Health & Safety at

Work
Hazards from Aerosols

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Objective

 To understand the hazards associated with

aerosol products.
 Understand how to control these hazards in
the workplace.
 Safe aerosol handling.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Fire triangle

HEAT SOURCE FUEL SUPPLY

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Hazards

EXPLOSIONS

FIRE

MISSILES

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Hazardous
Material

 Liquid Petroleum Gas as propellant

 Product base – possibly alcohol or

similar flammable liquid.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Flashpoint

“ The lowest temperature of a

liquid at which the vapour
given of forms a flammable
mixture with oxygen in the air”

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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.
Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat
 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.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 The aftermath!

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Total Devastation!

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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”

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Preventive
Measures

 Avoidance of flammable atmospheres

 (So no hazard, or else flammable volume
insufficient to be an explosion hazard)

 Elimination of ignition sources

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Protective
Measures

 Extinguishment of fires.
 Containment / control of fires.
 Containment of explosion.
 Explosion suppression.
 Explosion venting.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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?

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Fire Hazards

 Ignition of leak from aerosols

• (propellant or product base)

 Ignition of packaging material.

 Fire on MHE.
 Fire in battery charging area.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

Are there any
potential
explosion risks?

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 Ignition Sources
(Generic)

 Naked flames
 Electrical sparks
 Impact sparks
 Static electricity
 Hot surfaces
Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat
 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

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat
Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat
 Fire Protection

AVOID CAUSING CANS TO LEAK;

 Care when mechanical handling.

 Care when stacking pallets on racks.
 Minimum exposure to high temperature.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

 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.

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

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

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat

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

Complied by H S Dave DDISH Surat