1

EDITORIAL BOARD

R. Parameswaran

W.A. Balakumaran

P. Manoharan

P. Subramani

G.S. Swaminathan

Printed at Sunitha Printers, Chennai – 600 014

VOL: 12 No. 1 JANUARY – MARCH 2013

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SAFETY ENGINEERS ASSOCIATIONBlock III , Flat No. 28, Maanasarovar Apartments, 11-A, Arcot Road, Chennai – 600 116.

Tel : 044-24764101 E-mail: info@seaindia.org Website: www.seaindia.org

INDIAN SAFETY ENGINEERSEA (INDIA)

Inside....Page

NEBOSH Course Update 2

33rd Professional Development

Programme 2

Interesting Recycling

Facts & Benefits 4

Isocyantes 6

CASE STUDY 7

Effective, Efficient

Bag-house Cleaning 11

Radiation-induced Cancer 12

IN THE NEWS 13

140 countries agree on treaty

to limit mercury use

Government of Tamilnadu

Notification

Disposal of plastic waste

SEA (India) – Mumbai

Chapter activities 15

(Regn No: 1391 / 2000)[Registered under Societies Act, 1975]

FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENTDear Members,

62nd Executive Committee meeting of SEA India washeld on 30th Mar 2013. 33rd ProfessionalDevelopment Programme was held on 20th Jan 2013.Our journal "Indian Safety Engineer" for the fourthquarter 2012 was released in Jan 2013 and the nextissue for the first quarter of 2013 will reach you soon.We are arranging a factory visit to Madras AtomicPower Station, Kalpakkam on 27th April 2013.Members interested to participate may contact Secretary for further details.

Mumbai Chapter of SEA India has conducted their Professional DevelopmentProgramme on 02nd Feb 2013 with Presentations by eminent specialists ondifferent topics, viz., "Challenges in Fire Fighting", "Transportation SafetyManagement", "Legislations on transportation of Hazardous chemicals" and"Features of ICC's new software system for managing Transportation ofHazardous chemicals including Emergencies". The programme was wellattended by safety professionals from different industries in the region.Request all of you to join me in congratulating Mumbai Chapter of SEA Indiafor their good efforts.

We are hearing positive messages from our Coordinators from New Delhion the formation of Delhi Chapter of SEA (India). After couple of informalmeetings, they are planning their first meeting of the Chapter before Apr2013. Let us wish them good luck.

Fourteenth Batch of NEBOSH IGC course by SEA India was conducted inMarch 2013 and 20 members attended classes and wrote the examinationsduring 27th - 28th Mar 2013. We strongly recommend leading Corporatesand MNCs through our Members, to consider training their Safety Officers,Safety Coordinators and Safety Committee Members in this purposefulNEBOSH - IGC Course, towards achieving best safety results in theirrespective activity centers. SEA will be too happy to extend necessary supportand guidance in conducting this course for them.

SEA (India) website, www.seaindia.org is now fully functional, pendingperiodic updates. Members may advise their Service providers / vendors toadvertise their products / services in the exclusive web page available in thesite towards bringing in awareness among members.

Members are once again reminded to make use of very good collection ofSafety Books available in the SEA Library maintained at SEA Office.

Wish you and your family members a Safe, Healthy and Prosperousendeavors!!

Best Wishes!S. UlaganathanPresident, SEA (India)

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NEBOSH Course Update

March 2013 batch, NEBOSH, I G C Course candidates

33RD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ROGRAMME

Thirty Third Professional Development Programme washeld on Sunday, 20th January 2013 at Chennai.Mr D R Muralidharan, Freelance Trainer,M/S L P A Risk Management Systems,Hyderabad delivered the talk on, "RoadSafety Management".

The meet was followed by lunch andpresentation of certificates to the participantsand a gift to the lucky winner among theparticipants.

Large number of SEA India membersparticipated and enriched their knowledge onRoad Safety. The salient features discussedduring the programme is given in this articlefor the benefit of the members who could notparticipate in the program.

Introduction:

During the year 2011 over 1, 35,000 people lost theirlives due to road accidents in India. Deaths due toroad accidents formed 35% of the total accidentaldeaths occurred during the said year. For every minute

one road accident occurs and for every four minutesone life is lost. The economic loss due to fatalities and

injuries is estimated to be around 2% to 3% of our GDP.Despite the efforts taken by the Government of Indiaand NGOs the trend continues and alarmingly thedeath figure goes up year after year.

(contd. on next page)

The Fourteenth batch of International General Certificate Course of NEBOSH was conducted duringMarch 2013 at Sri Ramachandra University, Porur with 20 candidates. The examination was conductedon March 27th and 28th of 2013. The candidates expressed satisfaction about the course and the resultsare expected by May 2013.

We are planning to have the next batch once we get 20 nominations. SEA India encourages its membersand other safety professionals to pursue this course to enhance their professional knowledge andcareer prospects. All those aspiring to join this course are requested to contact the Secretary, SEAIndia by mail, info@seaindia.org for getting admission.

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33rd Professional ....(Contd. from previous page)

Accidents don't happen on theirown but are caused. There arevarious reasons for accidents tooccur but the driver's error tops thelist. Given below are the maincauses for accidents to happen andthe ways to overcome them:

1. Driver's distraction: Internaldistractions viz., talking on cellphone, sending text messages,smoking etc. External distractionsinclude watching roadsidehoardings, posters etc., It is to benoted that distraction causes moreharm than drunken driving as thelatter occurs mostly during nightwhereas distraction can take placeat any time during day and night.Stay focused on the roads.

2. Over Speeding: Unfortunatelysome drivers think that speed limitsspecified on the roads/rules aremeant to be achieved. When avehicle collides at a travellingspeed of 50 Km/h the impact will beequivalent to falling from a heightof around 30 feet. At 100 Km/h itwill be equivalent to falling from aheight of around 130 feet. Try tolimit the speed well within theprescribed limits.

