Unido tool kit 6-textbook

U N I D O C L E A N E R P R O D U C T I O N T O O L K I T
UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
6
Green procurement
and hazardous materials
Main directorym
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Textbook 6 – Green Procurement and Hazardous Materials
6 A- Background Material
6 A-Textbook: Green Procurement
6.A.1 Introduction: purpose of the CP volume " Green
Procurement and Hazardous Materials"
The CP-volume "green procurement and hazardous materials" is divided
into two parts starting with the green procurement in companies. It is the
goal to help you make the purchase of raw and process materials and other
materials as environmentally friendly and health conscious as possible.
Environmentally
friendly
This volume focuses on the various ways of getting informed about
environmentally sound material and substances and on the prerequisites
that have to be met by the company in order to make ecological
purchasing possible.
The following questions will be dealt with in this volume:
What does green procurement mean?
How can ecological criteria for purchasing be defined?
What sources of information and procedures for the evaluation of
products are available?
How can green procurement be organised in the company?
How can the necessary measures be implemented in the company?
Green
procurement is
cleaner
procdution
Purchasing plays an important role in preventive environmental protection.
All those environmentally damaging processes and products that are not
purchased will not cause ecological problems later on during use or
disposal. Green procurement is therefore the first step towards avoidance
of waste and emissions and consequently an important field of action for
every CP-company.
Authors:
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Main Menu Teachers' notes

6.A.2.Green procurement - a key to environmentally
oriented action
Starting at the
source
The extent to which a company is able to ensure protection of the
environment starts already at the time of selecting plants and production
processes and of procuring raw and process materials. Environmental
problems are imported into the company through investments and
purchasing, but they can be avoided to a large extent by conscientious and
goal-oriented procurement.
By making environmentally sound decisions the purchasing department has
considerable power to prevent environmental burdens. Measures taken in
the purchasing department are at the very source of environmental issues
and are therefore extremely effective in the avoidance of problems.
If ecological action is neglected in your company, it could lead to negative
effects on the company's image and have a negative impact on business
success and development opportunities of your company in the long run.
As a buyer - regardless of whether you work in a big or a small
organisation, you have to be able to rely on the quality and reliability of
your suppliers and the products procured. This also includes ecological and
health criteria.
Green
procurement
promotes quality
Just like all the other activities in a company that contribute to an
improvement of in-house processes, ecologically oriented purchasing
requires a systematic and carefully planned approach, which must - not
least - be underlined by the way purchasing is organised. This is why there
are also included suggestions for organisational measures.
Well-planned and
systematic action
If you limit purchasing not only to the procurement of raw and process
materials but include investments, you will realise that purchasing makes
up for approximately half of the company's costs. So we are talking about
a big field you can intervene with green procurement.
The experience gained by CP companies show how successful measures of
green procurement can be. Usually more than one sixth of all measures
planned and implemented in the framework of a CP- programme are taken
in the "substitution of raw and process materials" category. Further
measures with an impact on corporate procurement were taken in the
"organisational measures" (approx. 30% of all measures taken).
Successful
examples
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Main Menu Teachers notesTeachers' notes

