Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
pseudonym  
#1 Posted : 25 March 2019 08:28:30(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
pseudonym

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a provider of on-site chemical spill training for our team of production Chemists in a small Chemical Manufacturing plant - mostly solvents handled, but a few other substances as well. 205 litre drums, possibly moving to IBCs for delivery - product batch size typically 100 litres.

Any recommendations or suggestions - South Wales location

Thanks

Ian Bell2  
#2 Posted : 25 March 2019 09:13:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

From what you say, aren't you your own experts? Chemists employed, to deal with a chemical spill?

If handling solvents, unless particularly toxic etc - isn't a fire your most immediate concern? Then environmental contamination.

What does an outside provider give? Spillage etc and fire risks should be covered in your DSEAR assessment and link into your fire risk assessment and associated emergency procedures.

I'll come and talk to you about DSEAR.

pseudonym  
#3 Posted : 25 March 2019 11:08:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
pseudonym

Well, yes and no .. ..

They are Production Chemists, which clearly means they know all about Chemistry, but perhaps not all that much about safety and expecially safety revolving around spills - how to use a spill kit, how to clear up afterwards, which components of the spill kit(s) to use when, and how to do all of this safely.

A big part of the problem is that they don't usually spill much chemical, so they don't know what to about it if they did

Edited by user 25 March 2019 11:08:34(UTC)  | Reason: spelling

Ian Bell2  
#4 Posted : 25 March 2019 11:23:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

SOunds to me that locally produced training information / presentation will be far more effective than getting an out side consultancy in.

Not wishing to sound harsh - but isn't this your job??... I assume you are the h&s manager - so can give the legal angle, what good solvent handling practice should be, what CoSHH says about emergencies, provision of PPE etc fire safety emergency planning/evacuation, waste diposal. Assessment of how you are going to clean up. All part of the consequence assessment element of your DSEAR/COSHH assessment.

Your chemists can advise on the chemical aspects - reactivity, incompatible environmental factors or other chemicals to avoid etc.

You mentioned spillages of circa 100l - no a great amount - without seeing your set up - I would guess the use of absorbent granules, spill control socks, absorbent pads

Local shut down of plant in the event of spillage, increased ventilation/extraction to take fumes away - all local knowledge, that an external consultant won't know.

stevedm  
#5 Posted : 25 March 2019 11:47:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

https://www.oilspillresponse.com/

I have worked with these guys before in Norway...good and thorough but not the cheapest....  let me know if you don't get an immediate response as I hve a couple of contacts I can nudge... :)

Ian Bell2  
#6 Posted : 25 March 2019 11:52:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

#5

Rather the opposite end of the spillage spectrum don't you think....

A quick scan of their website suggest they deal with large production process spills and leaks from offshore production platforms.

Possibly a bit overkill for a modest spillage in a lab/small manufacturing facility.

A Kurdziel  
#7 Posted : 25 March 2019 12:04:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Small scale spills can have disastrous consequences. Back in 1988 Humbrol who used to make paints at a site in Hull had spill of about 50 litres of acetone.  They decided that the clean-up should be handled by two YTS trainees (does anybody remember that?). The girls needed to check for acetone under some benches and so they turned on the lights. They were engulfed in a fireball and the whole factory burned down. A bit of over-kill might be better than underestimating the risks.

Ian Bell2  
#8 Posted : 25 March 2019 12:11:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Hence why your DSEAR consequence assessment should be done to a suitable level of detail - what type of spillage, what type of fire may result - pool fire, running pool fire, jet fire, vapour cloud, flash fire.

Hazardous area extents determining, ventilation requirements

Each will have a different method of dealing with the spillage/release

My point was, the Norwegian people probably deal with large leaks from oil production platforms etc - so rather overkill/expensive for the skills and knowledge required to deal with lab level spills - which is not to under estimate the sever local consequences of being engulfed in a vapour cloud - even a relatively small one, if it were to ignite.

jdc1975@hotmail.co.uk  
#9 Posted : 25 March 2019 15:56:04(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
jdc1975@hotmail.co.uk

Should there not be a SSoW for such tasks. DSEAR will deal with the survey but won't break it down into tasks.

Carry out a task analysis. This will get to a point down the line on what to do in event of a chemical spill. Use the COSHH assessment for the substance in  addition (this to provide how to deal with chemical spill).

Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.