3. Overtaking: Many accidentshappen due to wrong methodsadopted while overtaking. As ageneral rule overtaking has to bemade from the right side of thevehicle that is overtaken. It is to beensured that road ahead is clear sothat after overtaking it is possible torejoin our lane without forcing theoncoming vehicles to shift theirpath. Never follow a vehicle that isin the process of overtaking. Beforeattempting to overtake ensure thatno other vehicle is trying toovertake you. Above all ensure thatthe gap available between thevehicle that is being overtaken andthe oncoming vehicle is wideenough to complete the process.

4. Inadequate stopping distance:Not maintaining proper stoppingdistance results in rear end collisionsthat not only cause damages tovehicles but also result in injuriesand casualties. Hence care shouldbe taken to maintain adequatestopping distance which is one cardistance for every 15Km of speed.

5. Driving during rains: Rainsmake roads slippery and hampersthe braking efficiency. For a saferride we must reduce our normalspeed and increase the followingdistance. Avoid driving at sides ofthe roads as water build up willlikely to be more there and tyresmay not have a firm grip.

6. Night Driving: Visibility on theroads gets reduced during nightsthat warrant the driver to pay moreattention on the roads. Glare fromthe oncoming vehicles poses ahazard and the driver can have afaster glare recovery if he/shedoesn't stare at the headlights.Sleeping at wheels is another hazardassociated with night driving. Toavoid sleeping he/she can take abreak of smaller durations for every2 hours of journey and refresh bydoing simple stretching/breathingexercises. The driver has to opt forlight food before journey. Further,stopping distance has to beincreased during night driving.

7. Influence of drugs: It is not onlyillegal drugs but, sometimes, legallyprescribed drugs also make thedriver incompetent to drive afteradministration of such drugs.Hence the driver has to take theadvice of the doctor to confirmwhether driving can be undertakenafter taking such drugs.

8. Drunken Driving: Driving needsconstant attention on the road andthe driver is forced to take quickdecisions in case of an emergency.The intake of alcohol impairs thedriving capability of the driver andhe/she loses his/her ability to make

proper judgment. The degree ofimpairment becomes severe withhigher levels of alcoholconsumption. As per Indian rules aperson on wheels is said to be drunkwhen alcohol level in his/her bloodexceeds 30mg per 100 ml of blood.

9. Non-wearing of Seatbelts: Whencollisions occur at higher speeds theoccupants of the car are ejected outof the vehicle which results ingrievous injuries or death to theoccupants. Seat Belt protects thedriver and other occupants byrestraining them in their seats evenafter so many tosses the vehiclemight have underwent. It must bemade a practice to wear seatbeltswhile driving

10. Non-wearing of Helmets: In caseof two wheeler accidents most ofthe victims die due to head injuries.Injury to the brain may lead to deathor various types of damages/disabilities. Such victims not onlybecome incapacitated in leading anormal life but also renderthemselves at the mercy of theirfamily members for performing theirdaily chores. Hence top priority hasto be given for wearing a helmetwhenever a two wheeler is driven,no matter how short the distance isand how lower the speed is. Pillionrider also should be made to weara helmet. More importantly thehelmet should confirm to IS 4151standards and any compromise inthis aspect will defeat the verypurpose of wearing it.

The rising road accident casualtiesworldwide prompted United NationsOrganisation to proclaim the UNDecade of Action for Road Safety2011-2020 which will be adhered toby more than 100 countriesincluding India. The goal of theaction plan is to stabilise and thenreduce global road traffic fatalitiesby 2020. India has already initiatedmeasures towards this goal. Let ushope for safer roads in the nearfuture.

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INTERESTING RECYCLING FACTS & BENEFITS1. There is no limit to the

number of times an aluminumcan be recycled.

2. Recycling a 3-foot-high stackof newspapers can save onewhole tree.

3. Rubber shoe soles can berecycled to make basketballcourts and soccer fields.

4. Recycled paper takes about60% less energy and water tomake new paper.

5. Recycled cans can be madeinto airplanes, appliances,furniture and more.

6. Recycled glass bottles can bemade into roads, tiles, evensurfboards.

7. Recycled plastic bottles can bemade into rugs, jackets, fencesand more.

8. Approximately 60% of ourrubbish thrown away todaycould be recycled.

9. A survey was done and 9 outof 10 people surveyed saidthey would recycle more if itwas easier.

10. The most common products inrecycling programs are paperproducts, cardboard, plastic,glass and aluminum.

11. By recycling one plastic bottlenot only saves anywhere from100 to 1000 years in thelandfill but also saves theenvironment from theemissions in producing newbottles as well as the oil usedto produce that bottle.

13. For every one ton of plasticthat is recycled, we save theequivalent of 2 people's energyuse for 1 year, the amount of

water used by 1 person in 2month's time and almost 2000pounds of oil.

Recycling Tips

1. You can make a lovely hat outof previously-used aluminumfoil.

2. Empty tissue boxes canprovide easy and handystorage for plastic grocery bags.

3. Newspapers can be reused aswrapping paper for gifts.

4. Plastic bags can be reused asbin liners or package stuffing.

5. Junk mail and newspaper canbe reused as package stuffing.

6. Film canisters can be reused tostore nails, screws, buttons andpins.

7. Unneeded printouts can be cutand stapled to make notepads.

Aluminum Recycling Facts

o A used aluminum can isrecycled and back on thegrocery shelf as a new can, inas little as 60 days.

That's closed loop recycling at itsfinest!

o Used aluminum beverage cansare the most recycled item inthe USA , but other types ofaluminum, such as siding,gutters, car components, stormwindow frames, and lawnfurniture can also be recycled.

o Recycling one aluminum cansave enough energy to run aTV for three hours - or theequivalent of a half a gallon ofgasoline.

o More aluminum goes intobeverage cans than any otherproduct. Because so many of

them are recycled, aluminumcans account for less than 1%of the total USA waste stream,according to EPA estimates.An aluminum can that isthrown away will still be a can500 years from now!

o We use over 80,000,000,000aluminum soda cans every year.

o At one time, aluminum wasmore valuable than gold!

o A 60-watt light bulb can berun for over a day on theamount of energy saved byrecycling 1 pound of steel. Inone year in the United States,the recycling of steel savesenough energy to heat andlight 18,000,000 homes!