Below there are some examples of how green procurement helped to
promote preventive environmental protection in various companies.
A dairy company was able to save approx. 43 t of packaging
material per year by changing to lighter plastic cups for yoghurt
production. The annual savings amount to approx. € 75.000.
The same company changed the external packaging of transport
pallets from plastic stretch foil to grid foil. In addition to saving 2/3 of
packaging material, this change of material also ensures considerably
better cooling effects in the cooling chamber, energy is saved as well.
Several car repair companies substituted the single-use seat covers
used for protecting the car seats from getting dirty by reusable textile
covers.
Automobile factories, repair garages and a painting company
achieved a considerable reduction of solvent consumption by the use of
water based enamels with low solvent content.
One company was able to save more than 80% of the previously
required amount of cleaning agents by substituting traditional
detergents with biologically degradable concentrates.
An offset printer's shop replaced the volatile solvents used for the
cleaning of printing machines by detergents on vegetable basis. There
is less burden on the environment and the printers' health risk is
reduced.
Heat supply of a large company building was entirely changed from
fuel oil to long-distance heating.
A dry cleaner gave up the use of traditional perchloroethylene
washing machines and now uses state-of-the-art PER-free machines. By
using a thinner plastic foil, 25% of packaging material is saved.
Many of the measures of purchasing do not seem spectacular at all at first
glance. However, a closer look at these measures shows that simple
measures yield great results in the improvement of the environmental
performance of a company. And this is what makes green procurement so
essential.
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6.A.3.What are environmentally friendly materials?
If you want to purchase environmentally friendly products you first have to
find an answer to the question: "How can environmentally relevant criteria
of a product be discerned?" or "What is an environmentally friendly product
anyway?“
There are two possible answers. On the one hand, "environmentally
friendly" can be understood as a comparative measure, which means: not
the product itself is environmentally friendly, but "environmentally friendly"
refers to certain advantages with regard to environmental properties in
comparison with other products serving the same purpose. A typical
example would be copy paper made from recycled paper as opposed to
paper made from chlorine-bleached pulp. This first approach therefore asks
for the relative environmental friendliness of a product.
Relative
environmental
friendliness
Absolute
environmental
friendliness
"Environmentally friendly" can also be understood in another sense, i.e. as
a description of products and/or services that do not cause any relevant
environmental burdens (“absolute environmental friendliness”). A bicycle,
for example, is an environmentally friendly means of transport. There may
be a possibility of comparing two different types of bicycles in order to
determine the more environmentally friendly one (e.g. material used during
production, type of enamel, quality, life), but such a comparison already
does take place at a very sophisticated ecological level.
Finding out
about
environmental
properties
Usually, in your company you will have to decide on the relative
environmental friendliness of products. As a first step, you determine the
environmentally relevant purchases made in your company. This task is not
always easy, and sometimes it will be nearly impossible to distinguish
between the environmental properties of products available on the market.
You should, however - to the highest extent possible - list the properties of
purchased products that are detrimental to the environment in order to lay
down criteria that will help you select your product.
For evaluating the products you can use any of the various tools
and aids described herein, such as eco-labels, eco awards and
certificates or other methods of supplier evaluation, for the
assessment of products.
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6.A.4 Life cycle of a product
All the phases of the life cycle of a product – like extension of raw material,
production, use, disposal and in between all these phases transport- should
be included in the ecological evaluation. The following figure shows the
different phases of the life cycle. For each product you have to find out in
which phase it produces the biggest envrionemntal burdens. This
determines definitely your CP- strategy .
Consider the
whole product
life cycle
raw materials
production
energy
Generally, it can be said that the smaller the amount of materials and
energy required during the product life cycle the more environmentally
friendly the product is. The same applies for the emissions of toxic
substances and of noise.
For many products, it will hardly be possible for the responsible purchasing
officer to carry out an overall comparison of all environmental criteria. It is
not even always necessary, as the most important environmentally relevant
differences can very often be restricted to a few main criteria.
An important distinctive feature in the environmental evaluation of paints
based on organic solvents, for example, is the proportion of organic
solvents; and this distinctive feature has, in turn, an effect on other
product characteristics, such as the time required for drying.
As far as the evaluation of insulating material is concerned, energy
consumption during production and origin of raw materials in addition to
technical properties play an important role in the ecological material
assessment.
Transport
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6.A.5 Eco-labels
Eco-labels are intended to help consumers and/or purchasing officers in
their selection of environmentally friendly products. Eco-labels are usually
awarded to general consumer products; but there are already several
product groups, for which eco-labels are planned, that are also of interest
for corporate purchasing.
6.A.5.1 How to utilise Eco-Labels for corporate procurement
Companies can profit from eco-labels in two different ways. On one hand
they are informative for the buyer showing that a product with an eco-label
has certain ecological advantages compared to other products. Based on
this information the eco-label can have a direct influence on purchasing
decisions.
Using the
criteria of
eco-labels
The second possibility of using an eco-label, or better using the criteria of
an eco-label, is perhaps even more important. In the framework of tenders,
companies can use the various criteria, that apply for an eco-label, as
product requirements. These criteria can also be adapted to the individual
demands of the company.
6.A.5.2 The Austrian Eco-Label
The Austrian eco-label was introduced in 1990. The eco-label is awarded
on the basis of the award guidelines defined by the Federal Ministry of the
Environment. The Federal Ministry of the Environment in close cooperation
with the Consumer Information Association (VKI) develops the award
guidelines and awards the eco-label.
Expert committees in the VKI are in charge of devising the criteria for the
individual guidelines. These expert committees include representatives from
the Federal Ministry of the Environment, business, environmental and
consumer associations as well as from the field of science. The participation
of these representatives is intended to create the highest acceptance level
of the eco-label possible, both from the business arena and also from
environmental and consumer protection organisations. At the moment 550
products covered by appr. 44 guidelines are represented in the eco-label
Comprehen-
sive product
assessment
The basic requirements of the Austrian eco-label call for comprehensive
evaluation of the products and services that are to be awarded the label;
the evaluation must not be restricted to one single criterion.
The award guidelines have to take into account the environmental
effects during production and use with regard to
raw materials used
energy consumption
waste and emissions
distribution systems and transport methods
disposal and recycling
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The quality and the performance capability of the products and services are
also assessed (such as handling, safety, ease of repair, service life).
The applicable guidelines for the award of the eco-label are revised at
regular intervals and adapted to the state of the art. Compared to other
eco-label guidelines, the guidelines of the Austrian eco-label are rather
strict.
6.A.5.3 Blue Angel – the German Eco-Label
The "blue angel", the eco-label of the Federal Republic of Germany, was
one of the first eco-labels established (in 1977). A high ecological quality of
products with this label is only ensured to a limited extent, as the relevant
guidelines define rather minimum ecological requirements The number of
products marked with the German eco-label is correspondingly high (appr.
4000 products). For the individual buyer, the "blue angel” will in many
cases not be helpful when it comes to taking a decision as it is awarded to
so many products.
Compared to the Austrian eco-label that contains no reference to a certain
individual environmentally relevant criterion, the German eco-label points
out the main ecological advantage of a product compared to other,
comparable products, e.g. "eco-label because made of 100% recycled
paper", "eco-label" because reusable“.
Despite the obvious shortcomings of the "blue angel", the German eco-
label can play an important role in the procurement of products. There are
award guidelines for a wide range of products. The criteria can, of course,
be adapted accordingly in the individual company.
Applies to a wide
range of products
6.A.5.4 The Eco-flower – the Eco-Label of the European Union
In 1992 the European eco-label was born. The EU eco-label focuses on
information for private consumers. Under the leadership of individual
member states, award criteria are developed in cooperation with both sides
of industry. The ecological criteria demanded by the European eco-label are
rather “soft”. To date criteria for altogether 18 products group have been
developed, please find below some examples:
EU ECO-LABEL
Washing machines Detergents and washing up liquids
Paper products Soils conditioners/ameliorants
Packaging material Light fixtures
Washing detergents Insulating material
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6.A.6.Safety-relevant product labelling
Environmental protection, protection of health at the workplace, and work
safety in the company are inseparable. It is of great advantage for both
environmental protection and protection of employees when both areas are
seen as a unit. Safety in the company and protection of employees' health
means internal environmental protection. If preventive measures are
observed at the purchasing stage, many problems in the company can be
avoided - this holds true for environmental protection, workers´ safety.and
health. This holistic approach in a company is called Integrated
(management) system and followed by many enterprises nowadays.
Integrated
systems:
environment,
health and and
workers’ safety
6.A.6.1. The CE-labelling
The CE labelling plays an important role in the purchasing of machinery
and plants. The following descriptions refer first and foremost to the
regulations pertaining to the distribution of machines.
The CE label on a product shows that this product is in conformity with the
EU regulations.
In the past, the safety standards of machines and equipment were strictly
controlled by national regulations, but today all products meeting the basic
safety requirements of the EU are allowed to be distributed on the market.
Any additional approval procedures or design sample inspections for
machinery are, to a large extent, no longer applicable. Manufacturers
attach a declaration of conformity and a visible stamp, the CE identification,
to products which meet the respective EU directives. Despite CE
identification it is up to the manufacturer to meet a stricter product
standard or to have a design sample inspection of his machine carried out.
National legislation, however, is not allowed to demand such additional
inspections and tests.
Declaration of
conformity
Unified
standards
for product
safety
Design sample inspections carried out by certified or accredited inspection
agencies apply only for particularly dangerous machines (such as circular
saws, milling machines, presses, ribbon saws).
The CE label is not so much a quality seal but the prerequisite required for
approval of the product in the European Economic Area. CE identification
alone allows only limited conclusions about the quality of the product as
the EU directives determine only safety-relevant minimum standards.
Sign of
approval or
quality?
The buyer of a machine is thus confronted with the question: "How can I
check whether the machine on offer is safe?“ This question is of particular
importance with regard to the determination and evaluation of risks under
the labour protection law. The CE seal can be of help here even if it is no
seal of quality in the strict sense of the word. A manufacturer of a machine
has to fulfil strictly defined requirements in order to be able to sign the
declaration of conformity and attach the CE seal to his product:
Requirements
to be fulfilled
by the CE
identification
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The manufacturer of the machine (or his authorised representative)
has to draw up technical documents including an overall plan of the
machine and its control cycles. In order to have the machine verified as
to conformity with the safety requirements laid down in the EU
directives, he must also add the necessary detailed plans, calculations
and test results.
The manufacturer has to draw up a list of the basic requirements in
accordance with the machine directive, of the standards as well as
other technical specifications met by the machine.
The procedures and solutions for risk prevention applied during
design and production of the machine have to be documented..
In cases where the machine was tested by an approved inspection
agency, the certificates and reports have to be included in the
documentation.
In addition to that, reports about in-house inspections and tests of
safe assembly and start-up of the machine are to be supplied.
The buyer must receive a copy of the operating instructions of the
machine.
In the case of volume production of machines, the measures taken
to ensure conformity of every single product with the requirements of
the guideline are to be documented (quality assurance measures).
Based on the information in the declaration of conformity and the operating
instructions, buyers can compare the machines of various suppliers. In
addition to the safety-relevant information, eco-relevant and disposal-
relevant criteria can be derived from this information. Thus a comparison of
different offers is possible.
6.A.7.Eco-awards for companies and sites
If you want to buy environmentally friendly products or services it is not
only important to pay attention to the products themselves but also to the
way in which these products are produced. Generally it will not be possible
for you to check at the premises of your supplier whether ecological criteria
are observed in the production of products or services. Buyers with a high
degree of market power such as big automobile groups have the possibility
to do so and check their suppliers regularly as to quality (also with regard
to environmental protection).
Eco
programmes
are helpful
Smaller buyers still have the possibility to use eco-awards and certificates
as a criterion for evaluating their suppliers. If a supplier has taken part in
an eco-programme and received a corresponding award you can assume
that your supplier takes aspects of environmental protection into account
and strives to improve the eco services of his company.
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There is still a certain degree of uncertainty for the buyer even if a
manufacturer has been awarded eco-certificates or awards. The criteria for
eco-awards or certificates refer mainly to the organisational integration of
environmental protection in corporate procedures and/or to the proven
implementation of a certain eco programme. The certificate does, however,
not ensure that the products themselves meet ecological criteria. So it
could be the case that a producer of chlorinated organic solvents may be
given an eco-award for his company although these products pose a great
risk to health and the environment during production, use and disposal.
Company
awards are
not
indicators of
product
quality
There are a number of different programmes and certification procedures
for companies. Some are limited to certain lines of industry, others are of a
distinctly regional character. Some of these programmes are briefly
described below.
6.A.7.1 Responsible Care
Responsible Care (RC) is an initiative for health, safety and environment of
the chemical industry. The programme was initiated in 1984 by the
