Health and Safety Executive

Non-dyestuff chemicals: Safe handling in textile finishing

Dyeing and Finishing Information Sheet No 2 - HSE information sheet

Contents

Introduction

This Information Sheet is part of a series. You will need to read it together with Sheet No 1 Dyes and chemicals in textile finishing: An introduction which gives background information on hazards, risk assessment and relevant law.

This guidance was written with the assistance of the Textiles Industry Advisory Committee (TEXIAC). The aim of TEXIAC is to help protect employees and others from hazards to their health and safety arising from work activity. It brings together representatives from employers' associations and trade unions under the chairmanship of HSE to produce sound, practical advice to meet the industry's specific needs.

Background

The dyeing and finishing of textiles, even when carried out on a small scale, can involve the use of a large range of chemical products. Some of these products will be hazardous to health or safety and you will need to have made a formal assessment of the risks they present to your employees.

A logical approach to this assessment is to look at each stage of the industrial process and to consider the potential risks associated with each one.

Outlined below are risks typical to the dyeing and finishing industries together with risk control measures likely to be appropriate. The list is not exhaustive and highlights only those risks arising from the toxicological and chemical properties of the substances in use. Take care to include risks arising from other sources in your overall risk assessment, particularly those connected with the manual handling of loads.

Bulk delivery

Risk

Tanks may be either overfilled or filled with the wrong substance.

Precautions

  • Label tanks clearly with their contents.
  • Draw up a written procedure to cover every stage from the arrival of the road tanker at the factory gates to its eventual departure. Include a description of the route to the relevant filling inlet point; identification of the point and the tank to be filled; the procedure for checking that ullage space is adequate; together with any appropriate coupling, discharging, uncoupling, hose draining and cleaning routines.
  • Agree the procedure with the supplier so that there is no uncertainty over 'who does what'. Keep them informed if you make any relevant changes. One of your employees should be present during a delivery.

Storage

Risk

When mixed, certain chemicals may react in a hazardous way. They may react violently, generate much heat, or evolve toxic gases.

Precautions

  • Make sure you know which chemicals in your inventory are incompatible. Read the safety data sheet from your supplier. As a rule of thumb, acids should be kept separate from alkalis and oxidising agents from reducing agents. However, incompatibilities within the same class of chemical also exist.1
  • Organise your store so that incompatible chemicals are kept in segregated, marked product bays.

Risk

Fire may arise from ignition of stored flammable substances. The level of precautions you need to take will depend on the degree of flammability of the substances in question. Detailed guidance is available.2,3 However, in general terms:

Precautions

  • Small quantities of flammable liquids may be stored in the workroom in a fire-resisting cupboard or bin. Mark the outside to indicate that it contains flammables.
  • Larger quantities of flammable liquids should be stored either in the open air or in an outside store or in a separate fire-resisting room constructed in accordance with published guidance.2
  • Smoking should be prohibited, particularly in any area where flammables are stored.
  • Provide adequate ventilation at low levels in storage areas to disperse heavy vapours.
  • Ensure that adequate means of escape from the store are maintained.

Risk

An existing fire may be made considerably worse if an oxidising agent is involved. When heated in a fire, many of these substances decompose with the liberation of oxygen which can cause an increase in the rate of burning.

Precautions

  • Store oxidising agents away from reducing agents and from flammable and combustible materials.
  • Do not exceed the storage time limits, particularly for solid oxidising agents, since this increases the likelihood of decomposition.

Risk

Some substances, such as sodium hydrosulphite (Hydros), may react violently if contaminated with a small quantity of water.

Precautions

  • Substances which are dangerous when wet should be stored under cover and off the floor. Container lids should always be kept in place.

Risk

Serious consequences may arise from accidental spillages.

Precautions

  • Where liquids are stored in bulk tanks, provide a catchment area, suitably lined, and capable of containing the total volume of the tank. Any drainage outlet from a bunded area should be arranged so that it cannot be left open by accident.
  • In product bays where liquids are stored in small containers, provide sills to hold back spillage. These should be ramped to ensure ease of transport over them.
  • Provide drainage sufficient to cope with regular hosing down and inadvertent spillage. Remember to take into account possible environmental risks.
  • Lay down safe systems of work for coping with major spillages, particularly of flammables or corrosives.

Dispensing

It is often convenient to locate a number of dispensing points around the factory to minimise travel distances to machines. However, these should not be allowed to spring up on an ad hoc basis. Dispensing areas need to be well laid-out, with plenty of space to work in.

Risk

Splashes of chemicals or very hot water may cause burns.

Precautions

  • Consider your overall strategy for dispensing hazardous substances. If not already in use, consider introducing enclosed chemical handling systems.
  • Do not pour acids and other corrosives straight from small chemical containers into buckets and jugs. It is difficult to pour in a controlled way and the liquid is likely to splashback as air tries to replace the displaced volume in the container. Instead, use proper discharge valves, powered or hand pumps, ensuring adequate provision for venting. Alternatively mount the container on a pivoting cradle so that tipping can be controlled.
  • Always add acids and corrosives to water, never the other way around.
  • Provide appropriate personal protective equipment. This includes gloves, overalls or aprons, work boots and eye protection, all of which should be chemical resistant.
  • Instruct employees in the proper use of the equipment you provide; give unambiguous rules as to when it must be used; and then ensure equipment is used.
  • Consider how you would provide emergency first aid in the event of a chemical splash. Is there for instance a plentiful supply of running water near to each dispensing point which could be used to douse a casualty in an emergency?

