Health & Safety at

Work
Hazards from Aerosols
 Objective

 To understand the hazards associated with

aerosol products.
 Understand how to control these hazards in
the workplace.
 Safe aerosol handling.
 Fire triangle

HEAT SOURCE FUEL SUPPLY

 Hazards

EXPLOSIONS

FIRE

MISSILES
 Hazardous
Material

 Liquid Petroleum Gas as propellant

 Product base – possibly alcohol or

similar flammable liquid.
 Flashpoint

“ The lowest temperature of a

liquid at which the vapour
given of forms a flammable
mixture with oxygen in the air”
 Auto - Ignition

 Temperature required to cause ignition of

flammable liquids / vapours.
 Typically greater than 400 degrees C.
 Generally in open conditions (workplace)
temperatures required for auto-ignition
are much higher.
 Pressurised
Containers
 Propellant provides about 3 bar pressure in cans.
 Vapour pressure increases if temperature of can
contents increase.
 Cans typically designed to survive 16 bar
pressure.
 At 70 – 80 degrees pressure will cause cans to
burst.
 Top / bottom of can distorts first.
 Tin plate cans – top / bottom flies off = missiles.
 Aluminium cans usually split on body.
 Behaviour of cans
In fire

 Fire around can heats contents very quickly.

 Internal pressure rises.
 Can distorts.
 Can bursts.
 Flammable contents instantaneously released.
 Fireball created.
 Can fragments ejected as missiles.
The aftermath!
Total Devastation!
 Basic Principles
Of Safety

“ The fundamental safety philosophy which

ensures that an item of equipment can be
operated, or an operation performed, in a
safe manner with risks that area as low as
practicable”
 Basis of safety

 Preventive measures i.e. prevention of

the initiation of fire or explosion.
 Protective measures i.e. acceptance that
a fire or explosion can arise but aim to
control the consequences.

 Decision is based on Risk versus

Likelihood and Consequences.
 Preventive
Measures

 Avoidance of flammable atmospheres

 (So no hazard, or else flammable volume
insufficient to be an explosion hazard)

 Elimination of ignition sources

 Protective
Measures

 Extinguishment of fires.
 Containment / control of fires.
 Containment of explosion.
 Explosion suppression.
 Explosion venting.
 Consider this!!

Wrapped packs of cans on pallets, in

racking or on the floor.
Pallets moved by Mechanical Handling
Equipment or by automated systems.

What are the potential fire hazards?

 Fire Hazards

 Ignition of leak from aerosols

• (propellant or product base)

 Ignition of packaging material.

 Fire on MHE.
 Fire in battery charging area.
Are there any
potential
explosion risks?
 Explosion
Hazards

 Cans spontaneously bursting

 Faulty products
 Cans overheated in storage

 Cans releasing propellant to form

flammable atmospheres
 Leaking cans taken into storage
 Cans damaged during handling
 Ignition Sources
(Generic)

 Naked flames

 Electrical sparks

 Impact sparks

 Static electricity

 Hot surfaces
 Ignition Sources
(Specific)

 Sparks or hot surfaces from fixed electrical

equipment.
 Sparks or hot surfaces from MHE or cranes.
 Sparks from an impact involving MHE or
crane e.g. forks hitting nail in a pallet.
 Static electricity.
 Hot work
 Smokers’ material
 Fire Protection

AVOID CAUSING CANS TO LEAK;

 Care when mechanical handling.

 Care when stacking pallets on racks.

 Minimum exposure to high temperature.

 Fire Protection

IDENTIFYING LEAKING CANS;

 Wet Packs.
 Smells of perfume.
 MHE accidents / fallen pallets.
 Checks before moving pallets.
 Manual checks on individual cans.
 Loading and unloading wrapping machines.
 Fire Protection

IF / WHEN LEAKING CANS ARE FOUND;

 Remove to outdoor reject bin / cage

 Remove pallets to outside before breaking.
 Do not move pallet with electric MHE – use
hand pallet truck.
 Fire Protection

IF A PALLET CONTAINING AEROSOLS IS

DROPPED OR HIT BY MHE;

 Immediately STOP!
 Switch off MHE.
 Identify leaking cans and remove by
hand.
REMEMBER!
 Aerosols are perfectly safe IF handled with
care.
 Safe working practices and adherence to safe
working systems are essential.
 Do not take risks!
 If you are unsure about any situation then
cease work, turn off MHE and seek
guidance.
WORK SAFELY – ALWAYS!
 Report all accidents, incidents and near
misses immediately.
 Ensure your colleagues are also working
safely and not taking unnecessary risks.
 Do not allow the pressure of work to force
you to take short cuts.