Canadian Association of Chemical Companies and has since then been
adopted by many other national professional chemical associations. The
programme starts with the governing principles of responsible care in
chemical companies that are laid down in a guideline. Implementing this
guideline in a Responsible Care programme is the task of the national
associations.
This is the reason why the standards for participating in the Responsible
Care programme differ from country to country. In the Federal Republic of
Germany it was - until recently - enough to be a member of the German
Association of Chemical Industry to be able to use the Responsible Care
logo. In Austria, the standards are stricter, so that the RC logo can
definitely be seen as a quality seal of the chemical industry in Austria.
In order to be able to take part in the Responsible Care programme in
Austria, companies have to prove in an external audit that they have
implemented the RC guideline in a consistent manner. Companies have to
have effective environmental protection, safety and waste management
concepts. If an external audit carried out by an expert comes to a positive
conclusion, the Trade Association of the Chemical Industry awards the
Responsible Care quality seal to the company. The validity of the RC seal is
limited to a period of three years.
RC calls for a
comprehensive
management
concept
The Responsible Care quality seal is an award given to the company not to
products. The Responsible Care logo may only be used by the authorised
companies in their corporate correspondence and for general advertising
and PR purposes. It may not be used for the advertising of products. The
use of the logo on product packaging, safety data sheets and other product
information is also prohibited.
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6.A.7.2. EMAS - “Eco Audit”
A voluntary system for eco-management and eco-audits was introduced for
trade in the EU by a regulation of the Council of the European
Communities.
The EMAS regulation defines the steps a company has to take for a
systematic integration of environmental protection in the company. In the
first step, management defines the environmental policy. Then, the
company collects its environmentally relevant data and checks its ecological
situation (first review). Material flows are analysed and weaknesses are
found. In its environmental protection programme, the company defines
the goals that have to be achieved by the time of the subsequent eco-
audit. The measures required to achieve these goals are planned,
responsibilities are assigned and deadlines for implementation are laid
down. In addition, an organisational structure for the environmental
management system has to be established within the company. The aim
of it being to ensure that the environmental protection programme is
observed and checked on a regular basis. The company has to draw up
documentation about its environmental protection activities so that the
environmental management system can be verified.
Steps towards
the eco audit
After all these steps have been followed, there will be a second review
(management review) to verify whether the environmental protection
programme and environmental policy are in line and whether the goals
have been achieved. Finally, the company publishes its site-related
environmental declaration including the environmental guidelines, the
environmental management system, the company's material flows and the
environmental programme. External auditors check and assess the
information given by the company on site. After a successful conclusion of
the eco audit, the company is allowed to use the EMAS logo for advertising
purposes and it is entered in the European site register.
Use of the
EMAS sign
EMAS and
green
procurement
The consolidation of the concept of green procurement is part of the
"green procurement" chapter. Documented procedures control the
procurement of routine purchases as well as the purchase of large
machines and plants. Attention is to be paid to a clear definition of
responsibilities for ecologically friendly purchasing and to the description of
acknowledged eco criteria. On the basis of supplier evaluation in the form
of checklists and product evaluation, "positive lists" as they are called, can
be drawn up of routine purchases containing all products "released" for
ordering.
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6.A.7.3 ISO 14001 and BS 7750
In addition to the EMAS regulation there are also two other methods on
standard level that aim to support companies in integrating environmental
protection systematically in their company.
ISO 14001 is the worldwide standard for environmental management
systems. It is fully comparable to EMAS in terms of contents and structure,
ISO 14001, however, does not require an environmental declaration.It is
open to all sectors and enterprises from the beginning. Furthermore, it is
the aim to make compatible ISO 14001 with the norm series of ISO 9000
(quality management system). Certain requirements are laid down more
precisely in EMAS than in ISO 14001, like e.g material flow analysis,
publication of environmental declaration. At the organisational level the ISO
norm is regulating more precisely.
International
environmental
management
standards
The first comprehensive eco-management standard ever, was established
in Great Britain. The British standard BS 7750 "Environmental Management
System“ has become generally established in other European countries,
too, over the last few years. So it may well be that one of your
international suppliers is BS 7750 certified.
6.A.7.4. ECOPROFIT
At community level ECOPROFIT has become one of the most important site
certifications for companies in Austria and Germany. This CP-programme
was developed in the city of Graz in 1991 and has meanwhile been
disseminated in whole Austria, many parts of Germany as well as in many
other countries e.g for example in Czech and Slowak Republic, Brazil,
Columbia, Finland, Hungary, India, Nicaragua, Slovenia, Uganda and
Ucraina.
Regional
programmes The criteria for the award are:
Appr. 1 year of training participating in 10 workshops on CP-topics
Build up an envrionmental team
Define an environmental policy
Implement CP-measures (“environmental achievements”) and
document them
Plan environmental measures for the next year (“envrionmental
programme”) and document them
Draw up a waste management plan (including input/output, energy
balance, environmental indicators, legal compliance as well as all
waste relevant details)
Legal check carried out by the dept. of envrionmental protection of
the city of Graz
Checklist used by the consultant covering all relevant areas
In Austria to date more than 450 companies have been awarded the
ECOPROFIT prize, in Germany there are already more than 600 companies.
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6.A.8.Making good use of eco-awards and certificates
The basic award and certification principles of the eco-awards and
programmes described above define more or less strict ecological
requirements that producers have to fulfil. If a company or a product has
been awarded an eco-award or certificate you - as a purchaser - can
assume that the corresponding criteria have been met. It is therefore
logical to ask your suppliers about any awards or eco-labels for his
products or about eco-certificates for his company.
You should, however, make sure not to use these tools in a discriminatory
way. All the programmes and quality seals described above are voluntary
programmes. A manufacturer can decide not to apply for an eco-award for
a certain product or to have his environmental management system
certified, although all the eco-relevant criteria are fulfilled. Ask your
suppliers about the measures they take in the field of environmental
protection. Basing the selection of your supplier solely on eco-labels or
certificates can lead to a distortion of the actual situation.
Do not
discriminate
suppliers
6.A.9 How to systematically plan green procurement
For a successful green procurement the criteria and selection procedures
for purchasing have to be continuously adjusted to the changing demands.
In the company itself the necessary organisational framework conditions
and procedures have to be laid down. Only if all people involved know who
is responsible for purchasing decisions and what criteria apply green
procurement will work out.
In big companies the organisation of corporate purchasing is often laid
down in written form in a manual. As already mentioned, all companies
with a quality management system according to ISO 9001 have written
regulations pertaining to purchasing. The QM element procurement
requires clear guidelines concerning the principles of purchasing,
procedures, supplier evaluation and the assessment of the quality of
products bought.
Organise the
company
A successful purchasing consists essentially of 4 elements shown below:
Analysis of the current situation: Survey of all the products and services
purchased and definition of the purchasing criteria:
Who supplies what?
What requirements does the product have to meet?
Collecting product information, assessment of products and suppliers:
How do we select our suppliers and services?
What criteria are decisive for the selection?
Purchasing procedures and organisation:
How is purchasing organised?
Responsibilities - Who decides on what?
Checking and adjusting procurement procedures:
How do we check and document our purchasing procedures?
What happens with insufficient or damaged goods deliveries?
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6.A.9.1. Purchasing guidelines - survey of products and
determination of criteria
Environmental
guidelines for
your specific
circumstances
During the CP- project you will determine the environmental guidelines for
your company ensuring that green procurement becomes an important aim
of your company's environmental protection efforts. By writing down these
guidelines they become more binding.
Record all the products your company buys and clarify what requirements
the various procured products have to fulfil as well as how you can bring
these requirements (e.g. price, quality, process-specific requirements, etc.)
in line with the ecological aims of your company.
Environmental criteria defined for products used in offices will be different
from the criteria applied to raw and process materials used in production
processes, as the latter will have to meet certain technical requirements or
fulfil contractual agreements.
6.A.9.2. Collect and evaluate information
Information about the technical and ecological properties of products is
essential for the daily work of the purchasing officers of your company.
Knowing about the properties of products is an important precondition for
the evaluation of different products and the comparison of them.
Sources of
information
The main sources of information will be product information provided by
the manufacturer or your supplier as well as any other information
concerning the properties, use, handling and disposal of the products in
question (e.g. operating instructions, safety and disposal notes, technical
notes, application and handling instructions, safety data sheets, etc.).
The various product identifications and eco-labels can also be used for the
assessment of ecological properties of materials as well as the site
certifications. Find once again a list of labels/information that will help you
in your purchasing decision:
Simple tools to assess and evaluate products / materials and suppliers
Eco-label Supplier self-auditing
Special product labels Eco-awards for sites
CE certificates Declaration of conformity provided by supplier
Supplier evaluation model Auditing by the purchaser
Quality certificates Reference lists of manufacturer
Previous experience with the supplier Cooperation between manufacturer and user
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6.A.9.3. Processes of purchasing and procurement
organisation
If you want to implement green procurement in your company you should
start with routine purchases, e.g. office material or detergents. It is most
likely that you will soon be successful in these areas - with the support of
the people concerned who are involved early enough.
“Simple
products” first
6.A.9.4 Competencies and Responsibilities
The best product evaluation and product selection will not be helpful at all,
if it is not clearly defined who is responsible for the ordering procedures.
Create
suitable
structures Getting the environmental representative and the safety expert involved is
of importance when decisions on major investments have to be taken.
Unpleasant surprises at a later point in time can only be avoided if the
effects of an investment on health and the environment are included in the
decision-making process.
6.A.9.5. Purchasing of services
Getting third
companies
involved
A problem specific to corporate environmental protection is the purchase of
service. In many large companies, cleaning (or parts of it) is out-sourced to
professional cleaning companies. State in your contracts that third
companies are obliged to provide you with information about the products
used (safety data sheets) and make clear that products which are
envrionmentally dangerous must not be used or have to be substituted.
6.A.9.6. Monitoring results
You can use the following tools to monitor the extent to which the measures
taken by you have an effect on the company. The examination of measures
taken is important because it provides you with the opportunity to point out
the positive effects of your measures and prevent any negative
developments.
Identify all environmentally friendly products in the material lists of
your company and describe the basic criteria (e.g.: ecological purchase
because ....). Review this material list at regular intervals.
Continuously record all eco-relevant procurement procedures where
it has not yet been possible to change to alternative materials (e.g.
solvents) with the aim of finding measures to reduce the quantities.
The most ecological purchase is the one that is not made at all!
If there is a suggestion scheme for employees in your company
propose to also consider suggestions concerning the introduction of
ecological products.
Note the feedback of your colleagues about positive and negative
experiences with ecologically purchased products and document the
feedback.
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Inform your customers, your colleagues and your suppliers about
your guidelines for eco-friendly purchasing (e.g. in the environment
report).
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6 B- Background Material
6 B-Textbook: Hazardous Materials
6.B.1. What are hazardous working materials?
Between 60,000 and 100,000 different chemicals are used in the
manufacturing industry, in trade and in the services industry of the industrial
countries of the West. Not many of these substances are marketed as pure
materials – most are sold as preparations or finished products. However,
some chemical substances are actually produced as a by-product of the
manufacturing process – in the shape of intermediate products, waste and
emissions. Irrespective of the source of chemical substances and
preparations used or produced or emitted by the company, it is in any case
clear that many substances are a potential health hazard.
Distribution
of
hazardous
working
materials
The damaging impact of chemicals on the environment and human health is
often a combined effect. Organic solvents, for instance, contribute to the
formation of ozone near ground level, but if handled carelessly they can also
cause severe health damage. In some substances, the (human) health
hazard is the major concern (e.g. cyanide), in other substances it is the
environmental impact (for instance CFCs). However, there are many reasons
why the impact on the environment and the health hazard can – and maybe
should – be regarded as one single source of danger. This is why substances
with a detrimental effect on both health and the environment are
sometimes, for instance in this dossier, referred to as hazardous substances
or hazardous working materials.
Damage to
the
environment
and health
risks often
go hand in
glove
A product used in the company is considered a hazardous substance if it
exhibits a dangerous property for the workers’ safety and/or law on
chemicals and if it is to be classified as a hazardous substance. Hazardous
materials and preparations occur within the following categories:
flammable and explosive substances!
!
!
substances that damage human health, and
substances that damage the environment
In the workers’ safety regualtion as well as in the law on chemicals
hazardous properties are assigned to subcategories such as caustic,
irritating, fibrogenous, radioactive, infectious, biologically inert etc.
Different
hazardous
effects
Products classified as “hazardous” bear a label on the packaging and/or
container. Dangerous properties are identified by a danger symbol (e.g. St
Andrew’s cross) and a danger identification letter (e.g. Xn for health hazard).
Many working materials unite several hazardous properties. For instance, the
solvent toluene is a health hazard (slightly toxic), and it is also highly
flammable.
Authors:
18

