Workplace system

Material safety data sheets can, like product declarations, be accessible immediately, provided that they are available and that the user is able to read and understand chemical names. The value of the data is also restricted to the information which the manufacturer, importer or supplier has to or is willing to provide, and again, information on components less than 1% is needed. Material safety data sheets make it possible to include additional information on safe use and precautions in case of accidents. The practical use is dependent on the local management and administration of a workplace system ensuring easy access to the relevant material safety data sheets. 

This involves identifying and controlling weaknesses in a workplace system where there is potential for loss to people, plant and equipment. 

Identifying a weakness in the workplace systems (e.g. procedures or management system)... 

The Hegney-Lawson System Risk Model (see Chapter 6) is applied to the workplace system as opposed to one element within the system. The model supports the theory that for work to function at ai level, and function safely, input or resources involving people, equipment, the environment, the materials rrsed, and the methods used, are fundamental. Work or the interaction of these five ingredients ean result in performance levels that range between stable and unstable, fluctuating over time. 

The conditions of these target appHcations are fulfihed by WORM-disks. Apart from data compression on a smah volume, WORM filing systems offer the advantage of fast access from the workplace at ah times, including a simplified document search and retrieval strategy. 

Entry into Confined Spaces. In 1993 OSHA adopted a confined space entry rule (93) requiring employers to evaluate the workplace to (/) determine if it contains any confined spaces, (2) mark or identify such confined spaces, and (2) develop and implement a permit program for entry into such spaces. The program must include a permit system which specifies the steps to be taken to identify, evaluate, control, and monitor possible electrical, mechanical, and chemical ha2ards select and use equipment institute stand-by attendance and estabflsh communications. The reference standard (93) should be studied for details. 

Hot Work. The objective of a hot work standard is to prevent fires, explosions, and other causes of injury which might result from workplace ignition sources such as welding (qv), cutting, grinding, and use of electrically powered tools. The OSHA standards have specific requirements (36,94) for fire prevention and protection and a permit system. 

Scientific and Technological Literacy. There is increasing concern within the business community about the effectiveness of the precoUege education system (K—12) in preparing students for an increasingly technically sophisticated workplace. This issue is of special importance to the chemical enterprise, which will find it more difficult to operate effectively in a society that does not understand science and the scientific process (42). 

The ACGIH recommended maximum time-weighted average concentration in the workplace atmosphere for eight-hour daily exposure is 10 ppm. OSHA has set the permissible exposure level at 2 ppm. It maybe desirable to exclude alcohoHcs, persons with chronic disorders of the Hver, kidneys, and central nervous system, and those with nutritional deficiencies from working with chloroform. 

Cylinders within workplaces should be restricted to those gases in use. Specially designed compartments with partitions may be required to protect people in the event of explosion. Take into account emergency exits, steam or hot water systems, the proximity of other processes etc. Consider the possibility of dense gases accumulating in drains, basements, cable ducts, lift shafts etc. 

Local exhaust vendladon serves to remove a contaminant near its source of emission into die atmosphere of a workplace. A system normally comprises a hood, ducting which conveys exhausted air and contaminants, a fan, equipment for contaminants collecdon/removal and a stack for dispersion of decontaminated air. Hoods normally comprise an enclosure, a boodi, a captor hood or a receptor hood. Those relying on odier dian complete enclosure should be as close as practicable to die source of polludon to achieve maximum efficiency. 

PM 81 Safe management of ammonia refngeration systems - food and other workplaces... 

In recent years, the use of solvent-borne adhesives has been seriously restricted. Solvents are, in general, volatile, flammable and toxic. Further, solvent may react with other airborne contaminants contributing to smog formation and workplace exposure. These arguments have limited the use of solvent-bome adhesives by different national and European regulations. Although solvent recovery systems and afterburners can be effectively attached to ventilation equipment, many factories are switching to the use of water-borne rubber adhesives, hot melts or 100% solids reactive systems, often at the expense of product performance or labour efficiency. 

Method A Calculating Contaminant and Exhaust Velocities at All Points in the Flow Field Local exhaust hoods are used to remove contaminants at the point of generation before they escape into the workplace air. The efficiency of any local exhaust system is greatly affected by the flow field generated by the exhaust opening. Therefore, accurate modeling of this flow field is essential for reliable predictions. However, solving the airflow field is a formidable task and often must be done numerically. 

Certainly, some workplace operations involving highly toxic and/or valuable materials can be controlled more effectively by LVHV ventilation than by conventional local exhaust ventilation. These situations represent opportunities to improve worker protection, recover valuable materials, and to reduce replacement air requirements. Designers of local exhaust ventilation systems should be mindful of such opportunities and take advantage of LVHV control methods. 

Air cleaning (dust collection) can be cost effective for LVHV systems handling valuable dusts. Care must be taken when handling potentially toxic dusts from air cleaners. Regular, routine reconditioning of fabric filters (e.g., by automatic shaking or pneumatic pulsing) is impottant. This can be accomplished on a set maintenance schedule or as a function of pressure drop across the fabric filter. It is not recommended to recirculate airflow back to the workplace because of the low air volume and potential hazards in the event of filter failures. 

At many workplaces, emissions occur randomly across a certain emission area (e.g., across the area of a workbench or grinding workpiece). In many cases these emissions are difficult to control using exterior exhaust systems because of the undefined emission location and because of work procedure flexibility. Additionally, severe influences (cross-flows) from the surrounding room often reduce the efficiency of single exhaust elements to a minimum. In such cases, booths are the appropriate choice for a local exhaust system. 

Clean air and many air contaminants are under normal conditions invisible. It is, however, often desired to actually see the movement of air or the emission and transport of contaminants in order to ensure good air quality.. Methods aimed at the visualization of airflow, contaminants emission to the air, and their transportation out in the workplace and to the breathing zone of the worker are therefore important tools for designers of industrial ventilation systems. 

The two-stage electrostatic precipitators used in light-industry applications are compact devices which can be fitted into the ventilation system. These air cleaners are normally used to clean air from dusts, smokes, and fumes in industrial workplaces. The basic features of these devices are the separate sections for particle charging and collection. The charging section consists of thin metal wires installed between grounded metal plates. The distance... 

This checklist presents detailed information for assessing VDU terminals and their workplaces. The items concern technical information about VDU characteristics but they do not directly consider the nature of the task performed using the VDU system. 

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