Paper Recycling Facts

o To produce each week'sSunday newspapers, 500,000trees must be cut down.

o Recycling a single run of theSunday New York Timeswould save 75,000 trees.

o If all our newspaper wasrecycled, we could save about250,000,000 trees each year!

o If every American recycled justone-tenth of their newspapers,we would save about25,000,000 trees a year.

o If you had a 15-year-old treeand made it into paper grocerybags, you'd get about 700 ofthem. A busy supermarketcould use all of them in underan hour! This means in oneyear, one supermarket can gothrough over 6 million paperbags. Imagine how manysupermarkets there are just inthe United States !

(Contd. on next page)

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Interesting ....(Contd. from previous page)

o The average American usesseven trees a year in paper,wood, and other productsmade from trees. This amountsto about 2,000,000,000 treesper year!

o The amount of wood andpaper we throw away eachyear is enough to heat50,000,000 homes for 20 years.

o Approximately 1 billion treesworth of paper are thrownaway every year in the USA .

o Americans use 85,000,000tons of paper a year; about 680pounds per person.

o The average household throwsaway 13,000 separate pieces ofpaper each year. Most ispackaging and junk mail.

o In 1993, USA paper recoverysaved more than 90,000,000cubic yards of landfill space.

o Each ton (2000 pounds) ofrecycled paper can save 17trees, 380 gallons of oil, threecubic yards of landfill space,4000 kilowatts of energy, and7000 gallons of water. Thisrepresents a 64% energysavings, a 58% water savings,and 60 pounds less of airpollution. The 17 trees savedcan absorb a total of 250pounds of carbon dioxide fromthe air each year. Burning thatsame ton of paper wouldcreate 1500 pounds of carbondioxide.

o The construction costs of apaper mill designed to usewaste paper is 50 to 80% lessthan the cost of a mill usingnew pulp.

Plastic Recycling Facts

o Americans use 2,500,000plastic bottles every hour andmost of them are thrown away.

o Plastic bags and other plasticgarbage thrown into the oceankill as many as 1,000,000 seacreatures every year!

o Recycling plastic saves twice asmuch energy as burning it inan incinerator.

o Americans throw away25,000,000,000 Styrofoamcoffee cups every year.

Glass Recycling Facts

o Every month, we throw outenough glass bottles and jars tofill up a giant skyscraper. All ofthese jars are recyclable.

o The energy saved fromrecycling one glass bottle canrun a 100-watt light bulb forfour hours or a compactfluorescent bulb for 20 hours.It also causes 20% less airpollution and 50% less waterpollution than when a newbottle is made from rawmaterials.

o A modern glass bottle wouldtake 4000 years or more todecompose and even longer ifit's in the landfill.

o Mining and transporting rawmaterials for glass producesabout 385 pounds of waste forevery ton of glass that is made.If recycled glass is substitutedfor half of the raw materials,the waste is cut by more than80%.

Solid Waste and Landfills

o About one-third of an averagedump is made up of packagingmaterial.

o Every year, each American

throws out about 1,200pounds of organic garbage thatcan be composted.

o The USA is the number 1trash-producing country in theworld at 1,609 pounds perperson per year.

This means that 5% of theworld's people generate 40%of the world's waste.

o The highest point inHamilton County, Ohio(near Cincinnati) is “MountRumpke”. It is actually amountain of trash at theRumpke sanitary landfilltowering 1045 feet above sealevel.

o The US population discardseach year 16,00,00,00,000diapers, 1,60,00,00,000 pens,2,00,00,00,000 razor blades,22,00,00,000 car tires, andenough aluminum to rebuildthe US commercial air fleetfour times over.

o Out of every $10 spent buyingthings, $1 (10%) goes forpackaging that is thrownaway. Packaging representsabout 65% of household trash.

o On an average, it costs $30per ton to recycle trash, $50 tosend it to the landfill, and $65to $75 to incinerate it. If youare aware of the need to saveresources and to reuseproducts, or help out so thatthey can be used again, thenyou are well on the road torecycling. Today recycling iscommon in the United States.Whereas ten years ago manywere unfamiliar with thispractice, now schools,businesses, churches andoffices, as well as homes are onthe track to recycling.

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ISOCYANATESThis article explains the healthhazards posed by isocyanates anddescribes the types of products thatcontain isocyanates. It also describesthe dangers of applying isocyanate-based products in the workplaceand how to reduce the risk ofexposure.

What are isocyanates?

Isocyanates were developed inGermany during World War II aspart of a process to replace naturalrubber, which became very scarceduring the war.

Isocyanates are very reactivechemicals that contain theisocyanate group (-NCO). Theyreact with alcohols to producepolyurethane polymers. Isocyanatesare the essential raw materials forpolyurethane plastics.

The most commonly usedisocyanates are toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylenebisphenyl isocyanate (MDI). TDI isused in the production of softsynthetic rubbers. MDI is used inproducing foams, hard syntheticrubbers (elastomers), and coatings.

Other isocyanates include

• Naphthalene di isocyanate(NDI)

• Hexamethylene di isocyanate(HDI)

• Isophorone di isocyanate (IPDI)

NDI is used to produce elastomers.HDI and IPDI are both used inpaints, coatings, leather finishings,and foams.

Products containing isocyanateshave several brand or trade names.Isocyanates also have many differentchemical names.

The product's material safety data

sheet (MSDS) can be checked tosee if the product containsisocyanates.

Where are isocyanates used?

Isocyanates are used in theproduction of paints and coatings tocreate weather-resistant surfaces.They are also used to make buildingmaterials (for example, Styrofoam,flexible foams, adhesives, elastomers,and binders) and in the productionof manufactured goods (forexample, bedding, furniture,clothing, appliances, electronics,tires, and packaging).