Some substances that lawmakers or manufacturers do not classify as
hazardous can nevertheless be a potential danger to health or environment if
their concentration is high enough or if an excessive quantity is used. This
applies, for example, to many detergents and cleaning agents.
6. B. 2 Hazardous properties and their identification
6.B.2.1 Flammable and explosive materials
The flammability and explosiveness of chemicals are severe sources of danger
for the company. Many fires in industry were caused by improper handling and
storage of flammable working materials.
For a fire or an explosion to occur, three conditions must be satisfied
simultaneously:
Presence of an ignitable (i.e. flammable) material!
!
!
The
flammability
triangle
Sufficient concentration of oxygen (air) or another substance to
accelerate the combustion or explosion (“fire promoter”)
Presence of an ignition source (heat, sparks, open flame,
electrostatic charge)
While fire promoters do not themselves burn, they are capable of keeping a fire
alive. Their function for flammable materials is very much the same as that of
oxygen. Therefore, fires involving fire promoters cannot be extinguished simply
by cutting the oxygen supply.
The different identification elements for flammable materials identify the
possible sources of danger. Some of the more important aspects are:
! the description of the danger,
! the danger symbols,
! the danger identification letters,
! risk warning and safety tips (R and S phrases)
! the classification according to flammable liquids (dfl)
19

