Process Safety Management for Common Oxidisers
Name
Institution Affiliation
Process Safety Management for Common Oxidizers
Oxidizing materials are chemical compounds that readily release oxygen or other oxidizing substance when they come onto contact or react with another substance.
Chemical Properties
The easily noted chemical property for oxidizers is that when these substances or any substance containing oxidizing properties come into contact with chemically oxidizable inorganic or organic substance could result in dangerous reactions causing explosion, fire, or formation of other substance that may be hazardous (Samunual & Bergbreiter, 2016). For instance, in the case of nitric acid, when getting into contact with organic compounds, it reacts violently, and the reaction may be explosive as a result of simultaneous oxidation and nitration reactions. On the other hand, Perchlorate, when reacted with organic basis, forms salts that are dangerously corrosive and readily explosive in nature.
Uses
Oxidizing agents have a huge demand for use in industrial processes. They are used in processes such as bleaching fabrics, purifying water, storing energy, and production of other chemical substances. For instance, chief uses of nitric acid in the industry are in the preparation of fertilizers like ammonium nitrate and explosive and manufacturing of other chemicals. Oxidizing agents have used in baking processes, as they are used to enhance the quality of flour, therefore, enabling better production and larger loaves.
Primary hazards of common oxidizers
The globally harmonized system classifies and labels chemicals to have three separate classifications for any oxidizer. Classification and labeling are categorized as solids, liquids, and gasses. Each of these classifications is considered to have its own toxicity that may vary to others. Generally, oxidizers pose the greatest risk during fire due to their capability to intensify the combustion process. Although most oxidizing materials do not burn by them, they have a high rate of potential to have significant high chances of higher combustion when introduced to combustible materials. Materials that boost the combustion can be informed of liquids, gases, or solids. Either way, also gaseous states of these oxidizers poses a threat to breathing processes and can also irritate body organs like eyes and lungs. On the other part, nitric acid is highly corrosive when it comes to contact with human skin.
Important occupational exposure limits associates with common oxidizers
Occupational exposure limits layout interpretations of the workplace in catering for health risks contents as it serves as a health-based benchmark. It introduces the setting and protects workers exposed to hazardous chemicals (OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1919.119, 1994). Similarly, measures are also taken to cater for workers working in oxidizing plants as chemical and toxic substances pose a wide range of health and physical hazards. In handling persulphates, it formulates that manufacturers of these products need to evaluate the hazards of the chemical they import or produce and sheets and labels that convey the hazard information concerning the chemical to downstream users.
In preparation of nitric acid, it states that these facilities need to be designed with a specific location for handling such oxidizers (Foster, 1981). These products need to be labeled appropriately and fixed with warning signs for workers or new visitors who mat enter in these sites. Occupational exposure limits expect workers of oxidizers such as nitrates to be provided with labels and safety sheets, be well trained on how to handle chemicals appropriately, be informed on the causes of the hazards by these chemicals, and provided information on how to protect themselves.
Process safety management standards requirements
For the purpose of keeping workers of industries that deal with toxic oxidizers, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 (1994)as laid several requirements concerning safety management that associate with the products that incorporate storing, manufacturing, handling or moving these hazardous chemicals on the workplaces. This safety management process helps in prevention of any unwanted release of toxic, flammable, hazardous, or explosive substances into places that would put workers or the general population of the community to serious risk.
According to standards set, effective controls prevents employees from workplace hazards generally prevent illness, injuries and incidents; eliminate or minimize health and safety risks and enable employers to provide the employee with healthy and safe working conditions. Regarding this, employers are required to ensure employees play a visible and robust role in the participation of organization analysis and granting them access to other essential information as expected in the standards set. More so, the employee needs to create and foster workplaces where employees feel free to interact so that they can speak up any concern about safety and health ideas improvements or any other concern; this can be achieved by showing concern and holding meeting where employees will be adequately encouraged to share their opinions on safety and health issues. Also, managers need to create policies that are visible throughout the organization. This may concern areas of working, meeting rooms, rests rooms etc.
Importance of PSM standards to my facility
As it has been the case, several cases of unfortunate tragedies have occurred at industrial possessing facilities throughout the globe. The unexpected release of reactive, toxic and flammable gasses and liquids have been reported for many years, and the outcome of the danger is serious and ever-present. To provide cover protection for such incidences never to occur again, OSHA has laid down applicable ways of storing, handling and moving oxidizing agents. In my facility, availing similar rules would be of great help as it outlines how workers have to carry out themselves and providing training in handling such hazardous chemicals. This would reduce the rate of being ignorant in handling or moving these chemical. Also, these standards will enable in developing and implementing standards operating procedures that would ensure all employees are safe handling nitric acid.
Conclusion
Outlaying and implementing the standards sets by OSHA is essential for an organization to keep the employees safe as this standard lays ways in which toxic or hazardous chemicals are to be a store, handled, manufactured and also used. This will help reduce cases of having potential risk hazards associated with cases of mishandling these chemicals. With these kinds of guidelines put up in place for an organization to follow, it enhances good and guarantees safe working conditions for everyone.
Bibliography
Foster, J. (1981). OSHA standards. Science (New York, N.Y.), 213(4510), 818-819.
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.119(1994) Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals; Compliance Guidelines and Enforcement Procedures.
Samunual, P., & Bergbreiter, D. (2016). Recyclable soluble polyisobutylene-bound oxidizing agents. Tetrahedron Letters, 57(30), 3272-3276.
