Step 2 of 5•12 minutes read
Identifying and Avoiding Risks and Hazards
When completely cured and in normal usage, ready-made thermosetting plastics do not cause any health hazards. However, hazardous particles can be released when grinding, cutting or welding on cured epoxy paints.
Many of the components used in epoxy paints are highly reactive and often biologically active. Thus certain resins (e.g. epoxy, phenol and acrylic resins) can produce powerful skin-allergy effects. Additionally, many of the hardeners can cause allergies or irritation to the skin, respiratory tract and eyes. Hardeners frequently cause hypersensitivity reactions in the respiratory tract. All-in-all this makes risk awareness and taking appropriate measures a necessity when handling thermosetting plastics.
Risk Assessment
Every use of epoxy paint on board requires a rigorous risk assessment. This should include a careful examination of potential dangers and health risks, to determine suitable precautions. The aim is to mitigate risks, minimise accidents and improve health on board the ship.
The key to risk assessments is identifying hazards present at the place of work. It should also estimate risks potentially caused by work activity. Any existing safety measures and precautions should be acknowledged, such as:
- Working permits.
- Access restrictions.
- Use of warning signs.
- Agreed procedures.
- Personal protective equipment.
There are four steps in performing a risk assessment; First, identify the risks and hazards, followed by estimating how serious they could potentially be. The next step is identifying precautionary measures and finally implementing those measures methodically.
Did you know that entering a tank is considered a major risk? Photo: Jörgen Spång
Identifying Risks and Hazards
Ensure that everyone involved in the upcoming work at hand reads the suppliers' safety data sheet. This should provide a sufficient understanding of the substance's inherent properties to take necessary precautions. For risk assessment purposes, the dangerous substances can be divided into the following hazard areas:
Please note that the severity of potential injuries can vary from superficial, e.g. respiratory or skin irritations, to serious or even fatal risks. Also, reactions can occur immediately or occur over a long time period of up to years after exposure.
By estimating the consequence and probability of accidents or injuries in a given situation, risks can be assessed. If one or both consequence and probability are high, the outlined approach entails too high risks. In many cases, risks can not be eliminated. However, risks can be cut to an acceptable level. In most cases, this is done by reducing the probability which is usually easier than reducing the consequences. For example, one of the risks when mixing paint is inhalation. To reduce the probability of inhaling a harmful amount of the fumes, the mixing can take place in a well-ventilated area that should dilute the harmful chemicals to below the level that will impact the worker.
Safety Measures
Safety measures – or safeguards – can be divided into "hard" and “soft” safeguards. Both are equally important, although hard safeguards tend to be more effective. One example is the mechanical ventilation in the paint store that draws out the dangerous gases (a hard safeguard), which is generally more effective at preventing poisoning than a warning sign saying "Caution - Hazardous Chemicals Within" posted on the door.
Use personal protective equipment, if needed! Photo: Jörgen Spång
The Hierarchy of Safeguards
Implementing Safety Measures
Methodically implement safeguards before starting the task at hand. If you discover a risk or hazard that may be prevented by a "hard" safeguard that is currently unavailable, you may have to rely on procedures or PPE in the meantime.
There may be some circumstances where the risks can not be successfully mitigated and the consequences are too high. In these instances, work should be prevented from occurring until such a time that the correct safeguards are in place to preserve human life. This should not be viewed as "refusing to work" but more as "only working when it is safe to do so." Working in this way promotes a positive safety culture onboard.