Hazards knowledge

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHAct) remains the primary federal vehicle for ensuring workplace safety and health in the United States. This law requires that employers provide a place of employment free from recognized hazards to employee safety or health. The critical word is recognized because today s workplaces have many new materials and processes for which hazard knowledge is absent. This places a large responsibility on the employer to keep abreast of new knowledge and information about workplace hazards for their operations. The OSHAct established three agencies to deal with workplace safety and health. These were the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

Soya fermentation processes have a strong impact on the evolution of microbes in the product. This may be positive in the case of natural fermentations, but sometimes it may constitute a hazard. Knowledge of the parameters and microorganisms involved is useful in controlling optimum quality and consumer safety. Environmental factors (Nout, De Dreu, Zuurbier, Bonants-Van Laarhoven, 1987) that impact... 

There is no simple prescription for the elimination and control of structural hazards. Knowledge of the technology for structural safety is essential and so is knowledge of materials and their behavior. One must complete calculations correctly and check them. Careful communication between designers and buyers or builders is important. Designers must understand the use environment. Skill and care in assembly are critical. Designers must consider the consequences of failure. 

Concept stage HAZOP/FMEA are not suitable hazard knowledge... 

Supervisors are responsible to see that every worker is adequate on the job. Physically, mentally, and emotionally inadequate workers are accident prone. Personal hazards are lack of knowledge, conflict of motives, physical, and mental factors. 

A knowledge of the molecular composition of a petroleum also allows environmentalists to consider the biological impact of environmental exposure. Increasingly, petroleum is being produced in and transported from remote areas of the world to refineries located closer to markets. Although only a minuscule fraction of that oil is released into the environment, the sheer volume involved has the potential for environmental damage. Molecular composition can not only identify the sources of contamination but also aids in understanding the fate and effects of the potentially hazardous components (7). 

Much of the current activity in the field of solid-waste management, especially with respect to hazardous wastes and resources recoveiy, is a direc t consequence of legislation. It is imperative to have a working knowledge of waste regulations, including RCRA (for EPA hazardous waste) TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) for PCBs and toxic waste Sohd Waste Disposal Act the Clean Air Ac t and PSD (prevention of... 

Hazards from combustion and runaway reactions play a leading role in many chemical process accidents. Knowledge of these reactions is essential for control of process hazards. It is important that loss of containment be avoided. For example ... 

Short development time Allocate enough time for development may result in a less than, more time-efficient PEIA techniques complete knowledge of the hazards administrative controls to decide when to go to full scale production Establish minimum requirements transfer package for process knowledge Require development chemist to be present during initial product runs API RP 750 CCPS G-1 CCPS G-10 CCPS G-25... 

While these responsibilities seem straightforward, there are numerous responsibilities that are intertwined and discrete. Both parties need to understand their individual responsibilities especially regarding process hazards, environmental concerns, communication, and technology/knowledge transfer. 

Hazard recognition and assessment always start from a knowledge of the individual properties of a chemical. What this may include is exemplified by Table 1.3. Additional properties, including those in Table 1.4, are relevant to environmental hazards, e.g. relating to behaviour on spillage or emission, and determination of permissible levels for disposal to air, land or water systems. Other properties may be relevant, e.g. odour which can serve as an, albeit often unreliable, means of detection. (Refer to Table 5.12.)... 

For hazardous substances not classified as carcinogens, where protection of exposure is not reasonably practicable, adequate control should be achieved by measures odier than personal protection, so far as is reasonably practicable. Tliis is subject to the degree of exposure, circumstances of use of the substance, informed knowledge about the hazards and current technical developments. Any combination of the measures listed in Table 5.22 are applicable. 

Limit access to storage areas to authorized staff knowledgeable in the hazards, position of valves and switches. 

Topies should embraee a knowledge of the hazards and preeautions, ineluding the use and maintenanee of proteetive deviees ineluding personal proteetion, under both normal and abnormal operating eonditions ineluding emergeneies. 

Parshall (1989) notes that product liability issues are complex and varied. An attorney knowledgeable in product liability issues may be an important contributor to process hazards discussions if such issues may affect the advisability of a proposed process chemistry. 

The use of any of the above techniques demands knowledge, experience, and flexibility. No prescriptive set of questions or key words or list is sufficient to cover all processes, hazards, and all impacted populations. As a research chemist reviews a chemistry and its potential application, there are advantages to maintaining an open mind when applying the various techniques designed to open up avenues of thought. The reader is referred to Chapter 7 for additional information and direction on the choice of process hazard review techniques. 

Designs should be based on knowledge of what the human body (and human nature) will do. Include educated operators in design reviews. The HAZOP methodology for process hazard analysis offers an excellent opportunity to identify design and procedural opportunities for inherently safer systems. After all, the OP in HAZOP stands for operability (COPS, 1992). For example, a safe start-up procedure that requires the operator to walk up and down the stairs three times to manipulate valves in the correct sequence can be made inherently safer by locating the valves so that operator has to walk up the stairs only once during the start-up. 

The occupational physician for a project should be identified and, for HAZWOPER jobs, is required to be board certified in occupational medicine [4]. For any job that involves exposure to hazardous substances, it is important that you locate and use an occupational physician (sometimes referred to in the field as an Oc Doc) who is knowledgeable about the hazards that your workers are exposed to. Sometimes in medicine, as in many other fields, working with a physician who specializes in the hazard that your company deals with can be a lifesaver. 

---