Managing Hazardous Substances – Hot Works

Hazardous substances are those that may be harmful to human health. Below is an extract from the CMPA’s “Work Safely Reference Manual” providing handy hints on managing hazardous substances on your site especially Hot Works.

IT is the responsibility of the Supervisor or employer to identify, assess and control the hazardous substances on site in accordance with Part 4.1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007.

Hazardous substances that may be present on site include:

• Liquids such as solvents, paints, adhesives, oils, greases and degreasers. In some cases, chemicals found in these products can enter the body through the lungs or skin or can be ingested.
• Solids and dusts such as concrete, fibreglass insulation, asbestos and certain types of crushed rock can cause skin conditions such as dermatitis, burns, skin cancer and changes in pigmentation. If dusts are inhaled over extended periods of time they can lead to respiratory irritation and in some instances cancer.
• Mist can be produced through spraying materials such as paint and pesticides or through condensation of gases in the air. Some mists, if inhaled, can cause respiratory or other diseases. Contact with some mists can cause damage through skin contact.
• Gases, smoke and fumes can be produced during welding or soldering, or through petrol or diesel emissions. Health effects from gases can include narcosis, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and skin, eye and throat irritation.
• Vapours are gases formed when solids or liquids evaporate. Paints, solvents, adhesives and petrol can produce dangerous vapours. Vapours can cause dermatitis and, if inhaled, cause a variety of effects such as liver damage, narcosis and cancer. Many vapours, particularly those of solvents and petrol are flammable.

To manage hazardous substances, it may be appropriate to consider the following.

Supervisor to consider:

• Remove unnecessary hazardous substances from the site ases,
• Ensure safety support equipment and materials recommended on the MSDS are held on site as appropriate (i.e. PPE, emergency containment)
• Maintain tools and equipment that have internal combustion engines to ensure exhaust fumes are kept to a minimum
• Contractors need to bring a copy of the MSDS for any hazardous substance to be used on site, inform your Supervisor prior to use and obtain any required permits
• Always obtain the MSDS for chemicals or hazardous substances used on site, these should be held in the company library.

Employee to consider:

• Limit contact with hazardous substances by changing work processes and using required PPE
• Always read warning labels and make yourself familiar with the MSDS, site Risk Assessment and any other SWMS designed to manage hazardous substances
• Always wear PPE specified in the MSDS for the type of material being used
• Only perform activities which release hazardous substances in well ventilated areas
• Do not use petrol, diesel or gas powered equipment in restricted or poorly ventilated spaces
• Never weld or use ignition sources in areas where solvents are being used
• Do not work with material containing asbestos, if you suspect asbestos, contact your Supervisor
• Take care not to spill hazardous liquids, if you do, inform your Supervisor immediately and clean up any spills in accordance with the MSDS
• Never decant chemicals into unlabelled containers
• Store hazardous substances in accordance with OEM specifications
• Ensure all fluids are stored in approved and clearly marked containers

HOT WORKS

Only trained people can undertake welding, braising or cutting. Consider the unit ‘Perform Basic Cutting and Welding’.

Welding can cause burns from radiation or electric shock, nausea from fumes generated during welding and burns from ignition sources. Ultraviolet light produced during arc welding or cutting can cause damage to eyes, such as ‘arc eye’ or ‘eye flash’. Th e infrared light and heat produced during welding can cause skin burns, burns to eyes, cause cataracts and changes in skin pigmentation.

Due to the high risk nature of this task, specialist training is recommended. In addition, some controls that may be used include:

• Only trained and competent persons should use electric welders and oxy braising and cutting equipment
• Wear appropriate PPE including skin coverings and face shields with eye filters
• Shield or screen welding operations from others
• Ensure adequate exhaust fans or ventilation systems are in place before commencing work and utilise a correct, well maintained filter
• Ensure flashback arrestors are fitted to the outlet side of both oxygen and acetylene regulators and the hand piece
• Fire extinguishers should be available
• Wear respiratory equipment where needed
• Examine the work area for fire or explosion hazards before commencing work. Where there is a risk hot work will result in a fire or explosion a ‘Hot Work Permit’ is necessary (available from the CMPA). This includes areas such as work on a fuel tank, work in a confined space and work in areas containing flammables or combustibles, before work commences
• Inspect welding equipment before use and report any defects
• Conduct regular safety audits on equipment and associated cylinders
• Store welding equipment in designated areas, maintaining required separations

WELDING FUMES

Welding produces a wide range of dangerous fumes. This includes known carcinogens such as beryllium (from aluminium and magnesium alloys), causes of metal fume fever such as cobalt, and other toxic substances such as cadmium, chromium and lead. These fumes can be both odourless and colourless.

In addition to complying with the individual exposure standards for specific contaminants, the fume concentration in the breathing zone (which is inside a welder’s helmet when a helmet is worn) should not exceed 5 mg/m3 TWA.

For more information see the website www.wtia.com.au or search for ‘welding fumes’ on the website www.ascc.gov.au

Only trained people can undertake welding, braising or cutting. Consider the unit ‘Perform Basic Cutting and Welding’.

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