1. Description of the danger oxidising explosive
2. Danger symbol
Danger identification letter O E
Flammable materials are classified according to the ordinance on flammable
liquids: depending on the potential danger, a distinction is made between
extremely flammable, highly flammable and flammable materials. Substances
with a flash point between 21 and 55°C (dfl: A II) do not carry a danger
symbol. Materials with a flash point above 55°C are classified only pursuant
to the ordinance on flammable liquids (dfl) (A III), but not pursuant to the
chemicals ordinance.
Classification according
to the chemicals
ordinance
Extremely
flammable
Highly
flammable Flammable
Danger symbol
no symbol no symbol
Identification letter F+ F - -
R phrase R 12 R 11 R 10 -
Flash point < 0°C 0 - 21°C 21 - 55°C 55 - 100°C
Identification
according to the
ordinance on
flammable liquids
A I (not soluble in
water)
B I (soluble in
water)
A I (not soluble in
water)
B I (soluble in
water)
A II (not soluble
in water)
B II (soluble in
water)
A III (not soluble in
water)
Examples
Acetylene,
ether
White spirit,
acetone Butyl acetate n-undecane
20

6.B.2.2 Substances with a damaging effect on
human health
Similar to flammable materials, the following identification is required for
hazardous materials and preparations:
Description of the danger highly flammable
2. Danger symbol
3. Identification letter F
4. Risk warning and
(“R phrases”)
Safety tips
(“S phrases”)
R 10 Flammable
S 23 Do not inhale vapour/aerosol.
5. Disposal instructions
(quotation of the code according
to ÖNORM 2100 or ÖNORM 2101)
SN 55 370
Do not pour residues into the
discharge
Working materials with a potentially damaging effect on human health can be
clearly identified by using the appropriate danger symbol (of which 3 are
available), identification letters (of which 5 are available) and descriptions, if
applicable in combination with R - and S - phrases.
However, the five different danger descriptions defined in the law on
chemicals must be sufficient to describe nine properties/conditions that may
affect human health. Not each property has a separate danger symbol
assigned to it. Only for five of these properties identical danger descriptions
exist. These are the properties ‘highly toxic’, ‘toxic’ or ‘detrimental to human
health (slightly toxic)’, ‘caustic’ or ‘irritating’. The identification system for
these materials is shown.
No specific
danger
symbol for
each
property
Highly toxic Toxic Harmful Irritant Corrosive
Identification letter
T+
Identification letter T Identification letter
Xn
Xi
C
e.g. hydrocyanic
acid
e.g. methanol e.g. toluene e.g. acrylate e.g. hydrochloric
acid
21

No specific danger symbol is assigned to the other properties mentioned in
the chemicals legislation – such as carcinogenic, sensitising (allergy inducing)
or mutagenic properties and substances with a potentially negative effect on
reproduction. The above symbols serve to denote these properties, too.
# A substance is classified as highly toxic if the effect of a one-off
short-term intake of a small quantity by inhalation, ingestion or
absorption through the skin can cause severe acute or chronic health
damage or death.
# A substance is classified as toxic if the intake of a small quantity can
cause severe acute or chronic health damage or death.
# A substance is classified as harmful if its inhalation, ingestion or
absorption through the skin can cause limited health damage. The term
harmful means that the toxic effect is expected to be less severe than
that caused by an intake of "toxic" chemicals. ‘Slightly toxic', the earlier
term, has now been replaced with harmful.
# Irritant substances may cause itching, reddening of the skin,
inflammation of the connective tissue and the respiratory tract. This
group includes diluted acids and caustic solutions as well as organic
solvents. Depending on the concentration of a substance, the product
can be classified as irritating or caustic.
# If physical contact exists, corrosive substances can destroy living
tissue. They destroy the upper layers of the skin, attack the mucous
membranes and may result in severe physical damage. This group of
substances includes many strong acids (hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid
etc.), alkaline solutions (caustic soda, caustic potash solution etc.) and
oxidising compounds (peroxides, bleaching soda concentrate etc.).
Harmful substances with the potential to cause chronic disease include
cancerogenic substances as well as working materials with a potentially
negative effect on reproduction or the nervous system.
6.B.2.3 Environmentally harmful effect
In addition to flammability and explosivity and substances causing damage
to human health, the law on chemicals also enlists 'environmentally harmful'
properties. Damage to the environment is caused by substances that, when
released into the environment, contaminate environmental media such as
the water, air, soil or endanger the health of organisms such as man,
animals, plants or micro-organisms. A separate danger symbol to indicate
that a substance is 'environmentally harmful' exists:
22