How does exposure to isocyanatesoccur?

During the plastic-making process,some isocyanates evaporate into theair and can pose a health risk.Isocyanate mist and vapour can bereleased into the air by a variety ofwork activities, including:

• Spraying paints or foamscontaining isocyanates

• Heating polyurethane plastics• Cutting polyurethane foams

using hot wire cutting methods• Applying varnish• Manufacturing urethane foam

forms• Hand painting or rolling

isocyanate coatings

What are the health effects ofisocyanate exposure?

Isocyanates are irritants to the eyes,skin, and respiratory system. Short-term exposure can cause dermatitisand irritation or burns to the eyes,nose, and throat. Even a smallamount of isocyanates can producesignificant health effects, such asasthma.

It has been estimated that 1 in 20(Contd. on next page)

workers who work with isocyanateswill become sensitized to them.Some worker deaths from isocyanateasthma have also been reported.

Sensitization is permanent. Workerswho become sensitized can nolonger be exposed to isocyanateswithout experiencing a reaction,often a severe one.

Symptoms of isocyanate exposureinclude

• Sore eyes• Running nose• Sore throat• Coughing• Wheezing (asthma)• Chest tightness

Isocyanates can have a fruity, musty,or pungent odour. Do not use odourto identify hazardous concentrationsof isocyanate, because once you cansmell it, it is above the permissibleconcentration. Your sense of smellwill not warn you that you are beingoverexposed to isocyanates until itis too late.

Exposure to airborne isocyanatesmay cause eye irritation, tearing,and a temporary decrease insharpness of vision. Direct contactwith isocyanates, a splash to the eye,for example, can cause irritation,conjunctivitis (irritation of themembrane lining the eyelids andpart of the eyeball), and eye tissuedamage.

Direct skin contact with unreactedisocyanates can cause rashes,blistering, and reddening of theskin. In rare cases, the skin canbecome so sensitized that severeskin reactions will occur throughcontact with small amounts ofisocyanate. Skin exposure can also

7

(Contd. on next page)

cause the entire body to becomesensitized.

Occupational exposure limits

Employers must ensure workers arenot exposed to isocyanate levelsabove the occupational exposurelimits (OELs). The OELs forisocyanates are very low, an 8-hourtime-weighted average (TWA) of0.005 parts per million (ppm) and aceiling value (not to be exceeded)of 0.01 ppm. Isocyanates areALARA substances, meaningexposure must be kept as low asreasonably achievable. TDI, a typeof isocyanate, is listed as acarcinogen.

Employer responsibilities

Employers must develop andimplement an effective exposurecontrol plan, which includestraining workers and supervisors inrelevant sections of the plan.

An exposure control plan for aworkplace where workers areexposed to isocyanates mustinclude:

• A written policy that

• States the employer'scommitment to health andsafety

• States the plan's objectives

• Defines the responsibilities androles of the employer,supervisors, and workers. Anassessment of the workplacehazards (for example, whereworkers are likely to be exposedto isocyanates)controls used toreduce the hazards (forexample, ventilation, barriers,or personal protectiveequipment) written safe workprocedures and emergencyresponse procedures (forexample, rescue procedures)

Training for supervisors andworkers, records and statistics(for example, first aid recordsfor workers who are exposed toisocyanates)

Worker responsibilities

To help reduce the risk of exposureto isocyanates, workers (includingsubcontractors) must

• Attend education and trainingsessions provided by theemployer

• Use controls and follow safework practices outlined in theexposure control plan

• Use available personalprotective equipment (forexample, airline respirators) asrequired

• Know how to report exposureincidents

Sampling for isocyanates

Choosing the correct samplingmethod for isocyanates can bedifficult because they may occur asvapours or aerosols of various sizes.Each method has its own potentialproblems, and most underestimatethe amount of isocyanate present.Sampling methods include

• Air sampling: Air is passedthrough a liquid solvent (forexample, in glass impingers orbubblers) or a filter (usuallymade of glass fibre) coatedwith a reagent. The isocyanatesare dissolved in the liquid oradhere to the filter, and arethen sent to a laboratory foranalysis.

• Surface/skin sampling: Skincan be sampled using adhesivetape, which is placed in areagent and sent to alaboratory for testing. Indicatorpads are also available, whichchange colour (usually to red)in the presence of isocyanates.

Reducing the risk of exposure

The risk of unsafe levels ofisocyanates can be reduced with thefollowing controls:

• Substitution: If practicable,products that do not containisocyanates should be used.However, if isocyanates must beused, some are less hazardousthan others. For example, MDIis better than TDI because ithas a lower vapour pressure andwill not vaporize as easily asTDI when applied.

• Engineering: Ventilation mustbe used when applyingisocyanates. The type ofventilation (for example, areaor local exhaust) and theamount will depend upon thesize of the application.

• Isolation controls: Unprotectedworkers must be kept a safedistance from where isocyanatesare applied. (SeetheControlling exposure sectionof this bulletin for safedistances.)

• Regular inspection andmaintenance: Spray (andother) equipment should bechecked regularly to make sureit is operating properly (forexample, not clogged).Containers holding liquidisocyanate products should betightly covered to preventevaporation.

• Education: Workers must betaught how to prevent exposureto isocyanates and how to useprotective breathingequipment.

• Monitoring: Isocyanate levelsin the air must be measuredwhere there is a risk ofexposure. Skin and surfaces

Isocyanates ....(Contd. from previous page)

8

(Contd. on next page)

should also be checked forcontamination.

• Personal protective equipment(PPE): Respiratory protectionwill depend on how isocyanate-containing products areapplied. Skin must also beprotected from isocyanateexposure. Examples of PPE forapplying isocyanate productsare given below.

Controlling exposure

When spraying products containingisocyanates, workers must use air-supplying respirators such as thefollowing:

• Self-contained breathingapparatus (SCBA) - Thisconsists of an air cylinder, whichis normally worn on the back,and a full-face mask to protectthe eyes and face. A hoseconnects the face mask to theregulator and the air cylinder.

