Handling hazard reviews

Use gravity flow in plant layout where feasible to minimize the need for pumps or solids handling equipment for hazardous materials. Conduct a hazard review to assess the effect of layout on potential spills. 

DesMarteau, D. D. et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1987, 109, 7194-7196 Fluorine is the most electronegative and reactive element known, reacting, often violently, with most of the other elements and their compounds (note the large MRH values quoted below). Handling hazards and disposal of fluorine on a laboratory scale are adequately described [1,2,3,4,5][6], and a more general review is also available [7], Safety practices associated with the use of laboratory- and industrial-scale fluorine cells and facilities have been reviewed [8], Equipment and procedures for the laboratory use of fluorine and volatile fluorides have been... 

What If/Checklist. The most frequently used method of process hazard review, the what if/checklist, is effective in reviews of relatively uncomplicated processes from raw materials to final product. The team formulates and answers What if questions at each handling or processing step to evaluate the effects of component failures or procedural errors. They use a checklist to ensure that all important subjects are addressed. This method should be used as the first step in all process hazard reviews. 

When a decision is made to pilot a process, the Pilot Plant Director schedules the review sequence and notifies the R D Chemist who provides a process summary to individual members of the Hazard Review Team. The Safety Officer will then examine the process for the presence of possible toxic or irritating compounds while the Environmental Coordinator decides the ultimate fate of any process waste streams. The Hazard Evaluation Chemist identifies any thermal or reactive hazards associated with the process. If a hazard is identified, the Process Engineer determines the suitability of a particular reactor grouping to handle the specific conditions involved. 

Perhaps the most important aspect of handling hazardous waste is the possibility of incompatibility. We have already cited incidents where mixing incompatibles in waste containers can lead to adverse events such as injuries, fires, and explosions (see Incidents 1.1.1.1, 3.1.2.1, 5.2.3.1, and 7.1.1.1). Similarly, inappropriate handling of hazardous waste can lead to incidents (see Incidents 8.1.1.1 and 8.3.4.1). You may want to review the section on incompatibles to help ensure that you properly consider what you should and should not mix together (see Section 5.2.3). 

A brief summary of safety and health hazards follows detailed health hazards, however, should be obtained from producers by requesting Material Safety Data Sheets. Proper protective equipment and exposure hazards should be noted before handling any alkan olamine. Detailed toxicological testing is found in the CTEA Chemical Ingredient Review Board Reports on ethanolamines and isopropanolamines (24). 

After the incident, an investigation team determined that the first operator had not added the initiator when required earlier in the process. When the relief operator added the initiator, the entire monomer mass was in the reactor and the reaction was too energetic for the cooling system to handle. Errors by both operators contributed to the runaway. Both operators were performing many tasks. The initiator should have been added much earlier in the process when much smaller quantities of monomer were present. There was also no procedure to require supervision review if residual monomers were detected. The lesson learned was that operators need thorough training and need to be made aware of significant hazardous scenarios that could develop. 

As discussed in Chapter 2, The Toller Selection Process, evaluating the site s safe work practice procedures should have been a part of the review during the toller selection process. Still, new materials may indicate a need to revise or develop special procedures to address unique chemical and physical hazards. New hazards such as vacuum, ciyogenics, ultra-high pressure, or new rotating equipment could be introduced. Medical monitoring requirements or special handling and spill response procedures for the toll s raw materials and products may indicate a need to write or revise safe work practices. 

Does the facility evaluate (for example, audit) the off-site waste management facilities used to manage hazardous wastes If yes, do the evaluations ensure that wastes will be handled safely, without causing harm to waste handlers, the public, or the environment Flave the reviews been documented ... 

Since disperse dye powders supplied to the dyer have been treated already to render them essentially non-dusting, dustiness problems are mainly of concern during dye manufacture [92]. Nevertheless, some dyes remain inadequately treated, or after an initially adequate treatment they may deteriorate during storage, thus giving rise to hazards in handling associated with excessive dustiness. Methods of assessing dustiness have been reviewed [92]. 

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