Hazards During Production, Storage, and Transportation Workers

2 Hazards During Production, Storage, and Transportation (Workers) 

An area of particular activity has been plasticizers, where work has also been carried out on reduction of levels of plasticizer during processing. Plasticizers enter the environment mainly by evaporation during processing - estimated to 

Catalysts and activators can react with each other with explosive violence, and must never be mixed directly with each other. Activators and monomers are flammable and have a shelf life of about three months, stored at 20°C, in the dark. Resins and curing agents are flammable and must be kept away from naked flames. Smoking must not be allowed when using these materials. 

The most frequently encountered emissions in plastics processing are probably solvents (from adhesives and paints) and styrene monomer (from polyester/glass lamination). There may be a health hazard from curing agents aliphatic amine-types can cause serious irritation (even burns) and there is also a serious rash/ asthmatic-type response. Liquid organic peroxides, such as MEKP, should be treated with extreme caution. They are sensitive to heat, are themselves combustible and will promote combustion. 

Aromatic amines are less hazardous from skin contact they are usually solids and there is no vapour hazard unless at elevated temperature. Anhydrides can cause severe eye and skin irritation and even burns. Polyamide types are less hazardous and are considered to present a low level of health hazard. The catalytic types are too diverse to make a general statement, and Intending users should discuss appropriate precautions with the supplier. 

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