• Supplied-air (airline)respirator - This consists of anairline attached to

• A hood - or helmet-stylerespirator, or

• A regulator and full-face mask

Workers who use respirators mustbe clean-shaven where therespirator seals with the face toensure a good seal.

PPE should also include a chemical-resistant suit, goggles that seal to theface, and gloves (preferably nitrileor polyvinyl alcohol).

Workers who apply isocyanateproducts using a roller, brush, orcaulking gun should wear a half-face elastomeric respirator withcombination HEPA (particulate)and organic vapour/acid gascartridges.

Used cartridges must be replacedwith new cartridges every shift.

The work area should be isolatedfrom unprotected workers. Ideally,the barriers should be as airtight aspossible. Unprotected workersshould not be allowed within 8 m(25 ft.) of an indoor work zone orwithin 3 m (10 ft.) of an outdoorwork zone. Indoor work zones mustbe vented to a safe outdoorlocation.

Ventilation for non-sprayapplications (paint, caulking, roll-on, etc.)

If practicable, products that containTDI should be substituted withMDI-based products or other lesshazardous products.

The work area should be ventilated.A written ventilation plan (forgeneral or mechanical ventilation)should be prepared and shouldconsider the following:

• General ventilation aloneshould not be used forcontrolling isocyanateexposure.

• Fans should be intrinsically safe(for example, non-sparking)and strong enough to providesufficient air flow.

• Ducting must remain in goodshape and be free of holes andtears.

• Intake and exhaust ventsshould be located in such away that exhausted air is notbrought back into the workarea.

• Contaminants must be directedaway from workers (and thework area), and there shouldbe no "dead" spots.

• Mechanical ventilationequipment must be located andarranged to adequatelyventilate the entire work area.

Personal hygiene

Workers should follow these safetysteps to minimize contact withisocyanates:• Wash hands before eating or

smoking• Rinse any skin contaminated

by isocyanates with dilutedrubbing (isopropyl) alcohol toneutralize the isocyanate, andthen wash with soap and water.

• Leave contaminated clothingat the workplace to protectfamily members from exposure.

Employers should do the following:

• Provide washroom andchanging facilities that haveseparate lockers for workclothes and street clothes.

• Provide a separate area forstoring and eating food, awayfrom the work area.

First aid

Washing and eyewash facilitiesmust be available near areas whereisocyanates are handled, and allworkers must know how and whento use these facilities. Soap andwater should be available at thesefacilities to treat contaminated skin.If isocyanates enter the eyes, followthese steps:1. Flush the eyes with lukewarm

water immediately, for at least30 minutes.

2. Remove contact lenses afterthe eyes have been irrigatedwith water for a few minutes,and then resume irrigation.

3. See a doctor.

If isocyanates contact the skin,follow these steps:

1. Remove contaminatedclothing. Contaminatedclothing can be treated with aneutralizing mixture (10%

Isocyanates ....(Contd. from previous page)

9

Isocyanates ....(Contd. from previous page)

isopropyl alcohol and 1%ammonia in water) and sent forlaundering.

2. Wash skin with soap and water.Shower if necessary.

3. Discard contaminated itemssuch as leather watch strapsand shoes.

4. See a doctor if there is achemical burn.

If isocyanates are swallowed, followthese steps:

1. Do not induce vomiting.2. Have the worker drink water

or milk to dilute the materialin the stomach.

3. Transport the worker to thenearest hospital as soon aspossible.

If a worker is overcome by inhalingisocyanates, follow these steps:

1. Move the worker to fresh air,and give the worker oxygen, ifavailable.

2. If the worker is having troublebreathing or is not breathing,start assisted ventilation usinga pocket mask. Add oxygen tothe mask, if available.

3. Transport the worker to thenearest hospital as soon aspossible.

Emergency procedures

Emergency procedures should beposted wherever there is a risk ofexposure to isocyanates. Workersmust be trained in emergencyprocedures for the following:

Spills-A written spill-response planshould be created for the worksite.Workers should be trained in spill

response before a spill occurs. TheMSDS for the product used shouldcontain information on how tocontain and clean up a spill.

Isocyanate spills must be cleaned upimmediately by workers wearing theproper PPE. Follow these steps:

1. Evacuate anyone in the areawho is not involved in thecleanup.

2. Immediately cover theisocyanate spill with a dryabsorbent such as vermiculiteor sand. Do not use sawdust orshredded paper because of thefire hazard.

3. Shovel the waste into a metalcontainer, cover it, and placethe container outside in ashaded, dry area prior todisposal.

4. Make sure that the container isnot sealed tightly so anypressure buildup can escape.

Chemical reactivity-Isocyanatesreact vigorously with water,ammonia, or strong bases to produceheat and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.If this reaction occurs in a sealedcontainer, the container mayrupture or explode, releasingisocyanate vapour and CO2.

Before disposing of empty isocyanatecontainers, they must bedecontaminated by filling themwith water and leaving themuncovered (for at least 48 hours) toallow CO2 gas to escape. Thecontainers must be pierced toprevent reuse.

Fires: Isocyanates, and mostsubstances containing them, areflammable. They will burn andrelease toxic gases such as carbon

monoxide, nitrogen oxides, andhydrogen cyanide. Burningpolyurethane products made withisocyanates may release a number ofhazardous substances, includingbenzene, toluene, carbon monoxide,nitrogen oxides, and hydrogencyanide.

Isocyanates should be treated as aClass C fire hazard, do not usewater or foam-containing fireextinguishers. Use a CO2 or drychemical extinguisher to put outflames. In the case of a major fire,firefighters must wear self-contained breathing apparatus (inpositive-pressure mode) to protectthem from toxic fumes.

