Train on Chemical Reactivity Hazards

Communication and training are vital to the management of hazards. However, if is quife easy to pass off some information as being common sense or as too obvious to require formal communication or fraining. Other information such as detailed process chemistry might be considered too involved. When this information relates to the control of chemical reactivify hazards, ifs communication and relafed 

Document Chemical Reactivity Risks and Management Decisions 

This applies to contract personnel as well as employees. How to communicate chemical reactivity hazards is not a trivial matter, especially when contractors are involved. Confidentiality agreements may need to be put into place, and issues may need to be addressed on a case by case basis. Communication with contract personnel and broader outsourced manufacturing issues are addressed by Early (1996) and CCPS (2000). 

When previous chemical reactivity incidents have been examined, particularly where established instructions were not followed, it is often found that facility personnel did not know that violating the procedure could lead to an uncontrolled reaction. Knowledge of the chemical reaction hazards would make procedural violations less likely. 

Several channels of training and communication should be opened to various recipients under the chemical reactivity hazard management system. Training and communication involve combinations of various media, including  

---

Communicate and Train on Chemical Reactivity Hazards Training and Performance Process Risk Management Training Contractors Organization and Personnel... 

Contractors, contract manufacturers, transporters, warehouses, and end users of reactive chemicals should be informed not only of chemical reactivity hazards, but provided information or training on how to control them. This should be done as part of product life-cycle management and Responsible Care/Product Stewardship. Specific issues needing to be addressed may include but probably are not limited to those that are highlighted during the hazard/risk analyses (Section 4.5), including ... 

Chemical reactivity is a very complex phenomenon, and there are no substitutes for education, training, experience and good judgment in evaluating the potential hazards. Therefore, it is essential that a reactive hazard evaluation be made on all processes on a periodic basis. These evaluations/reviews should be... 

As can be seen from the Global Reactive Chemicals Standard, all existing chemical processes will have a Reactive Chemicals/Process Hazard Analysis review on a predefined periodic basis. In addition, every new plant Production Leader should review their process with the Reactive Chemicals Committee within 90 days of assuming responsibility for a pilot or production plant. Prior to the review, the Leader should acquire training on the chemistry and processes that they are working with. This should include an evaluation of raw materials, processes, products and waste to understand any potential reactive chemical hazards. They should review and be prepared to answer questions from the completed and updated RC/PHA protocol questionnaire as well as other relevant materials in their plant Process Safety Folder, such as F EI, CEI, etc. The review should cover all auxiliary operations to the process such as raw material and product storage drum, tank car and truck loading. 

Polyethylene producers that use Ziegler-Natta, single site and selected chromium catalysts are required to handle metal alkyls on a large-scale (in some cases, tons per year). As previously noted, many metal alkyls are pyrophoric, i.e., they ignite spontaneously upon exposure to air. Most are also explosively reactive with water. Polyethylene manufacturers must routinely deal with these hazardous chemicals. Despite an abundance of resources and training aids from metal alkyl suppliers, accidents occur and severe injuries and even death have resulted. Clearly, safety and handling of metal alkyls must be a high priority. 

---