Share: 10 blind spots in the on-site management of hazardous chemicals – how many have you identified?

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This post was last edited by wang*nhua77020 on 2016-10-17 at 22:09. Enterprise size, management level, the nature of hazardous chemicals, technical capabilities, process conditions, working environment, and employee competence vary from one case to another; likewise, the use and management of hazardous chemicals at work sites also take many different forms. The author has identified 10 common weaknesses and gaps in the on-site management of hazardous chemicals, which are also key areas of focus in inspections and supervision related to hazardous chemical safety. 1. There are numerous temporary storage sites for hazardous chemicals; the quantity on site is high, exceeding the amount specified by the design, and safety and management measures are not properly implemented. 2. Employees are unaware of the properties of hazardous chemicals. They do not know the characteristics of the hazardous chemicals used on site. Many companies assign Arabic numeral codes to these chemicals for ease of reference, but employees have little understanding of the risks associated with those numeric codes. 3. Disordered management at the work site: During my inspections, I found that in several companies, flammable and explosive materials were stored next to high-temperature furnaces. The high temperatures activated the properties of these hazardous materials, causing them to vaporize rapidly, which posed a high risk of fire and explosion incidents. Additionally, this led to a deterioration of the working environment. Some enterprises use highly dangerous substances such as n-hexane and benzene in their production processes, resulting in severe occupational hazards. 4. Failing to follow safety operating procedures. Safety operating procedures are based on lessons learned from accidents; yet in production, accidents occur frequently as a result of not following these procedures and violating objective laws and scientific principles. For example, using organic solvents to clean floors can lead to fire accidents. 5. The protective facilities and production facilities are not synchronized. Occupational health protection facilities are not in sync with production or do not meet the required standards, leading to cases of occupational poisoning and occupational diseases among certain groups of workers. During an inspection of a company’s work site, the author saw dust from grinding filling the air, with severe noise levels; it was impossible to see anyone on the opposite side. Furthermore, in many machinery manufacturing companies, engineering safety measures fail to meet the required standards, and the working areas are cramped, which exacerbates hazards such as dust and noise. In some companies, the personal protective equipment required is not provided; moreover, in many other companies, although protective equipment is available, it does not meet the necessary standards. For example, using gauze masks in place of activated carbon masks, etc. The limited protective equipment available at the work site is not being fully utilized; for example, employees do not use it correctly, and some refrain from using it out of convenience ； During the investigation, the author even found cases at highly toxic chemical handling sites where workers were working with bare chests and bare feet wearing slippers. 7 Insufficient safety warnings: Safety instructions, warning signs, MSDS sheets, etc., at hazardous chemical handling sites are not always available. 8. There is a lack of emergency rescue facilities; many work sites fail to equip themselves with necessary emergency devices such as eye wash stations, sprinklers, and emergency medications as required. Some companies don’t even have emergency response plans; knowledge of emergency rescue is not disseminated among employees, and there is a lack of occupational health education. 9. Ineffective management: During an inspection at a company, the air quality in the workshop was extremely poor, with a harsh smell. Survey the workers on site and ask if the ventilation equipment works well The answer is yes. Ask, why not use it? I’m afraid answering is a hassle. It is not difficult to see the shortcomings in corporate management here; although there are safety measures in place, poor management has prevented them from being effective. 10. Irregular management of hazardous waste: Handling hazardous waste incurs costs, and companies consider only empty containers of hazardous chemicals to be waste. For the hazardous waste that is generated continuously, it is often only disposed of once a certain amount has accumulated; yet what they fail to realize is that this represents a pile of time bombs, which could undergo chemical reactions and lead to accidents during storage.