Medical monitoring

If you think a worker has beenexposed to isocyanates (and theworker has persistent or recurringeye irritation, nasal congestion, dryor sore throat, cold-like symptoms,cough, shortness of breath,wheezing, or chest tightness), theworker should see a physicianknowledgeable in work-relatedhealth problems. If sensitivity ispresent or developing, the workershould not be exposed further toisocyanates.

Lung function tests should beconducted on a regular basis (forexample, as part of a yearly physicalexamination). If workers developsymptoms of isocyanateoverexposure, a pulmonary specialistcan determine whether or not theyhave become sensitized.

Workers should report anysuspected health damage to theiremployer and a physician. Workersshould act on medical advice andcomply with any medical instruc-tions, the doctor gives them.

DISCLAIMER: All information contained in this Journal, were obtained from sources, believed to be reliable and are collated, basedon technical knowledge and experience, currently available with the Editorial Board of SEA (India). While SEA (India) recommendsreference to or use of the contents by its members and subscribers, such reference to or use of contents by its members or subscribersor third parties, are purely voluntary and not binding. Therefore the Editorial Board of this Journal or SEA (India) assumes no liabilityor responsibility whatsoever towards any bad or undesired consequences.

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CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY 1:

Accident during ultrasonicinspection

Location: Production platform

WHAT HAPPENED:

A young worker was trying toreach an inspection point on asuction scrubber for ultrasonicsurvey. While standing on pipingapproximately 2 feet above floorlevel, the worker slipped and felldown hitting against the valve.His face struck a valve causing alaceration to his nose. The workerrequired 8 stitches.

WHAT CAUSED IT?

• A hazard assessment wascarried out, as per records.However, it did not identifyfall hazards and working fromtemporary work platforms.

• Though a ladder wasavailable, which would havebeen the correct equipment astemporary work plat form , itwas not used.

• The crew supervisor did notadequately monitor the youngworker and failed to give cleardirection for reaching theinspection location.

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:

• Field-level hazard assessmentsshould identify all the possible

hazards. It should be ensuredthat steps are being taken tocontrol the hazards identifiedand reduce job risks.

• Correct equipment should beused even for minoroperations.

• Basic safety rules should befollowed by workers, andmonitored by supervisors.

CASE STUDY 2:

Disregard for Energy IsolationProcedures

Location: Rig Derrick Floor

WHAT HAPPENED:

The derrick man was replacing asmall hatch cover, which had beenremoved to clean out the auger onthe horizontal conveyor in thesack room. The conveyor hadbacked up due to chemicalsabsorbing moisture because of thehumidity and heat. The chemicalsblocked the operation of the augerand had to be "dug out" using aspecial tool fit for the job. Todetermine that the auger was free,the auger was engaged and thederrick man observed it throughthe cleanout opening. Once itwas determined that the auger wasoperating properly, the derrickman decided to put the hatchcover back in place; however, hefailed to shut down the auger with

the E-stop prior to reinstalling thecover. With the system stillrunning he began to reinstall thecover, which resulted in his leftindex finger coming in contactwith the rotating auger andresulted in loss of his index finger.

WHAT CAUSED IT ?

• Improper hand and fingerplacement when fitting thecover back in place.

• The derrick man did notfollow the company permit towork and Lock Out/Tag Outprocedures in place for thejob.

• The cover did not have ahandle for the derrick man togrip and reinstall the cover.

• No JSA or Risk Assessmentwas conducted for the jobbecause he stated, "we'vealways done it this way."

CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:

• Develop a JSA and riskassessment for this job.

• Place signage at all augers"Work to be only performedunder Permit to Work andIsolation Certificate".

• Place handles on all augercovers to remove and reinstallsafely, without the need forhands to go near augers.

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EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT BAG-HOUSE CLEANINGThere cannot be many metalcasting processes that are lessexciting than collecting dust, butthat's no reason it cannot be donemore effectively. A new nozzletechnology makes it possible toreduce compressed-air pressure inreverse pulse-jet bag house dustcollection, its developers say, andtherefore to cut energyrequirements, and still to dispersethe particulates effectively.

Reverse pulse-jet bag housetechnology has not changed muchin recent decades. These systemsinvolve a blowpipe positioned justabove the bag, with an orifice anda Venturi scrubber at the top of thebag/cage. The process uses bursts of100-psi compressed air, and back-flushes the filters sequentiallyduring the cleaning cycle.

Scientific Dust Collectors'engineering manager BrianMathews explained in a recentreport that the cleaning cycle is themost important part of dustcollection because of its effect onthe system's efficiency and medialife. Despite its prevalence, reversepulse-jet technology hasdeficiencies, which SDC aimed tocorrect with the converging/divergingn o z z l e -b a s e dc l e a n i n gsystem itintroducedmore than30 yearsago. This"Original"supersonicn o z z l eeliminatedt h eVe n t u r iand addeda cleaning

system that improved cleaning, filterlife, and lowered pressure drop.Ten years ago, SDC introduced anew converging/diverging nozzle tocorrect some of the remaininginefficiencies of the reverse pulse-jet bag house. This NextGeneration nozzle improved onSDC's previous supersonic nozzledesign, but Mathews explained thatthe generic orifice and Venturisystem actually draws in a vacuumof air at the top of the bag duringthe cleaning pulse. The developerproduced a separate report to

Cleaning system comparison of generic bag house with Venturi to SDC Nozzle.

compare cleaning effects at the topof the bag with an orifice andVenturi system, and the SDC nozzlecleaning system. It concluded thatthe generic orifice and Venturisystem does not allow the top 18 in.of filter to be used for repetitivecleaning, rendering useless thatsection of media.The Original design has operatedsuccessfully at higher air-to-clothratios and with a manifold pressureof 100 psig, so the developerinvestigated the minimum manifoldpressure needed for the Next

Volumetric flow at the top, middle, and bottom of a 10-ft. long bag for the originalSDC nozzle at 100 psig, and for the Next Generation nozzle at 80 psig.

