Yuhang in Zhejiang strengthens management of hazardous chemicals; a \"four-word strategy\" to build a solid safety barrier

Thread Content

In order to create a favorable industrial production environment in the development zone and ensure that risks associated with the production, use, and storage of hazardous chemicals are under control, the Yuhang Economic Development Zone has not only established a regular \"1000-point\" inspection system but also taken various measures to strengthen the management of hazardous chemicals, thereby maintaining overall stability in terms of their safety. The measures currently taken in the management of hazardous chemicals can be summarized in four words: collection, prevention, guidance, and inspection. I. “Collection”: Based on the aggregation of information, this approach helps to lay a solid foundation for management. The Industrial Supervision Bureau of the development zone combines data from big data platforms, inspection systems using a 1000-point rating system, enterprise information submissions, and safety assessments, in order to identify the entities in the development zone that are involved with hazardous chemicals. These include 1 hazardous chemical manufacturing enterprise, 52 businesses that handle such chemicals, 169 enterprises that use them, 2 enterprises involved in ammonia-based refrigeration, and 7 enterprises that use highly toxic chemicals. Second, “prevention”: With the aim of anticipating risks, supervision is carried out at different levels. As early as 2017, the Industrial Supervision Bureau of the development zone commissioned intermediary agencies to prepare a risk assessment report for hazardous chemicals in that zone; this report was revised in 2018, with the risk levels of enterprises involved in the production, operation, storage, and use of hazardous chemicals in the development zone being determined based on uniform scoring criteria. The Industrial Supervision Bureau determines the frequency and scope of inspections for each enterprise based on its risk level, thereby ensuring that inspections are targeted and effectively reducing the safety risks associated with hazardous chemical accidents. http://p8.itc.cn/images01/20201104/2d1aea763e0947e4ba7fdf16f0a87bdd.jpeg III. “Guidance”: Service-oriented approach to help address practical difficulties. The Industry Supervision Bureau assisted 6 hazardous chemicals enterprises in overcoming challenges related to the planning of sites where such chemicals are used, the redesign of floor plans, and the allocation of equipment and facilities, providing them with rationalized solutions ； The establishment of a system for managing hazardous chemicals and preventing risks was integrated into this process. A meeting on safety assessment and the advancement of the risk prevention system was held on September 14, and two on-site training sessions were conducted to explain how to implement such a system, thereby helping companies to become more familiar with it more quickly and to establish the necessary framework, which accelerated the progress in setting up this system. http://p5.itc.cn/images01/20201104/4102a01a934742419b16e772a295651d.jpeg The fourth step is “inspection”: by carrying out targeted inspections, potential hazards related to safe production are eliminated. The development zone has learned deeply from major accidents such as the fire at a chemical manufacturing company in Ninghai on September 29th, and the explosion of a liquefied gas transport tank truck in Wenling on June 13th. On the basis of regular inspections using a “1000-point system,” special inspections focused on the entire life cycle of chemical substances are conducted, as well as safety inspections during holidays, with strict implementation of risk control measures. To date, the development zone has inspected 714 enterprises involved in hazardous chemicals, identified 2,141 potential hazards, and carried out corrective actions as required to eliminate the risks associated with hazardous chemical accidents. Drawing on the lessons learned from accidents, Yuhang Economic Development Zone adopts the four-principle approach of \"collection, prediction, guidance, and inspection\" to examine the hazardous chemicals enterprises in its area, assist these enterprises in resolving related issues, eliminate safety hazards, and ensure that risks at all stages related to hazardous chemicals are under control. The content of this article is from Zhejiang News.