Description of the danger environmentally
harmful
2. Danger symbol
Identification letter N
6.B.3.Health hazards caused by dangerous substances
Depending on the substance, quantity, quality, intake route and person
affected, the effect of a substance can be more or less hazardous or
damaging to human health.
6.B.3.1. How are substances dangerous to human
health absorbed by the body?
Generally, there are three ways for such substances to get inside the body.
The three routes of absorption are:
Inhalation - absorption through the respiratory tract
If it is exposed to an atmosphere of harmful gases, volatile liquids and
aerosols (minute liquid droplets in the air, e.g. mist) the body may absorb
harmful substances through the respiratory tract and the lungs (inhalation).
The harmful substances mix with the inhaled air enter the blood stream
through the lungs and can cause damage to the respiratory organs or other
organs downstream of the breathing apparatus. There is an acute risk of this
happening
Inhalation is the
most frequent way
of absorption
if gas escapes due to a failure to close connections or through a
leak in a pipe or tubing
!
!
!
!
if a vehicle is repaired in a garage with the engine running
if paints, varnishes and adhesives containing solvents are used
in closed, badly ventilated working spaces
during sand blasting work
23

if paint is removed with a sander or by burning!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
if welding work is performed without air removal equipment
and breathing mask
Swallowing - absorption through the esophagus
The second way of absorbing hazardous materials especially liquids and solids
is by swallowing them. In this way, the harmful substances reach the
digestive system via the mouth. This may occur as a result of
Smoking,
drinking and
eating at the
workplace are
risk factors
misuse or improper handling, for instance when a product is
decanted or if it is attempted to pipette acids, alkaline solutions
or solvents by sucking with the mouth,
storage of hazardous products in drink bottles or food boxes,
eating, drinking or smoking with contaminated, unwashed
hands,
accumulation of hazardous substances in food (e.g. air
saturated with solvents, dust).
Skin contact – absorption through the skin
Often, the possibility of an absorption of hazardous substances through the
skin is underestimated. When it comes to injuries caused by skin contact, one
tends to think of irritating or caustic substances acting locally at the point of
contact with the skin, the mucous membranes or the eyes. Nevertheless, a
number of gases, vapours, liquids and solids are also capable of entering the
body through the unprotected skin – and there are no visible signs of
absorption.
Our skin is a
permeable
membrane
This may occur in the following situations
contact with readily liposoluble solvents (both as a liquid and as
vapour)
disinfection of rooms with products containing phenol and
formaldehyde
spraying of paint through spray guns
food contact with toxic gases
As many organic solvents are capable of degreasing the skin and affecting
the kidneys, the liver and the nervous system, do not under any
circumstances use technical solvents or fuels (e.g. diesel) to clean dirty skin.
24

6.B.3.2. What is the effect of harmful substances
on the body?
Whether a substance remains in the body and has a detrimental effect on
the health of the victim or whether it simply passes through the body before
being excreted depends on the type, quantity, way of absorption and toxicity
of the substance. A substance can be removed from the body via the
respiratory tract (for instance breathing out solvents or minute solid
particles), the intestines or the bladder. Sometimes, the substances are
broken down or transformed before excretion. In other cases, the toxic
substance is the very product of the transformation in the body. The
detrimental effect of working materials can come in many forms:
acute intoxication: e.g. by swallowing methanol, by inhaling chlorine gas
chronic intoxication: e.g. ingress of lead compounds in the blood, damage
to the central nervous system caused by solvents
local effect: e.g. acid or alkali burn, caused by strong agents (sulphuric
acid).
resorptive and systemic damage: e.g. paralysis of the respiratory
muscles as a result of a major intake of solvents
allergy inducing effect: e.g. illnesses of the respiratory tract as a result of
exposure to isocyanates in two-component paint and adhesives, nickel
induced skin allergy
carcinogenic effect: e.g. benzene in combustion engine fuels, nickel dust,
chromates
mutagenic effect (corruption of genes): e.g. benzene, cyanacrylates in
adhesives
embryotoxic effect (teratogenity): e.g. methyl mercury
neurotoxic effect: e.g. heavy metals (mercury, lead), organic solvents
The full effect of chemical substances in the human body is not always
exhaustively explained by the identification of the chemicals according to the
law on chemicals. Thus the term “causes chronic disease” is e.g. used in the
Austrian Workers’ Protection Act (1997, §40 sect. 5), but no identification
symbol is assigned to it by the Law on Chemicals. Special risk warnings (R
phrases) may indicate that a substance causing chronic disease is
sensitising, harmful to the reproductive system or mutagenic.
25

6.B.4 Information sources for hazardous working
materials
The most important channels of information about hazardous working
materials in the company are
!
!
!
the product data sheet
the list of so called MCW1
values and
the safety data sheet.
This information should be available at all times in any company. In addition,
employees can usually address. a General Accidents Insurance.
The works doctors and safety experts (safety engineers) fulfil an important
task when it comes to getting information about hazardous working
materials and the training of employees.
Support by
prevention
services
1
The MCW values (maximum concentration at the workplace) are defined as the maximum admissible
concentration of a working material – a gas, vapour or solid – which, based on the currently available
knowledge, does not generally put the health of an employee at risk, even if he/she is exposed to the
chemical repeatedly and for an extended period of time.
26

6.B.4.1 Product identification using the safety
data sheet
25405 20 TIROPUR G507
Content: 20kg
Batch
Vbf (A) A I
Vbf (D) A I
ADR 3/5b UN 1263
Mixture (parts by weight): 10 parts of Adler Tiropur 25405
1 part of Adler PUR hardener 82019
Pot life: one day
Dilution: Adler DD-dilution 80019
airless +15%-20%
OBSERVE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY DATA SHEET
STIR BEFORE USE!
Hazardous waste code number:
55502 (ÖNORM S 2101) 55512 (TA waste/FRG)
Prevent product from entering the sewage system. Do
not dispose with domestic waste! Residues must be kept
for collection by an authorised hazardous waste
collection service.
FIRST AID:
In case of eye contact, rinse well with plenty of water
and consult doctor. Wash affected skin with water and
soap. Take off soiled clothing. In case of indisposition
after inhalation of major quantities of vapour, remove
victim from the danger zone and consult doctor. After
accidental ingestion, do not induce vomiting. Obtain
doctor's advice and show box.
MEASURES IN CASE OF ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE:
In case of spillage, use absorbing material to remove
product. Extinguishing agents: sand, extinguishing
powder, foam, carbon dioxide. Do not use water!
Product contains: isobutyl acetate
S 2 Keep out of children's reach.
S 23 Do not inhale gas/smoke/vapour/aerosol.
S 24 Avoid skin contact.
S 29 Do not pour product in the drain.
S 46 In case of ingestion, immediately obtain
doctor's advice and show box or label.
S 51 Use only in sufficiently ventilated areas.
S 62 Do not induce vomiting after accidental
ingestion. Immediately obtain doctor's
advice and show box or label.
27