Generation nozzle to achievecomparable cleaning flow at thebottom of the bag as the originalsupersonic nozzle? The answer is 80psig, and a comparison of the resultsare shown in the nearby graph."Thesignificant increase in cleaning atstandard pressure, and similarcleaning achieved at a lowerpressure is the result of our manyyears of research,” Mathews noted.“In the Next Generation nozzle, wehave a better understanding ofsupersonic flow that has allowed usto redesign and fine tune the manyfacets of the internal converging/diverging nozzle. Also, we were ableto review the entire process fromstart to finish in the nozzle andeliminate flow reducingmanufacturing and fabricationissues.”

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RADIATION-INDUCED CANCERUp to 10% of invasive cancers arerelated to radiation exposure,including both ionizing radiationand non-ionizing radiation.Additionally, the vast majority ofnon-invasive cancers are non-melanoma skin cancers caused bynon-ionizing ultraviolet radiation.Ultraviolet's position on theelectromagnetic spectrum is on theboundary between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizingradio frequency radiation frommobile phones, electric powertransmission, and other similarsources have been described as apossible carcinogen by the WorldHealth Organization'sInternationalAgency for Research on Cancer.

Exposure to ionizing radiation isknown to increase the futureincidence of cancer, particularlyleukemia. The mechanism by whichthis occurs is well understood, butquantitative models predicting thelevel of risk remain controversial.The most widely accepted modelposits that the incidence of cancersdue to ionizing radiation increaseslinearly with effective radiation doseat a rate of 5.5% per sievert. If thelinear model is correct, then naturalbackground radiation is the mosthazardous source of radiation togeneral public health, followed bymedical imaging as a close second.

Mechanism :Cancer is a stochasticeffect of radiation, meaning that theprobability of occurrence increaseswith effective radiation dose, butthe severity of the cancer isindependent of dose. The speed atwhich cancer advances, theprognosis, the degree of pain, andevery other feature of the diseaseare not functions of the radiationdose to which the person isexposed. This contrasts with thedeterministic effects of acuteradiation syndrome which increase

in severity with dose above athreshold. Cancer starts with asingle cell whose operation isdisrupted. Normal cell operation iscontrolled by the chemical structureof DNA molecules, also calledchromosomes.

When radiation deposits enoughenergy in organic tissue to causeionization, this tends to breakmolecular bonds, and thus alter themolecular structure of theirradiated molecules. Less energeticradiation, such as visible light, onlycauses excitation, not ionization,which is usually dissipated as heatwith relatively little chemicaldamage. Ultraviolet light is usuallycategorized as non-ionizing, but it isactually in an intermediate rangethat produces some ionization andchemical damage. Hence thecarcinogenic mechanism ofultraviolet radiation is similar tothat of ionizing radiation.

Unlike chemical or physical triggersfor cancer, penetrating radiation hitsmolecules within cells randomly.Molecules broken by radiation canbecome highly reactive free radicalsthat cause further chemicaldamage. Some of this direct andindirect damage will eventuallyimpact chromosomes and epigeneticfactors that control the expressionof genes. Cellular mechanisms willrepair some of this damage, butsome repairs will be incorrect andsome chromosome abnormalities willturn out to be irreversible.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs)are generally accepted to be themost biologically significant lesionby which ionizing radiation causescancer. In vitro experiments showthat ionizing radiation cause DSBsat a rate of 35 DSBs per cell perGray, and removes a portion of theepigenetic markers of the DNA,which regulate the gene expression.

Most of the induced DSBs arerepaired within 24h after exposure,however, 25% of the repairedstrands are repaired incorrectly andabout 20% of fibroblast cells thatwere exposed to 200mGy diedwithin 4 days after exposure Aportion of the population possess aflawed DNA repair mechanism, andthus suffer a greater insult due toexposure to radiation.

Major damage normally results inthe cell dying or being unable toreproduce. This effect is responsiblefor acute radiation syndrome, butthese heavily damaged cells cannotbecome cancerous. Lighter damagemay leave a stable, partly functionalcell that may be capable ofproliferating and eventuallydeveloping into cancer, especially iftumor suppressor genes aredamaged. The latest researchsuggests that mutagenic events donot occur immediately afterirradiation. Instead, surviving cellsappear to have acquired a genomicinstability which causes anincreased rate of mutations infuture generations. The cell willthen progress through multiplestages of neoplastic transformationthat may culminate into a tumorafter years of incubation. Theneoplastic transformation can bedivided into three majorindependent stages: morphologicalchanges to the cell, acquisition ofcellular immortality (losing normal,life-limiting cell regulatoryprocesses), and adaptations thatfavor formation of a tumor.

In some cases, a small radiationdose reduces the impact of asubsequent, larger radiation dose.This has been termed an 'adaptiveresponse' and is related tohypothetical mechanisms ofhormesis.

(Contd. on next page)

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IN THE NEWS

140 countries agree on treaty to limit mercury use

Delegations from 140 countries agreed to adopt a ground breaking treaty, limiting the use and emissionof health hazardous mercury, the U N said, though the environmental activists lamented it did not gofar enough. The world's first legally binding treaty on mercury, reached after a week of thorny talks,will aim to reduce global emission levels of the toxic heavy metal, also known as quick silver, whichposes risks to human health and the environment. The treaty has been named the Minamata Conventionon Mercury, in honour of the Japanese town where inhabitants for decades have suffered theconsequences of serious mercury contamination. The text will be signed in Minamata in October andwill take effect once it has been ratified by 50 countries.

Mercury is found in products ranging from electrical switches, thermometers and light bulbs, to amalgamdental fillings and even facial creams. Large amounts of the heavy metal are released from small scalegold mining, coal burning power plants, metal smelters and cement production.

Serious mercury poisoning affects the body's immune system and development of the brain and nervoussystem, posing the greatest risk to foetuses and infants.

