We all understand the safety concerns when you’re dealing with flammable liquids in the workplace. Namely, the risk of your substances igniting if there is a leak, spill or release of vapours. While all dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals must be controlled and contained, the risk of fire, explosion and flashback with flammable liquids is a real safety concern that needs to be addressed to prevent damage to people, property and the environment. In this post, we’ll be looking at some key precautions and preventative measures to help you avoid dangerous flammable liquid spills in your own organization.
Flammable liquids, if accidentally leaked or spilled in a workplace, can pose a range of risks that can potentially cause enormous damage to your workplace and the surrounding area.
There are a range of risks that may occur, including:
While it is the duty of every workplace to provide a safe environment, there are specific duties that must be abided by to ensure safety with flammable liquids and potential spills.
This includes provision for safety precautions and controls for a wide range of topics including, but not limited to:
You can increase safety when dealing with flammable liquid spills by referring to WHS and Australian Standards.
There are several key documents which can assist workplaces in achieving safety and compliance with Class 3 Flammable Liquids.
Some of these helpful documents include:
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While there are countless requirements that relate to the handling and storage of flammable liquids and the management of spills, there are some key points to consider for workplace safety.
The key risk with flammable spills is ignition of the flammable vapours that are emitted from the chemical.
These precautions include:
Always ensure flammable liquid drums are bunded to prevent leaks and spills.
IMPORTANT: While selecting and installing flammable storage is essential for safety and the prevention of spills, it’s also important to inspect and clean-out your cabinets and outdoor storage containers to minimise accidental releases and vapour build up. Read our blog to learn more about housekeeping practices for your Class 3 cabinets.
When dealing with a flammable liquids spill, there are many steps to take to decrease risk.
These include:
Flammable spills can happen anywhere that Class 3 liquids are used, including your fleet.
REMEMBER: There are many spill kits on the market, with various materials, equipment and capacities. Read our blog to learn more about choosing and maintaining a spill kit for your operations.
When dealing with a chemical spill, there are often times that a leaking package can be repackaged into a new container to save chemical wastage.
If a flammable package, such as a container, bottle or drums, has a leak, the Australian Standard 1940 states that it can be placed into a larger container to stop the leak and contain the chemical spillage.
You may place the leaking chemical package in a larger container or transfer it to new packaging. However, keep in mind that this new container will have to be properly labelled to ensure all staff are aware of the new contents.
When it comes to managing small spills, the leaked chemical needs to be collected, absorbed or diluted if appropriate – then put into a waste container and transferred for safe disposal.
IMPORTANT: Empty containers that have held flammable liquids can still produce hazards such as fire or explosion due to the remaining chemical residue. Find out more about the hazards by checking out our popular post, Do Empty Containers Still Pose a Risk.
When developing emergency plans and evacuation procedures for your workplace, every possible scenario must be considered to achieve optimum protection for your organisation and community. This includes the possibility of both minor and major flammable liquid spills.
Emergency services need to be notified if:
REMEMBER: PPE must be suitable for the chemicals at your site. It must also be free of wear and tear to ensure safety for your team. Learn more about Class 3 PPE by reading our blog.
If the spill is within your capabilities, there is still the very real possibility that a fire may erupt.
Every workplace must have a plan in place that allows for suitable fire protection systems that will adequately control the hazard.
Materials must be suitable for the conditions of use and be compatible with the flammable liquids that you’re storing. Particular attention must be paid to cater for foam concentration, mixing ratios and applicable methods and rates to ensure safety.
Firefighting equipment should be installed in an area of your workplace that allows for the safe access of the equipment, while being protected from the fire itself. Firefighting equipment needs to be marked in accordance with the Australian Standard. All fire protection systems, including fire detection, automatic sprinklers, fire hose reels and monitors, must meet the requirements of the Australian Standards.
IMPORTANT: Each indoor flammable storage cabinets (with a capacity of 250L or less) must have a powder-type extinguisher installed. For cabinets 250L or more, an extra extinguisher or foam hose reel must be provided. Fire extinguishers need to be installed from 3 – 10m from the cabinet.
As we’ve highlighted in this post, there are multiple factors to consider when carrying flammable liquids at your site. While all hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods can cause harm to staff, property, vehicles and the environment, the accidental release of flammable liquids can quickly lead to a situation that may involve fire, flashback or even explosion. Safe storage practices, such as bunded storage that’s properly inspected and maintained, can go a long way in protecting your organisation from hefty WHS fines and dangerous incidents.
If you’d like to find out more about the prevention strategies for chemical spills, why not access our free eBook. We detail the general requirements that relate to chemical spills in the workplace, while offering some easy to implement and practical solutions to stop spillage affecting your organisation. Get your copy for free today to learn more about chemical spill protection.