DANGEROUS GOODS DEPOTS

Transcription

1 DANGEROUS GOODS DEPOTS CONTENTS Contents Introduction Purpose What is a dangerous goods depot? Classification of dangerous goods Packing groups Primary and Subsidiary DG classes UN numbers and proper shipping names Placarding and signage Risk assessments Design Manifests and emergency plans Review and evaluation References Document control... 7 Appendix A Placarding and manifest quantities... 8 WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 1 of 11

2 1. INTRODUCTION Dangerous goods are substances or articles (not only chemicals) that pose a risk to people, property or the environment due to their physical or chemical properties (e.g. explosive, flammable, toxic, corrosive, environmentally hazardous). Dangerous goods are usually classified with reference to the immediate hazard they pose rather than the long-term health effects. 2. PURPOSE This guideline has been developed to support the University s Chemical Safety Standards. Faculties, schools, research groups and professional services units are encouraged to use this document as a primary reference when developing local procedures to safely manage dangerous goods depots. 3. WHAT IS A DANGEROUS GOODS DEPOT? A dangerous goods depot is a facility (or location) where a specific class of dangerous good is stored or used in a substantial quantity. A dangerous goods depot must be used to store dangerous goods when the volumes of those materials are greater than the placarding amounts (refer Appendix A). Dangerous goods depots include: Separate roofed stores Storage rooms within a building Chemical storage cabinets - internal and external External storage areas (e.g. gas cages) Bulk storage tanks (e.g. liquid nitrogen). 4. CLASSIFICATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS Table 1 lists the nine Australian Dangerous Goods Classes and corresponding pictogram. Some classes have divisions within the class (the table excludes the divisions for explosives). Dangerous Goods Class Pictogram Class 1 Explosives e,g, TNT Class Flammable Gases e.g. hydrogen, acetylene WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 2 of 11

3 Dangerous Goods Class Pictogram Class Non-flammable, nontoxic gases e.g. nitrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide Class Toxic gases e.g. chlorine Class 3 - Flammable liquids e.g. acetone, ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile Class Flammable solids e,g, sulphur Class Substances liable to spontaneous combustion e.g. zinc dust Class Dangerous when wet e.g. sodium metal, lithium aluminium hydride WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 3 of 11

4 Dangerous Goods Class Pictogram Class Oxidising Substances e.g. silver nitrate, hydrogen peroxide Class Organic peroxides e.g. methyl ethyl ketone peroxide Class Toxic substances e.g. sodium cyanide Class Infectious substances e.g. anthrax Class 7 - Radioactive substances e.g. tritium Class 8 - Corrosive substances e.g. hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide CORROSIVE 8 WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 4 of 11

5 Dangerous Goods Class Pictogram Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous goods and articles e.g. dry ice, asbestos Table 1- Australian Dangerous Goods Classes and pictograms 4.1 PACKING GROUPS Packing groups are used to indicate the degree of danger associated with dangerous goods within a given class. Packing Group I Great danger Packing Group II - Medium danger Packing Group III - Minor danger 4.2 PRIMARY AND SUBSIDIARY DANGEROUS GOODS CLASSES A chemical may belong to more than one dangerous goods class. For example acetic acid is both Class 3 flammable and Class 8 corrosive. Dangerous goods are assigned to a Class according to their primary hazard. Other hazards are referred to as Subsidiary Risks. Methanol is highly flammable (Class 3) and toxic (Class 6). The flammability is its primary hazard and methanol is assigned as a Class 3 chemical. 4.3 UN NUMBERS AND PROPER SHIPPING NAMES Proper shipping names and United Nations numbers (UN numbers) are used worldwide for the quick identification of dangerous goods. The University is required to use this standard terminology when submitting information to NSW WorkCover, communicating with emergency services personnel about dangerous goods or transporting dangerous goods by road, rail or air. Proper shipping names and UN numbers are listed on the safety data sheet for the chemical. For example refer to Table 2. Dangerous Goods Proper Shipping Name UN No. Ethanol ETHANOL (ETHYL ALCOHOL) 1170 Nitric acid NITRIC ACID, other than red fuming 2031 Formaldehyde FORMALDEHYDE SOLUTION, FLAMMABLE 1198 Nitrogen gas NITROGEN, COMPRESSED 1066 Table 2- Examples of Proper Shipping Names and UN numbers WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 5 of 11