Hazardous substances and preparations must be identified as such on the
box. According to the Law on chemicals, the following minimum
requirements apply to the identification of a hazardous substance or
preparation (identification elements):
Name of the hazardous substance or hazardous ingredients of a
preparation plus percentage by mass
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Company name, address and telephone number of the
manufacturer or importer of the product, respectively,
Danger symbols, identification letters and description of the risks
associated with the product,
R phrases - standard labels with indication of special risks,
S phrases - standard labels concerning safety precautions,
Information about measures to be taken in case of an accident,
Information about the proper disposal of the product,
Substance code number, if applicable
28

6.B.4.2 What kind of information does a safety
data sheet provide?
The safety data sheet (SDS) is an easily understandable guide for the users
of hazardous substances and preparations; it describes the impact of
hazardous substances on human health and the environment.
As of 1 May 1994, the member states of the European Union are obliged to
use the new safety data sheets, which now comprise 16 sections (according
to directives 91/155/EEC and 93/112/EC). If carefully and completely filled
out, these EU safety data sheets offer a fair overview of the composition,
and of the expected health and environmental hazards, associated with each
product. Together with the new Chemicals Act (in preparation), both EC
directives will shortly be implemented in the national law of the member
states. The content of the safety data sheet is described in EU directives
91/155/EEC and 93/112/EC.
to EC
directive
Safety data sheets are free of charge, and the owner or supplier of the
goods must distribute them to all users in trade and industry together with
his first delivery of the hazardous working material and on each occasion
thereafter if so requested by the receiver. A supplier, manufacturer or
importer must also provide a safety data sheet each time the composition of
the products changes.
It is your
right to get
a safety
data sheet
With each delivery, order the updated safety data sheets and have
them collected by the department responsible (e.g. purchasing
dept.or safety officer)
To help you organise the handling of chemicals in the most efficient and
safest way, the suppliers’ preparedness to co-operate by providing the
necessary information about potential health and environmental hazards
should be an important factor when it comes to choosing among several
products of comparable technical merit.
29

6.B.4.3 Which information must be included in
the safety data sheet?
According to directives 91/155/EEC and 93/112/EC, the safety data sheet in
Europe must be subdivided into 16 sections as follows:
Name of substance/preparation and company name
Composition / ingredients
Possible risks
First aid measures
Fire fighting
Measures to be taken in case of accidental release
Handling and storage
Exposure limits and personal protective clothing
Physical and chemical data
Satbility and reactivity
Toxicology
Ecology
Disposal
Transport
Legal requirements
Additional information-sources of advice
Therefore, the safety data sheet includes commercial information (product
name, date issued and address of the supplier or manufacturing company),
information about the chemical / physical properties and safety/technical
advice.
1. Name of substance/preparation and company name
The name of the product must coincide with the one printed on the label
affixed to the packaging material.
2. Composition / ingredients
By referring to this information, the buyer should be able to understand
without any difficulty the hazards associated with the substance.
30

3. Possible risks
A short and precise description of the most important hazards for human
health and the environment.
4. First aid measures
This section describes the first aid measures and specifies whether it is
necessary to consult a doctor. Furthermore, it lists any special apparatus
(such as an eye-flushing bottle) that may be required to give first aid at the
workplace.
5. Fire fighting
Extinguishing
agents Describes suitable extinguishing agents and the risks associated with the
substance in case of fire (e.g. hazardous combustion gases). Also includes
information about the protective gear required in the event of a fire, as well
as extinguishing agents that should not be used for safety reasons.
Cleaning
measures
6. Measures to be taken in case of accidental release
This section is subdivided into measures for the protection of human health
and the environment as well as cleaning procedures.
7. Handling and storage
Minimising
exposure Protective measures to ensure safe handling of the substance. Also includes
recommendations of technical measures (e.g. local removal, measures to
prevent the formation of aerosols).
8. Exposure limits and personal protective clothing
To minimise the harmful effect of a substance on the employee, this section
provides a comprehensive list of measures available to monitor and limit
exposure. Technical measures must be given priority over the use of
personal protection gear. All limit values that need to be monitored are
specified. If personal protective clothing is recommended, the type of gear
must be specified, too – for instance breathing mask, gloves, goggles or
other protective clothing.
9. Physical and chemical data
A low boiling temperature (e.g. <80°C) or boiling range or a high vapour
pressure, respectively, mean that the product can easily evaporate at low
temperatures. If the product is flammable, this may result in explosive gas /
air mixtures.
Boiling point
31

The solubility of a substance in water is important if the product is spilled, if
the container leaks or if the product is stored. The pH value indicates
whether the product is an acid or an alkaline solution and whether the
substance is likely to cause corrosion or irritation. Products with a pH<2
(highly acid) and pH>12 (highly alkaline) are usually classified as corroding
liquids while weaker acid and alkaline solutions are classified as irritating
liquids.
Solubility in
water
The flash point is the temperature above which a substance can be ignited
or caused to explode. Generally, the flash point of a substance is at least
50°C below the boiling point. A substance with a boiling point of 65°C is
likely to be highly flammable (flash point < 21°C), while a substance with a
boiling point of 90°C is likely to be flammable (flash point < 55°C). The
ignition temperature tells you the temperature the ignition source (flame,
spark, embers etc.) must have before it is able to ignite a substance. In
liquids, the ignition temperature is usually high and far above the flash point.
The explosion limits indicate the concentration range within which a mixture
of air and the substance is potentially explosive.
Knowing the
difference
between flash
point and
ignition
temperature
The information about thermal decomposition should include the
decomposition temperature and all potentially hazardous products of
decomposition. For instance, chlorinated hydrocarbons (TRI, PER, 1,1,1-
trichloroethane etc.) will decompose at as little as 200°C and in the process
form hazardous gases (hydrochloric acid, phosgene gas etc.). Hot parts of
machinery or the tip of a lit cigarette will easily reach this temperature.
Therefore, refrain from smoking in rooms where PER or TRI occurs.
Decomposition
products are
dangerous
Dangerous reactions are reactions that can be triggered by light, heat or
contact with other substances, for instance by introducing water into
concentrated sulphuric acid (release of heat).
10. Stability and reactivity
Describes the stability of a substance and the substances/conditions that
should be avoided because they will trigger a dangerous reaction. If the
reaction can produce other hazardous substances, these must be stated as
well.
11. Toxicology
Description of
the hazardous
property
The effects of the substance on human health are described, e.g. acute and
chronic effect, cancerogenic, embryotoxic effect, sensitisation etc. The most
important limit values are stated. This section is subdivided according to the
route of intake, for instance inhalation, ingestion, absorption through the
skin, or eye contact.
12. Ecology
The effect of the substance / preparation on environmental media (e.g.
hazard class, emission class, biological degradability, ichthiotoxicity, bacterial
toxicity etc.).
32

