Health and Safety

Health & Safety at Work Hazards from Aerosols

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

Fire triangle HEAT SOURCE FUEL SUPPLY

Hazards FIRE EXPLOSIONS MISSILES

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

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

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.
Auto - Ignition

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.
Pressurised Containers

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.
Behaviour of cans In fire

The aftermath!

Total Devastation!

“ 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”
Basic Principles 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.
Basis of safety

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

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

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?
Consider this!!

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

Are there any potential explosion risks?

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
Explosion Hazards

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

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
Ignition Sources (Specific)

BEWARE!

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Health and Safety

by Dan Junkins

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