How to reduce the risk of flammable liquids in the workplace

How To Reduce The Risk Of Flammable Liquids In The Workplace Of the nine classes of dangerous goods, class 3 ammable liquids would have to be one of the most commonly used dangerous goods. Flammable and combustible liquids are found in almost every workplace. One reason why ammable liquids are used so frequently is because they readily combust and release energy. This energy can be successfully harnessed and used to power engines in power stations, automobiles, earth movers, generators and many other machines. Flammable liquids also have many other good uses. They are often the vital ingredients in cleaning agents, thinners, solvents, glues and adhesives, polishes, waxes, paints and varnishes. Even though ammable liquids have many good uses in our modern society, they also have the potential to cause a lot of harm to people, property and the environment if they are not managed in a safe and compliant manner. Flammable liquids are liquids that give off ammable vapours at relatively low temperatures. The Australian Dangerous Goods Code De nes ammable liquids as:

Flammable liquids are liquids, or mixtures of liquids, or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension (for example, paints, varnishes, lacquers, etc., but not including substances otherwise classi ed on account of their dangerous characteristics) which give off a ammable vapour at temperatures of not more than 60 °C, closed-cup test, or not more than 65.6 °C, open-cup test, normally referred to as the ash point. This class also includes:

(a)

liquids offered for transport at temperatures at or above their ash point; and

(b)

substances that are transported or offered for transport at elevated temperatures in a liquid state and which give off a ammable vapour at a temperature at or below the maximum transport temperature.

The ability of ammable liquids to give off ammable vapours at room temperatures make them very dangerous in our workplaces. Flammable liquids do not combust themselves, but the ammable vapours that they release are combustible. For a combustion reaction to take place, only 4% of the air has to be lled with a ammable vapour and brought into contact with an ignition source. After the ammable vapours have ignited, they will spontaneously burn until the ammable liquid is completely vapourised. This process can take a long time and release a lot of heat. This heat can cause other combustible materials in the workplace to burn and cause a lot of destruction. Workplace re also has the ability to cause death. As other materials in the workplace start to combust, they can produce a lot of smoke. Breathing in this smoke will cause you to asphyxiate and pass out, and hence not be able to escape the re.

How to Reduce the Risk of Flammable Liquids in the Workplace

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