Chapter 5.3 Safe operations and safety management

1. Chapter 5.3Safe operations and safety management TRP Chapter 5.3 1

2. Risks of hazardous waste management TRP Chapter 5.3 2

3. Site safety recommendations • Plant layout • Operating procedures and systems of work • Plant safety and training officer • Training of operators • Housekeeping and maintenance • Operator hygiene • Emergency procedures • Safety analysis • Worker protection TRP Chapter 5.3 3

4. Plant layout • Need careful design of: • Process flow lines • Storage areas • Work spaces • Create restricted areas TRP Chapter 5.3 4 Source: Safe hazardous waste management systems ISWA 2002

5. Operating procedures and systems of work • Standardisation of operating procedures: • Working procedures for every function • Tested and regularly reviewed/revised • Set out in manual • Employees informed • Use of procedures required and monitored TRP Chapter 5.3 5

6. Plant safety and training officer • Medium and large companies should appoint an officer responsible for: • conducting regular safety audits • identifying deficiencies in operating procedures • ensuring that operators are properly trained and equipped • Small businesses may not be able to justify the appointment of a full time officer, but could designate someoneon a part time basis TRP Chapter 5.3 6

7. Training of operators • Experienced personnel should undertake training • Training should cover: • Working procedures • Safety precautions • Emergency procedures • Any changes in waste or procedures • Training should be: • Supported by written material for later reference • Regularly updated • An ongoing process, not a single event TRP Chapter 5.3 7

8. Housekeeping and maintenance • Need schedules for regular: • cleaning • maintenance • Good housekeeping involves simple but important procedures to keep areas clean and tidy • Maintenance programme helps prevent unexpected failures TRP Chapter 5.3 8

9. Operator hygiene • Operators must observe basic rules of hygiene: • remove dirty overalls/work clothes before leaving site • use washing/shower facilities before leaving the site • avoid eating in work areas • keep hands away from the face at all times, minimising risk of eye contact or ingestion of chemicals TRP Chapter 5.3 9

10. Emergency procedures • To ensure prompt and appropriate response, site-specific emergency procedures should: • be in place • be regularly practised • be displayed at relevant points • include plans for site evacuation • Emergency equipment should: • include fire fighting & first aid materials • be in good condition • be frequently checked TRP Chapter 5.3 10

11. Safety analysis To identify possible malfunctions and their consequences • Problem characterisation • Identification of potential hazards and failure modes • Quantification of probability of occurrences • Quantification of possible consequences • Assessment of the range of risks • Recommendations for hazard mitigation, improved safety and emergency response TRP Chapter 5.3 11

12. Safety goals • Individual risk for nearest neighbours • Collective risk for community • Occupational risk for employees TRP Chapter 5.3 12

13. Identification of failure cases • The check list method • The hazard and operability study • The fault-tree analysis TRP Chapter 5.3 13

14. Safety procedures for personnel • Individuals at most risk: hazardous waste handlers • Risks greater if workers are careless or untrained, or working conditions poor • Safety procedures needed for all aspects • Information needed for all personnelon: • risks involved with different types of waste • routes of exposure • methods of avoidance • emergency measures • consequences of not following safety procedures • their own responsibilities TRP Chapter 5.3 14

15. Training • Experienced personnel should give training • Training should cover: • Working procedures • Safety precautions • Emergency procedures • Any changes in waste or procedures • Training should be: • Supported by written material for later reference • Regularly updated • An ongoing process, not a single event TRP Chapter 5.3 15

16. Worker accidents Nature of injury caused by accidents in hazardous waste collection and transport (n=38) Source:PÄIVI RAHKONEN, Work safety in waste collection and transport of hazardous wastes, 1992 TRP Chapter 5.3 16

17. Accident prevention - general guidelines • Smoking should be prohibited • Hazardous waste should be identified as soon as possible so that it can be classified correctly • An emergency shower and telephone should be provided • Containers should be kept tightly closed • Packaging material should have low moisture absorption • Heavy articles should be stored on a firm base • Employees should not work alone • Different kinds of hazardous wastes should be stored in different containers • A refrigerator or cold room should be provided in summer to prevent wastes overheating TRP Chapter 5.3 17

18. Transport accident prevention - guidelines • Brake must be set and the engine turned off • Appropriate hazard and warning labels should be used • No smoking, drugs or alcohol • All tailgates, closures and the cargo must be secured • Provide telephone at the collection & delivery points, in truck • Drivers should not exceed a set number of hours per day • Protective clothing & equipment should be used if necessary • Trucks should be provided with first-aid equipment and an appropriate fire extinguisher for the load, and training should be provided for its use • Earthing of equipment helps avoid explosions resulting from static electricity TRP Chapter 5.3 18

19. Medical surveillance • Personnel working with hazardous waste should be given regular medical examinations to check: • Overall fitness and strength • Heart condition • Pulmonary function They should be provided with: • Immunisation programme • Good nutrition • First aid equipment & antidotes to toxic substances TRP Chapter 5.3 19

20. Environmental monitoring • Air monitoring • Surface and groundwater quality (WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water – 1993) • Soil sampling Plus: • good housekeeping • prompt clean up of spills TRP Chapter 5.3 20

21. Worker protection • Basic requirement: • gloves • overalls • hard hats • safe footwear • Additional equipment: • safety glasses • long sleeves • long trousers • chemical gloves • chemical resistant overalls • face protection TRP Chapter 5.3 21

22. Respiratory protection A primary health and safety consideration Two hazard groups: • Oxygen deficiency • Air contamination (by particulates, vapours, gases or a combination) Two basic types of respirators: • Air purifying (APR) • Atmosphere supplying (ASR) TRP Chapter 5.3 22

23. Chapter 5.3 Summary • Hazardous waste management has inherent risks • Safe operations and safety management require systems to address: • Plant layout • Operating procedures and systems of work, including housekeeping and maintenance • Training of operators eg in operator hygiene, use of protective clothing • Emergency procedures • Accident prevention • Environmental monitoring TRP Chapter 5.3 23