHEN MOVING CHEMICALS.

3.5 FOR PHYSICAL HANDLING

USE FULL P.P.E. WHEN PHYSICALLY HANDLING THE CHEMICALS, IN CASE THE
CONTAINER ACCIDENTLY BREAKS CAUSING THE HANDLER TO BECOME
EXPOSED TO THE RAW CHEMICAL. EMPLOY CORRECT LIFTING AND CARRYING
POSITIONS TO AVOID PHYSICAL INJURY (MAXIMIZE USE OF FORKLIFT AND
TROLLEY WHEN POSSIBLE).

NEVER DO THE JOB ON YOUR OWN - THERE IS PLENTY OF HELP AVAILABLE.

3.6 FOR STORAGE

STORE IN A SAFE AND PREPLANNED AREA TO AVOID MULTI-HANDLING OF THE
CHEMICAL, THEREBY MINIMIZING CHANCES OF DAMAGING PALLETS WHILE
REPOSITIONING. CONSULT ADS, MUD TECHNICIAN AND BARGE CAPTAIN, AND
DETERMINE THE BEST PLACE FOR STORAGE. PUT UP BARRIERS AND WARNING
SIGNS, AROUND HAZARDOUS AND SENSITIVE CHEMICALS.

3.7 FOR USAGE/MIXING

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THESE METHODS ARE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY AND IN GREATER DETAIL, IN
SECTION 2: CHAPTERS 19 AND 20.

3.8 FOR CLEANING UP SPILLS

CONSULT THE REFERENCE MANUALS MENTIONED FOR SENSITIVE MATERIALS.
OTHERWISE, DILUTE AND FLUSH AWAY WITH PLENTY OF WATER. USE FULL P.P.E.
EVACUATE ALL DRAINS AND TRAPS IMMEDIATELY, AND DRY DECK SURFACES AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT THEY ARE SAFE TO WALK ON.

3.9 FOR DISPOSAL OF CONTAINERS

TAKE CARE THAT EMPTY CONTAINERS, I.E. SACKS AND DRUMS, ARE PLACED IN
BARANG BOXES AND THEN PROPERLY SECURED ON THE PALLETS BEFORE
REMOVING FROM THE SACK ROOM. THIS AVOIDS DRIPPING/LEAKING FROM
RESIDUE, WHICH MAY BE LEFT IN SOME OF THE CONTAINERS. ALL USED
PACKAGING MATERIAL AND SPENT CONTAINERS ARE BACKLOADED FOR
PROPER DISPOSAL BY THE ON-SHORE SUPPLY BASE.

REMEMBER !!!

YOUR GOOD COMMON SENSE SHOULD PREVAIL IN ALL ASPECTS CONCERNING

SAFE HANDLING OF CHEMICALS. YOUR PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES FROM ANY HARMFUL EFFECTS FROM THESE SUBSTANCES.

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