Safety issues, chemical manufacturing

Industrial association of chemical and hydrocarbon manufacturers concerned with safety issues in the production, transportation and processing of their potentially haz-ardous and toxic materials. 

Despite the lack of interest in human factors issues in the CPI in the past, the situation is now changing. In 1985, Trevor Kletz published his landmark book on human error in the CPI An Engineer s View of Human Error (revised in 1991). Several other books by the same author e.g., Kletz (1994b) have also addressed the issue of human factors in case studies. Two other publications have also been concerned specifically with human factors in the process industry Lorenzo (1990) was commissioned by the Chemical Manufacturers Association in the USA, and Mill (1992), published by the U.K. Institution of Chemical Engineers. In 1992, CCPS and other organizations sponsored a conference on Human Factors and Human Reliability in Process Safety (CCPS, 1992c). This was further evidence of the growing interest in the topic within the CPI. 

The focus of this program was to evaluate the environmental profiles of chemical flame-retardant alternatives for use in low-density polyurethane foam.93 The program was a joint venture between the Furniture Industry, Chemical Manufacturers, Environmental Groups, and the EPA to better understand fire safety options for the furniture industry. It assessed 14 formulations of flame-retardant products most likely to be used in this application. The project began in December 2003 and the report was issued in September 2005.94... 

Chemical Engineering The sector that deals with technologies, safety issues, refining, production and delivery of chemicals and products that are manufactured partly or largely through the use of chemicals. Chemical engineers are also involved in the design and construction of major industrial plants, as well as the application of chemicals to scientific and industrial needs. 

The committee regards as one of its goals the assurance of the safety of properly used food chemicals. This means that FCC specifications will respond to advances in knowledge about new manufacturing methods, analytical techniques, or toxicology and safety issues. 

In the United States, MSDSs originated in the shipbuilding industry using a format designated as the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) Form 20. Chemical manufacturers expanded the original 2-page OSHA Form 20 in order to more adequately provide health and safety data on chemical products. Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1200) issued in 1983, MSDS requirements are performance oriented and do not require a specific format. However, there is a nonmandatory OSHA Form 174. 

I.O.N.S. has received the attached letter from Dr. Bea Saipher of the Workplace Safety and Health Administration (WSHA) in Washington, D.C. As stated in the letter, WSHA wants to have an independent evaluation of how well chemical companies and consumer products manufacturers are addressing safety issues on the labels of their products. I.O.N.S. is one independent laboratory assisting with this evaluation. WSHA has asked that all evaluators, I.O.N.S. included, utilize material safety data sheets (MSDSs) in the evaluation process. 

If, following the issuance of a citation and any protective orders, the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer continues to withhold the information, the matter is referrable to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission for enforcement of the citation. In accordance with Commission rules, the Administrative Law Judge may review the citation and supporting documentation in camera or issue appropriate protective orders. 

At ORC, a study group with representation from 55 companies has been working on a publication pertaining to measurement systems. This is important work. Not since 1980 has a major, broad-ranged publication been issued pertaining to the measurement of safety performance. And the 1980 publication is out of print. Its title is The Measurement Of Safety Performance. William F. Tarrants was the editor. In 1995,/or its member companies only, the Chemical Manufacturers Association issued Program Performance Measures, about which more will be said later. 

Adhesives, as with other chemicals, must meet the standards of personal safety estabUshed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The need to protect employees from the hazards of such chemicals led OSHA to issue the first Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) in 1983. The central idea of the HCS is the belief that workers who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals have a right to know about the hazards and how to work safely with the materials. As a result, the standard requires that chemical manufacturers and importers evaluate all chemicals for hazards, and that the information concerning those hazards be communicated downstream from tbe manufacturer to tbe employer and then to the employee. 

Process safety addresses the main hazards of chemicals (fire and explosions, reactivity, toxicity, and corrosivity) during process plant production. Chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and related manufacturing areas are part of the process industry. AU apply process safety practices. Occupational safety mainly considers the protection of people. Process safety addresses safety issues for processes themselves. It may also impact personal safety. Case 24-1 and Case 17-5 are examples of process safety failmes. 

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