A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

Chemical Management and

Handling
Lim Yan Ting
Specialist (Occupational Hygiene)
OSH Specialist Department
Occupational Safety and Health
20 February 2014

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

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Scope of Presentation
1. Introduction
2. Management of Hazardous Chemicals
– Safety Data Sheet
– Risk assessment and control
– Case Study
3. Handling of chemicals
4. Chemical hazards control
5. Related WSH legislation

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Chemicals used in pest control works

• Toxic - 688 brand name of pesticides and
repellents registered with NEA
• Flammable – Diesel and kerosene/petrol
• Corrosive/reactive

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The New Paper 2 May 2013
Title

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Management of Hazardous Chemicals

Programme
1. Policy & Strategy
2. Selection & Procurement
3. Register and Safety Data Sheets
4. Labelling and Warning Signs
5. Storage and Transportation
6. Risk assessments and control
7. Safe work procedures and
Personal Protective Equipment
8. Workplace Monitoring and
Medical Surveillance
9. Information and Training
10. Emergency Planning & First Aid
11. Waste Disposal
12. Contract Work

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Safety Data Sheets

• There are 16 sections including
– Exposure controls/personal protection
– Physical and chemical properties
– Toxicological information
– Fire fighting measures
(refer to the WSH Management of Hazardous Chemical
Programme guidelines for the full list of information)
• Management should study the information in the
SDS and take measures to ensure the safe use of
the hazardous chemicals
Reg 43 WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

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GHS Pictograms

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Safety Data Sheets

• Example Cypermethrine
Section 2 Hazard Identification

Section 8 Exposure controls/personal protection

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Risk Assessment and Control

• Every workplace should conduct RA for all
routine and non routine operations
• Basic steps
Hazard Risk
Risk control
identification evaluation

• Control measures must be based on the

principles of hierarchy of control
WSH (Risk Management) Regulations
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Hierarchy of Controls
Most effective Elimination

Substitution

Engineering

Administrative

Least effective Personal Protection

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Risk Assessment and Control

4 1

For purpose of illustration

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Hierarchy of Controls
Most effective Elimination

Substitution

Engineering

Administrative
Least effective

Personal Protection

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Case study
Worker was carrying out thermal fogging at rubbish chutes when the
flash fire occurred.
Case 1 Case 2
Date of accident 5 Sept 2012 12 Oct 2012
Place of accident Private condominium Private condominium
Injury Burn to face, neck, Burn to face, neck,
both arms both hands and lower
Hospitalised 2 days leg
Given 2 months of MC Hospitalised 1 day
Given 10 days of MC
Job experience of New Experienced
worker

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Case study
Worker was carrying out thermal fogging at rubbish chutes when the
flash fire occurred.
Case 1 Case 2
Pesticide used Bentacide: Newcyper 6.5EC:
25% vol 6.5% w/w
Cypermethrine as Cypermethrine as
active ingredient active ingredient
Carrier used Diesel Diesel
Dilution rate 1:99 1:39
Fogging duration 2 minutes 10 seconds
before accident
occurred
Quantity of solution 500 cm3 42 cm3
(pesticide & diesel)
sprayed
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Diesel as a Carrier
- Flammable Fuel Diesel’s AIT is
257°C. It can
burn by itself
at this
temperature
Diesel has a flash
point of about 52°C. It
can burn at
temperature ≥ 52°C if
there is source of
ignition

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Refuse Chute - A Great Workforce A Great Workplace
Confined Space

Diesel as a Carrier Swiss Cheese Model

- Flammable Fuel

Oxygen in Air

Hot Fogging Nozzle -

Ignition Source

Flash Fire

Fire will not take place if any of

the above cheeses is blocked

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Refuse Chute - A Great Workforce A Great Workplace
Confined Space

Non flammable Swiss Cheese Model

carrier

Oxygen in Air

Hot Fogging Nozzle -

Ignition Source

No
Flash Fire

Fire will not take place if any of

the above cheeses is blocked

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Possible substitutes for diesel

Efficiency of non-flammable carriers to be looked into

Substance Flammability Toxicity

Permissible Exposure GHS Classification
Level

Diesel GHS Flammable Liquid ACGIH TLV: Flammable liquid

Category 4 100 mg/m3 (TWA) Category 4
Carcinogen Category 2
Skin Irritation Category 2

Glycerine Not flammable 10 mg/m3 (long term) Skin Irritation Category 2

by GHS classification
Ethylene glycol Not flammable 50 ppm (short term) Acute Toxicity (Oral)
by GHS classification 127mg/m3 (short term) Category 4
Propylene glycol Not flammable No PEL and TLV GHS classification: None
by GHS classification

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Substitute with non-flammable carrier

No Fire

Non-flammable Carrier

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Toxic Chemicals
Routes of entry
• Inhalation (breathing)
• Skin contact
• Ingestion
• (eating or drinking)

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Handling toxic chemicals

• Label containers
• Classify and store in proper containers
• Avoid storing in bulk
• Practise good personal hygiene
- wash hands before eating
- keep food & drink away from handling areas
• Wear suitable protective equipment

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Chemical Hazards Control

1. At the source
2. Along the path
3. At the receiver

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At the Source
1. Elimination/Substitution
2. Modification (change of process)
3. Automation or containment
4. Enclosure of process
5. Isolation of process
6. Wet method
7. Local exhaust ventilation
8. Maintenance of plant, equipment,…

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Along the Path

1. Dilution ventilation
2. Increase distance between source & receiver
3. Upwind vs downwind
4. Access control
5. Area monitoring
6. Housekeeping (cleanup spill)

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At the Receiver
1. Safe work practices
2. Enclosure of workers (control room)
3. Rotation of workers
4. Personal monitoring
5. Personal protective equipment
6. Training & education
7. Biological monitoring
8. Personal hygiene

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Related WSH legislation

Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) and its

related Regulations

1.WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

2.WSH (Risk Management) Regulations
3.WSH (Medical Examinations) Regulations
4.WSH (First – Aid) Regulations

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Workplace Safety and Health Act

(WSHA)
WSHA (12) Duties of employers
Take reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety
and health of his employees at work

..ensuring that the person at work has adequate instruction,

information, training and supervision as is necessary for that
person to perform his work.

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WSH (General Provision) Regulations

Reg 41 – (2) Warning notices
Warning notices… specifying the nature of the danger shall be placed
at all entrances to any workroom ;…

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WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

Reg 42 Warning Label
Containers of hazardous substance shall be labelled

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WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

Reg 43 Safety Data Sheet
Supplier shall provide SDS with accurate & adequate
information

Occupier shall
- obtain the SDS
- assess the information
- take precautionary measures to ensure safe use
- make it available to persons at work

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WSH (Risk Management) Regulations

• Reg 4 – (2) Safe work procedures
Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risk, employer
shall implement
such measures to minimize the risk; and such safe work
procedures to control the risk

• Reg 4 – (3) Personal protective equipment

…the measures referred to any of the following
– Substitution
– Engineering control
– Administrative control
– Provision and use of suitable personal protective equipment

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WSHA (15) Duties of persons at work

(1)It shall be the duty of every person at work to use in such
manner so as to provide the protection intended, any
suitable appliance, protective clothing .. provided for
securing his safety, health and welfare at work.

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In Summary
1. Chemicals must be properly handled and managed at
workplaces
2. Risk Assessment is the cornerstone of chemical management
3. A key element of chemical management is hazard
communication through labelling and SDS
4. Chemical hazards can be managed or controlled
5. All accidents and ill health involving chemicals can be
prevented

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Thank you

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