Health & Safety at Health & Safety at WorkWork
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
FIREFIRE
EXPLOSIONSEXPLOSIONS
MISSILESMISSILES
Liquid Petroleum Gas as propellant
Product base – possibly alcohol or similar flammable liquid.
HazardousMaterial
“ 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.
PressurisedContainers
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 cansIn 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 PrinciplesOf 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.
ProtectiveMeasures
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)
Care when mechanical handling.
Care when stacking pallets on racks.
Minimum exposure to high temperature.
Fire Protection
AVOID CAUSING CANS TO LEAK;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;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 / WHEN LEAKING CANS ARE FOUND;
IF A PALLET CONTAINING AEROSOLS IS IF A PALLET CONTAINING AEROSOLS IS DROPPED OR HIT BY MHE;DROPPED OR HIT BY MHE;
Immediately STOP! Switch off MHE. Identify leaking cans and remove by
hand.
Fire Protection
REMEMBER!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!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.