6 5. PLACARDING AND SIGNAGE Placards provide a visual warning of the hazards associated with the storage of dangerous goods. These are important for contractors, visitors and particularly emergency services personnel such as the fire brigade. Placards must be installed where dangerous goods are used or stored in volumes that exceed the placarding quantities. There are two types of placards required at the University: 1. Outer warning signs These are positioned at the main entrances to buildings where dangerous goods are stored in volumes greater than placard quantities. 2. Placards at storage locations The relevant dangerous goods diamonds must be displayed on or near each storage location that exceeds placard quantities. Note that while the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation uses the for classification and labelling, the pictograms are not used for placarding dangerous goods depots. Class labels from the Australian Goods Code have been retained for dangerous goods depots and transport. 6. RISK ASSESSMENTS Risk assessment must be carried out for each storage location or process that contains more than placard quantities. The risk assessment must address: Potential spillage or leakage Fires and explosions Incompatibility of goods Plant used in or around the storage area Impact of an incident on the surrounding area (including adjacent buildings) Risks associated with occasional work such as repairs and maintenance; and Security of the dangerous goods in use or storage. 7. DESIGN Dangerous goods depots, including hazardous waste stores and mixed chemical stores, must be designed to comply with the relevant Australian Standards (e.g. AS Storage and Handling of Combustible Liquids for flammable liquids). Planning for the refurbishment of an existing dangerous goods depot or the design of a new dangerous goods depot must be carried out in consultation with Campus Infrastructure Services, Safety Health and Wellbeing, and a consultant accredited with the Australian Institute of Dangerous Goods Consultants. WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 6 of 11

7 8. MANIFESTS AND EMERGENCY PLANS Where dangerous goods are used or stored in quantities greater than the placarding amounts (Appendix A) Safety Health and Wellbeing must be notified. Due to the large volume of chemicals used and stored at the University of Sydney, we are required to periodically provide WorkCover NSW and the emergency services with summary dangerous goods information and site plans. To facilitate this process, Safety Health & Wellbeing regularly contact faculties, schools and professional service units to collect summary dangerous goods data. Information is specifically required for locations where dangerous goods are stored in volumes greater than placarding volumes (Appendix A). This information is stored and managed within a secure module of Campus Assist. Summary dangerous goods manifests are also included as an appendix to the Building Emergency Procedure Manual for each University building (where relevant) and the University s Site Emergency Management Plans. 9. REVIEW AND EVALUATION Guidelines are reviewed by Safety Health & Wellbeing at least once every two years to identify and implement opportunities for improvement. 10. REFERENCES 1. NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail AS Storage and handling of combustible liquids 4. AS The storage and handling of gases in cylinders 5. AS Safety in laboratories Storage of chemicals 6. Placarding for storage of hazardous chemicals, 2014, NSW WorkCover [accessed August, 2015] 7. Placard and manifest requirements under the Work Health and Safety Regulations, Safe Work Australia [accessed August, 2015] 11. DOCUMENT CONTROL Acknowledgements Related Documents WHS_CHE_STD_1_Chemical Safety Standards Version Control Date released Author/s Custodian Approved by Amendment 1.0 Sandra Chapman, WHS Specialist (Chemical) Manager, Work Health & Safety Services Director, Safety Health & Wellbeing Original Printed copies of this document are uncontrolled. Verify version before using. WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 7 of 11

