Environmental Aspects and Safety

Along with the rapid industrialization in the country, the health and safety aspects of the personnel and equipments have become very important. Fires, accidents, explosions, exposure to chemicals are some of the hazards in the operation of a chemical plant. The following factors also need to be considered 1. Ventilation: The plant should be well ventilated so that gas accumulation is avoided. By local exhaust ventilation, the air contamination is removed before it comes into the persons breathing zone. 2. Fire prevention and control: Fire fighting equipment is placed such that it is easily accessible in case of emergency. An efficient water system is provided along with dry fire fighting chemicals storage. Fire hydrants are provided throughout the plant to make water available. 3. Medical hazards: Machines are well spaced out. Visual warnings of danger like colour schemes are used to identify potential hazards. 4. Electrical hazards: Electrical wires are protected from fire and explosions. Proper maintenance of wiring and equipment and proper enclosure of high voltage equipment helps to avoid accidents. 5. Medical center: First aid boxes are kept at various locations in the plant.

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6. Sanitation: Proper drainage systems, efficient waste and sewage disposal along with potable water supply and its protection from contamination by plant or outside sources have to be looked into. Fire accidents, exposure to chemicals, explosions are some of the major hazards in the operation of the plant. General precautions against fire: 1. Fire fighting equipments are provided. They are CO 2

extinguishers, DCP and foam. 2. Electrical equipment in flammable area should be flame proof. 3. Lighting conductors should be insulated. 4. Welding should be prohibited. Hot work permits should be demanded for welding purposes. 5. Smoking should be prohibited in plant area. 6. All leaks in pipelines (process) and elsewhere should be immediately reported and rectified. 7. Plants should be kept free of accumulations of waste combustibles, cotton waste, paper, etc. To ensure adequate consideration of safety during all phases of companys activities, it is essential to have a sound safety policy. The policy must include: 1. Managements concern towards safety and health of employees. 2. Acceptable level of operational risks and standards of industrial hygiene in plant.

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3. Delegation of responsibilities to ensure operational safety down the line up to supervisors and what is expected from employees at various levels. 4. Procedure for authorization to adopt process changes / alterations / modifications / diversifications etc. 5. Standards of operating instructions, their updating and

documentation. Chemical Hazards: Various dangerous chemicals like sodium carbonate and product sodium acetate etc. are handled in the plant. The following precautions need to be taken while handling these chemicals. 1. Special care is needed when working with chemicals that are known to have hazardous properties. It is important to understand the hazard in each case and to take proper precaution. 2. With newly developed chemicals, there may be no toxicity or other hazard data available. It is safest policy to treat all substances as hazardous until they have been proved to be otherwise. 3. Work in a well-ventilated fume cupboard; use safety screens; always wear protective clothing; use the appropriate type of gloves; wear eye protection. 4. Known or suspected carcinogenic substances should only be used after consultation with senior laboratory management.

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5. Containers of hazardous substances normally carry warning signs on their labels. In the event that a plant must be shutdown immediately due to an emergency situation, the following steps must be followed. 1. Stop pumps if running. 2. Close drains if open. 3. Stop agitators, if running. 4. Close the main process valve and the cooling water, steam line valves. 5. Leave the plant building checking that nobody is left inside.

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