Name
Institution Affiliation
Process Safety Management for Common Oxidizers
Oxidizing materials are chemical compounds that readily release oxygen or other oxidizing substance when they come onto contact or react with another substance.
Chemical Properties
The easily noted chemical property for oxidizers is that when these substances or any substance containing oxidizing properties come into contact with chemically oxidizable inorganic or organic substance could result in dangerous reactions causing explosion, fire, or formation of other substance that may be hazardous (Samunual & Bergbreiter, 2016). For instance, in the case of nitric acid, when getting into contact with organic compounds, it reacts violently, and the reaction may be explosive as a result of simultaneous oxidation and nitration reactions. On the other hand, Perchlorate, when reacted with organic basis, forms salts that are dangerously corrosive and readily explosive in nature.
Uses
Oxidizing agents have a huge demand for use in industrial processes. They are used in processes such as bleaching fabrics, purifying water, storing energy, and production of other chemical substances. For instance, chief uses of nitric acid in the industry are in the preparation of fertilizers like ammonium nitrate and explosive and manufacturing of other chemicals. Oxidizing agents have used in baking processes, as they are used to enhance the quality of flour, therefore, enabling better production and larger loaves.
Primary hazards of common oxidizers
The globally harmonized system classifies and labels chemicals to have three separate classifications for any oxidizer. Classification and labeling are categorized as solids, liquids, and gasses. Each of these classifications is considered to have its own toxicity that may vary to others. Generally, oxidizers pose the greatest risk during fire due to their capability to intensify the combustion process. Although most oxidizing materials do not burn by them, they have a high rate of potential to have significant high chances of higher combustion when introduced to combustible materials. Materials that boost the combustion can be informed of liquids, gases, or solids. Either way, also gaseous states of these oxidizers poses a threat to breathing processes and can also irritate body organs like eyes and lungs. On the other part, nitric acid is highly corrosive when it comes to contact with human skin.
Important occupational exposure limits associates with common oxidizers
Occupational exposure limits layout interpretations of the workplace in catering for health risks contents as it serves as a health-based benchmark. It introduces the setting and protects workers exposed to hazardous chemicals (OSHA Standards 29 CFR 1919.119, 1994). Similarly, measures are also taken to cater for workers working in oxidizing plants as chemical and toxic substances pose a wide range of health and physical hazards. In handling persulphates, it formulates that manufacturers of these products need to evaluate the hazards of the chemical they import or produce and sheets and labels that convey the hazard information concerning the chemical to downstream users.
In preparation of nitric acid, it states that these facilities need to be designed with a specific location for handling such oxidizers (Foster, 1981). These products need to be labeled appropriately and fixed with warning signs for workers or new visitors who mat enter in these sites. Occupational exposure limits expect workers of oxidizers such as nitrates to be provided with labels and safety sheets, be well trained on how to handle chemicals appropriately, be informed on the causes of the hazards by these chemicals, and provided information on how to protect themselves.
Process safety management standards requirements
For the purpose of keeping workers of industries that deal with toxic oxidizers, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 (1994)as laid several requirements concerning safety management that associate with the products that incorporate storing, manufacturing, handling or moving these hazardous chemicals on the workplaces. This safety management process helps in prevention of any unwanted release of toxic, flammable, hazardous, or explosive substances into places that would put workers or the general population of the community to serious risk.
According to standards set, effective controls prevents employees from workplace hazards generally prevent illness, injuries and incidents; eliminate or minimize health and safety risks and enable employers to provide the employee with healthy and safe working conditions. Regarding this, employers are required to ensure employees play a visible and robust role in the participation of organization analysis and granting them access to other essential information as expected in the standards set. More so, the employee needs to create and foster workplaces where employees feel free to interact so that they can speak up any concern about safety and health ideas improvements or any other concern; this can be achieved by showing concern and holding meeting where employees will be adequately encouraged to share their opinions on safety and health issues. Also, managers need to create policies that are visible throughout the organization. This may concern areas of working, meeting rooms, rests rooms etc.
Importance of PSM standards to my facility
As it has been the case, several cases of unfortunate tragedies have occurred at industrial possessing facilities throughout the globe. The unexpected release of reactive, toxic and flammable gasses and liquids have been reported for many years, and the outcome of the danger is serious and ever-present. To provide cover protection for such incidences never to occur again, OSHA has laid down applicable ways of storing, handling and moving oxidizing agents. In my facility, availing similar rules would be of great help as it outlines how workers have to carry out themselves and providing training in handling such hazardous chemicals. This would reduce the rate of being ignorant in handling or moving these chemical. Also, these standards will enable in developing and implementing standards operating procedures that would ensure all employees are safe handling nitric acid.
Conclusion
Outlaying and implementing the standards sets by OSHA is essential for an organization to keep the employees safe as this standard lays ways in which toxic or hazardous chemicals are to be a store, handled, manufactured and also used. This will help reduce cases of having potential risk hazards associated with cases of mishandling these chemicals. With these kinds of guidelines put up in place for an organization to follow, it enhances good and guarantees safe working conditions for everyone.
Bibliography
Foster, J. (1981). OSHA standards. Science (New York, N.Y.), 213(4510), 818-819.
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.119(1994) Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals; Compliance Guidelines and Enforcement Procedures.
Samunual, P., & Bergbreiter, D. (2016). Recyclable soluble polyisobutylene-bound oxidizing agents. Tetrahedron Letters, 57(30), 3272-3276.