The treaty sets a phase out date of 2020 for a long line of products, including mercury thermometers,blood pressure measuring devices, most batteries, switches, some kind of fluorescent lamps and soapsand cosmetics. It, however, provides exceptions for some large medical measuring devices whereno mercury free alternative exist. In a controversial move, it also excluded vaccines that use mercuryas a preservative, since the risk from these vaccines is considered low and for many developing nationsremoving them would entail losing access to vaccines altogether. Amid pressure from dentist groups, the treaty also did not provide a cut off date for the use of dental fillings using mercury, but did agreethat the product should be phased down.

Non Governmental groups lamented that the treaty fell short in addressing the greatest sources ofmercury in the environment; small scale gold mining, which directly threatens the health of the 10-15million people working in this field and contaminates water and air; and emissions from coal burningpower plants.

However the U N E P stressed that the treaty is a dynamic instrument, insisting it would evolve overtime to address all the areas.

Once up and running the treaty will provide funds to help transition away from mercury-linked productsand processes through the U. N.'s Global Environment Facility, and probably also second mechanism.

Courtesy: The Hindu

A latent period of decades mayelapse between radiation exposureand the detection of cancer. Thosecancers that may develop as aresult of radiation exposure areindistinguishable from those thatoccur naturally or as a result of

exposure to other carcinogens.Furthermore, National CancerInstitute literature indicates thatchemical and physical hazards andlifestyle factors, such as smoking,alcohol consumption, and diet,significantly contribute to many ofthese same diseases. Evidence fromuranium miners suggests that

smoking may have a multiplicative,rather than additive, interactionwith radiation. Evaluations ofradiation's contribution to cancerincidence can only be done throughlarge epidemiological studies withthorough data about all otherconfounding risk factors.

Raditation ....(Contd. from previous page)

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The Government of Tamil Nadu has renamed the Department ofInspectorate of Factories as “Directorate of Industrial Safety and

Health” vide GO. Ms No. 94, Labour and Employment,Dated 7th March 2013.

Further the designation of the officers have also been revised as given below.

S.No. Existing Designation Revised designation

1. Chief Inspector of Factories Director of Industrial Safety and Health

2. Additional Chief Inspector of Factories Senior Additional Director of Industrial Safety and Health

3. Joint Chief Inspector of Factories Additional Director of Industrial Safety and Health

4. Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories Joint Director of Industrial Safety and Health

5. Inspector of Factories Deputy Director of Industrial Safety and Health

6. Assistant Inspector of Factories Assistant Director of Industrial Safety and Health

Disposal of plastic waste

Disposal of plastic waste is a serious concern in India. New technologies have been developed tominimize the adverse effect on the environment. Currently, widely accepted technology used for theplastic disposal is incineration. however, incinerators designed poorly, releases extremely toxiccompounds (chlorinated dioxins and furans). Therefore, strong opposition arose from variousorganizations. In India, to introduce a cleaner and safer technology, FCIPT, Institute for Plasma Researchhad taken initiatives to develop plasma pyrolysis technology with the financial support from TechnologyInformation, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC) and Department of Science and Technology(DST), New Delhi. In this technology extremely high temperature is produced using plasma torch inoxygen starved environment which destroy plastic waste efficiently and eco-friendly manner. FCIPTdeveloped and demonstrated the technology successfully for waste disposal capacity approximately15 Kg/hr.

Based on above developments on plasma pyrolysis technology, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)has sponsored a study to FCIPT, Institute for Plasma Research to conduct emission monitoring trialsfor Dioxins and Furans, PM, NOx, CO etc. from a recognized laboratory under Environment (Protection)Act, 1986. On the basis of emission results, CPCB may take initiatives to resolve issues of plasticwaste disposal by installing few plasma systems in the country. The analytical results in respect ofdioxins and furans emission results are found within the standards set for hazardous waste incineratorsin case of disposal of 100% metallized plastics, 100% polyethylene plastics and 80% Polyethylene+20% PVC waste is in the plasma pyrolysis system (15 kg/hr). However, process optimization is donefor 50% PVC + 50% polyethylene and 100% multilayer plastic waste. The results of dioxins and furansemissions were found within prescribed limits.

In order to make plasma pyrolysis technology economically viable, energy recovery possibilities fromplastic waste is under consideration, because plastic contains high calorific value and it could bepossible to recover surplus energy from the system. It is therefore, recommended to use of plasmapyrolysis system to re-solve the problems associated with plastic waste disposal. Further, there isan advantage that plasma pyrolysis system can be installed at hill stations, tourist places etc. todemonstrate decentralised disposal of plastic waste.

IN THE NEWS

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S E A (INDIA) - MUMBAI CHAPTER ACTIVITIESThe Mumbai Chapter EC meeting was held on Saturday, February 2nd 2013 at Mumbai. Around 20members participated in the meeting. A brief note of the activities are highlighted here.

Mr. P A Murali welcomed the SEA India members and stressed the importance of the subject“Safe Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals" and introduced the Speakers. He gave a presentationon SEA India activities.

Mr.Mandke, CFO Thane Fire Brigade in his presentation highlighted the Challenges encountered byfire fighting agency in mobilising resources, managing the crowd, information problems and lack ofco-operation from nearby industries.

Mr. Balachandran from Total Oil made a presentation on “Total's transportation safety management,defensive driving and catering to the environmental issues offsite while the vehicle is travelling onroad and spill occurs".

Dr. Dileep Wakankar from Clariant Chemicals made a presentation on new legislation,“Transportation safety of Dangerous goods (classification, packaging & labelling rules 2011)”, whichis in the draft stage and about to be published soon. This regulation related to Transportation ofhazardous Chemicals which will be implemented in conjunction with C M V,1989.

Capt. Dinesh Desai from BASF, gave a presentation on a new initiative from ICC called NICER GLOBE.One of the important component of this initiative will be a web service specifically designed forsupporting transportation of chemicals/ hazardous goods. He gave a detailed presentation of how thesoftware will work, vehicle tracking system, emergency handling arrangement, benefits to the membercompanies, budget, annual expenditure and appealed the members to take advantage of it. Thesoftware launch is expected to be by April 2013.

Ms. Sneha Sriram distributed the forms to those who were interested in taking SEA India membership.

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