8 APPENDIX A PLACARDING AND MANIFEST QUANTITIES Hazard Class Hazard category Placard Quantity ADG Placard to display Manifest Quantity Flammable Gases Category 1 8 G size cylinders 200 L WC* 100 G size cylinders 5000 L WC* ( *WC = water capacity) Acute toxicity category 1,2,3 or 4* Skin corrosion 1A, 1B, 1C 1 G cylinder 50 L WC 10 G size cylinders 500 L WC Aerosols 5000 L 10,000 L WC Gases under pressure Not stated elsewhere 20 G size cylinders 1000 L or 200 G size cylinders 10,000 L Category 1 50 L 500 L Category L 2500 L Flammable Liquids Category L 10,000 L Any combination of Category 1,2,3 where the placarding quantity for a 10,000 L Category 4 10,000 L COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID 10,000 L WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 8 of 11

9 Hazard Class Hazard category Placard Quantity ADG Placard to display Manifest Quantity Self- reactive substances Type A 5 kg or L 50 kg or L Type B 50 kg or L 500 kg or L Type C to F 250 kg or L 2500 kg or L Category kg or L 2500 kg Flammable solids Pyrophoric liquids and solids Category kg or L 10,000 kg Any combination of Category 1 and 2 where the placarding quantity for a 10,000 kg or L Category 1 50 kg or L 500 kg or L Category kg or L 2500 kg or L Self-heating substances and mixtures Category kg or L 10,000 kg or L Any combination of Category 1 and 2 where the placarding quantity for a 10,000 kg or L Category 1 50 kg or L 500 kg or L Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gas Category kg or L 2500 kg or L Category kg or L 10,000 kg or L Any combination of Category 1,2 and 3 where the placarding quantity for a 10,000 kg or L Category kg or L 500 kg or L Oxidising liquids and solids Category kg or L 2500 kg or L Category kg or L 10,000 kg or L Any combination of Category 1,2 and 3 where the placarding quantity for a 10,000 kg or L Type A 5 kg or L 50 kg or L Organic peroxides Type B Type C to F Any combination of Type B and C to F where the placarding quantity for a 500 kg or L 2500 kg or L 2500 kg or L Category 1 50 kg or L 500 kg or L Acute toxicity Category kg or L 2500 kg or L Category kg or L 10,000 kg or L WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 9 of 11

10 Hazard Class Hazard category Placard Quantity ADG Placard to display Manifest Quantity Category 1A 50 kg or L 500 kg or L Skin Corrosion Category 1B 250 kg or L 2500 kg or L Category 1C 1000 kg or L 10,000 kg or L Corrosive to Metals Category kg or L 10,000 kg or L Any combination of Category 1, 1A, 1B and 1C where the placarding quantity for a single category is 10,000 kg or L exceeded WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 10 of 11

11 APEENDIX B SELF-INSPECTION CHECKLIST FOR DG STORE SAFETY HEALTH & WELLBEING Is the store clear of clutter on the floor? Are all containers on shelves below shoulder height? Are the containers arranged neatly on shelves and all standing upright? Are all containers full and unopened? Are all containers in good condition, and clearly labelled? Are all containers less than 6 months old? Is the store free from the smell of chemicals? If not check (a) ventilation (b) activities taking place in store (c) integrity of containers and seals. Is there any substance other than specified dangerous good in the store? Is there easily accessible and appropriate spill kit? Are the fire extinguishers easily accessible and regularly checked? Is the area outside, next to the store free from combustible materials? For a Class 3 flammable DG Depot, Is the area outside the store free from any activities taking place that could generate an ignition source (running motors, drilling, smoking etc)? Is the store wind and watertight? Is the bund intact and leak proof? Do all the lights work (and in the case of Class 3 store intrinsically safe)? If there is mechanical ventilation, does it work according to specifications? Is the natural ventilation or vents clear of obstruction? Are the appropriate placards still in place outside the store? WHS_CHE_GUI_1_Dangerous Goods Depots Page 11 of 11