13. Disposal
The information about the disposal of the product often also states the
corresponding waste code numbers according to European standards. This
standard relates hazardous wastes to five digit code numbers which in turn
describe the type of wastes to be committed to disposal.
Statement of
the code
number
14. Transport
The transport of hazardous goods is tied to binding national and international
rules. Hazardous goods are categorised according to hazard classes. The
information may refer to road transport (e.g. ADR/GGSt), rail transport (e.g.
RID) and marine transport (e.g. IMDG).
Transport
requirements
The UN number –
a world-wide
numbering system
The UN number identifies hazardous substances during transportation. It is
derived from United Nations (UN) recommendations and part of a world-wide
numbering system for hazardous goods.
e.g. “Per” UN no. 1897, methanol UN no. 1230
The ADR/RID is the European Convention on the Transportation of Hazardous
Goods by Road. Introduced in 1957, the ADR/RID applies to the national –
including Austria– and cross-border transport of goods. When last amended
on 1 January 1997, a distinction into so-called "Only Classes" and "Free
Classes“ was introduced. The "Only Classes" control only the transportation of
specifically listed hazardous substances, which is allowed subject to
compliance with certain specified conditions. All other substances of this
hazard class not specifically listed are excluded from transportation. In the
"Free Classes“, not specifically mentioned substances may be transported as
well.
The meaning of the hazard classes according to ADR is as follows:
ADR Class Properties of the hazardous good
ONLY FREE
1 Explosives and objects with explosives
2* Gases
3 Flammable liquids
4.1 Flammable solids
4.2 Self-igniting substances
4.3 Substances producing flammable gases when in contact with
water
33

5.1 Substances with igniting or oxidising effect
5.2 Organic peroxides
6.1 Toxic substances
6.2 Nauseating substances or substances carrying a risk of
infection
7 Radioactive substances
8 Corroding substances
9** Several other hazardous substances and objects
* Class 2 products: as of 1 January 1997, an 8 digit classification system
replaces the former 14 digit system
**Class 9 includes all substances that cannot be assigned to any of the other
8 classes.
15. Legal requirements
Here, the EU directive makes reference to national requirements concerning
danger signs, identification codes, R and S phrases, limit values (MCW and
TSC values), advice pursuant to the Chemicals Act, the ordinance on the
storage of flammable liquids (dfl danger class A I, A II, A III or B) and TA
air.
Information
about legal
requirements
TA air uses the following classification:
Class 1: highly toxic, difficult to degrade, cumulative
Class 2: moderately toxic and degradable, slightly cumulative
Class 3: slightly toxic, readily degradable, slightly cumulative
The water danger/protection class (WGK) system comprises the following
groups:
WGK 0: not generally a water hazard
WGK 1: minor water hazard
WGK 2: water hazard
WGK 3: major water hazard
16. Additional information
Space for additional information such as training instructions, recommended
use and application etc.
34

6.B.4.4 What can safety data sheets do for the
company?
The safety data sheet is an important help in the assessment of the risk
potential of hazardous working materials. Even if the safety data sheet does
not state all relevant ingredients of the product, it often includes hidden
references that all but tell you the individual ingredients. For instance, the
"transport" section often states ADR or UN code numbers which, interpreted
together with other bits and pieces of information such as the MCW value,
ID or danger symbols, can easily betray the presence or absence of a certain
ingredient.
Considering
other
information in
the
assessment
Non-chemists should check the information contained in enclosure 2 of the
safety data sheet. Safety data sheets do not always reflect the full scope of
potential environmental or health hazards, but if they are prepared
accordingly and interpreted with other documentation, they can make a
valuable contribution to the protection of the environment and health.
Check whether your safety data sheets are fit for use!
Estimate the risk potential of hazardous working materials used by
your company based on the information contained in the
safety data sheet and the product identification!
Employees
often find it
difficult to
understand
safety data
sheets
For practical use and the provision of information to the employees, we
recommend you to revise the safety data sheets. This can be done, for
instance, by issuing written internal instructions. These should provide easily
understandable information at the workplace, advising the user of the risks
associated with a certain product, and of the protective measures to be
taken when processing the product. The internal instructions should be
prepared in co-operation with the company's preventive services
(occupational physician, safety experts etc.).
6.B.5 How to store chemicals safely
Some basic rules and guidelines should always be borne in mind to minimise
the risks associated with the storage of hazardous substances. Safety
precautions are indispensable if a company uses a large number of different
toxic substances, or if it stores large quantities of chemicals. The following
issues need to be considered:
Spatial separation of stored chemicals according to their
properties
!
Substances who may cause a powerful reaction (e.g. strong acids and
alkaline solutions) as well as substances capable of releasing toxic reaction
products (acids + solution of chlorinated lime) must be stored separately.
The following graphics provides you with a simplified scheme for the
common storage of hazardous working materials .
35

Storing together
hazardous
materials
+ can be stored together
-….cannot be stored together
o….can be stored together if specific precautions are taken. Have a
look at the safety data sheets.
Storage of liquids in collection trays close to floor level!
!
In shelf-type racks, always store liquids on the lower shelves. If there is an
accident (e.g. container breaks or leaks), this will prevent the liquid from
oozing into materials stored on the lower levels. Liquids kept in small
tanks/containers (up to approx. 200ltrs) must be stored in collection troughs
as befits their chemical properties.
Safe storage
prevents
accidents
Separate storage of substances that can be extinguished with
water and substances that cannot be extinguished with water
Not all
chemicals can
be
extinguished
with water
It makes sense to keep chemicals that can be extinguished with water
separate from chemicals that must not be extinguished with water.
Wherever possible, store these two groups of substances in different rooms.
36

No storage of chemicals at the workplace!
!
!
Often large amounts of hazardous substances are (temporarily) stored at the
workplace (e.g. solvent containers under worktops). If there is an accident,
these substances are a major source of danger. Do not keep more than one
day's requirement of any hazardous substance at the workplace. Refill daily
from the central storage point.
Keeping storage records
At each storage point, you must keep a storage list. The list should include
the type, quantity and risk potential of the stored substance. If an accident
occurs, the storage list tells the fire brigade how to fight the fire.
Keep records
to know
where you are
Substitution of high risk substances
The best way of avoiding risks associated with the storage of chemicals is to
altogether eliminate high risk substances from your company and replace
them with less dangerous alternative substances. In particular, you should
substitute substances with a high potential to cause a fire, damage human
health or the environment (e.g. chlorinated hydrocarbons, products
containing heavy metals and water-soluble substances that will not readily
degrade, for instance non-degradable tensides).
Prevention is
the best
precaution
37

Unido tool kit 6-textbook

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