Safety procedures for chemical processing plants

5 Personnel protection and safe handling of phosgene 3.1.5.1 Safety procedures for chemical processing plants 

Comprehensive safety precautions are essential in facilities in which phosgene is manufactured, stored, or processed in any way. Techniques to control occupational exposure to phosgene must be assessed, and major accidents should be prevented, literally, at all costs. These requirements are enforced by legislation in most industrial nations. 

Owing to the poor warning properties of the gas to the human senses, automatic continuous monitors equipped with alarm systems are recommended [36,1486,1893], and a detailed specification for such devices has been provided [1484]. Skin and eye contact with phosgene should be avoided, but contaminated clothing should be removed immediately and decontamination effected by washing. Emergency showers should be provided [1893] in any facility in which phosgene is stored, used or manufactured. 

Personnel engaged in the handling of phosgene should be trained to recognize its odour 

The following safety measures have been described for phosgene storage and handling in the plant environment [36,1484,1488,2100]  

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