Risk

Chemical cross contamination of incompatible substances may result in a violent reaction.

Precautions

  • Always use clean and dry scoops and buckets.

Risk

People may suffer ill health if exposed to airborne chemicals with irritant or other toxic properties.

Precautions

  • Keep containers of chemicals such as ammonia and formaldehyde-based resins closed.
  • Ensure that ventilation in the chemical handling area is adequate to remove any gases or vapours released.

Risk

Dermatitis may result from prolonged exposure of the skin to chemicals and water.

Precautions

  • Make sure that suitable gloves are worn to prevent skin contact with chemicals.
  • Provide washing facilities of a good standard.
  • Provide and encourage the use of a conditioning cream to replace oil and moisture in the skin after washing.
  • Prohibit the use of organic solvent or neat hypochlorite bleach to clean dye stains from the skin. Sodium hydrosulphite solution or a cleansing cream that contains sodium hydrosulphite should be used (unless the stains are from a dye which may regenerate a carcinogen if treated with a reducing agent). If staining is very stubborn, diluted bleach may be used providing the skin is then neutralised with sodium hydrosulphite and rinsed thoroughly.
  • Inform employees of the characteristic signs of dermatitis. Encourage them to self-inspect their skin and report any symptoms. Refer any suspected cases of dermatitis promptly to an occupational health adviser or family doctor.

Transport by bucket

Risk

Splashes from buckets may result in burns to feet and legs.

Precautions

  • Use lidded buckets when carrying hot or corrosive liquids any distance.
  • Keep floors in good repair to avoid tripping hazards. Floors of tile or brick are less prone to chemical corrosion than concrete. Provide spillage trays at dispensing points.
  • Chemical-resistant overalls or a long apron should cover the top of open-topped workboots to deflect spillages.

Piped delivery systems

Many of the risks mentioned above in connection with dispensing and transport can be avoided if a piped delivery system is used to convey chemicals directly from bulk storage to process points. However, such a system presents risks of its own.

Risk

Pipes and joints may leak.

Precautions

  • Use industrial pipework and fittings of suitable material and type for the substance being conveyed. Do not use push-fit connections or domestic compression fittings.
  • Pipework should be adequately supported. Protect any sections which may be vulnerable to mechanical damage.
  • Use spring-loaded valves which cannot be left open.

Risk

Accidents may occur if mistakes are made during maintenance work upon the system.

Precautions

  • Clearly label or colour mark the pipework according to the chemical it conveys.
  • When breaking into transfer lines and during some other maintenance work, safety will rely on people following a number of steps in sequence. These should ensure that the worker is wearing suitable protective equipment and that the plant being worked upon is effectively drained and isolated. Where such tasks are routinely undertaken, prepare written procedures and consider instituting a permit-to-work system.

Addition of 'Hydros' to process vessels

The addition of sodium hydrosulphite, also known as sodium dithionite or 'Hydros' to process vessels continues to give rise to a number of serious injuries. These have generally arisen when the substance has been added at too great a rate and has solidified into a plug. The subsequent reaction is often so violent that it causes the contents to erupt over the side of the vessel.

Risk

Hydros may react violently upon addition to a vessel

Precautions

  • Lay down a safe system of work for the addition of Hydros, particularly for cleaning dye vessels.
  • Do not add Hydros to an item of plant that has previously contained an oxidising agent such as hydrogen peroxide unless it has been thoroughly rinsed first.
  • Always dispense Hydros into clean, dry containers.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation to remove the fumes of sulphur dioxide which are likely to be evolved upon addition.
  • Always ensure Hydros is adequately diluted and that any lumps are broken up. Consider fixing a mechanical mixer to any vessel which regularly has Hydros introduced to it.

Other Information Sheets in the Dyeing and Finishing series

No 1 Dyes and chemicals in textile finishing: An introduction

No 3 Dyestuffs: Safe handling in textile finishing

No 4 Hazards from dyes and chemicals in textile finishing: A brief guide for employees

*No 5 Reactive dyes: Safe handling in textile finishing

*No 6 Dust control in dyestuff handling

* To be published early 1997

Textiles Information Sheets are available from the Textiles, Clothing and Laundries NIG, HSE, 8 St Paul's St, Leeds LS1 2LE. They are also available from HSE Books (see Further information for details).

References

  1. Storage of packaged dangerous substances HS(G)71 HSE Books 1992 ISBN 0 11 885989 7
  2. The storage of flammable liquids in containers HS(G)51 HSE Books 1990 ISBN 0 7176 0481 0
  3. The safe use and handling of flammable liquids HS(G)140 HSE Books 1996 ISBN 0 7176 0967 7

Further reading

General COSHH ACOP (Control of substances hazardous to health) and Carcinogens ACOP (Control of carcinogenic substances) and Biological agents ACOP (Control of biological agents). Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994. Approved Codes of Practice L5 HSE Books 1995 ISBN 0 7176 0819 0

Personal protective equipment at work. Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 992. Guidance on Regulations L25 HSE Books 1992 ISBN 0 7176 0415 2

Further information

HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995.

HSE priced publications are also available from good booksellers.

For other enquiries ring HSE's InfoLine Tel: 0845 345 0055 or write to HSE's Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ.

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. Health and Safety inspectors seek to secure compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.

This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. The information it contains is current at 6/96. Please acknowledge the source as HSE.

Printed and published by HSE 6/96 TIS2 C100

Further help: Contact HSE Infoline: Telephone 0845 345 0055

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