633-Hazardous Substances / 748
H
a
z
ardous Substances
BOS-PRD-0304.900903
Version 04. Original date: 25/05/012. Version date: 31/12/2014. Valid version only on QMS site. Uncontrolled document when printed.
Procedure prepared by: BOS Environmental coordinator. Approved by: BOS QHSES Manager. Validated by: BOS Quality Representative
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4
D
escri
p
tion
4
.1
E
x
p
osure to
h
a
z
ardous substances
Hazardous substances are used in many work places and take many different forms: solids, liquids, gases,
mists and fumes can be present in the work place.
The route and rate of entry of hazardous substances into the body usually determines the degree of harmful
effect. There are two types of effects of hazardous substances - immediate and long term. For the long-term
effects, it can often be difficult to say when the problem actually began or where it was caused.
Hazardous substances may be:
x
Absorbed
–
penetrate the skin, either through cuts or if they are fat solvents through intact skin;
x
Ingested
–
into the body via the mouth, often as a result of poor standards of hygiene;
x
Inhaled
–
through the respiratory system
because the respiratory system is a very efficient method of
transferring materials from the environment into the body
.
Some hazardous substances cause health hazards from a single dose and others from an accumulation of
smaller doses or from continuous exposure over long periods. The effects may be acute illness or a chronic
long-term disease. Alternatively, it can be an immediate effect injury such as burns, loss of consciousness,
coma and even fatality.
4
.
2
Stora
g
e o
f
h
a
z
ardous substances
4
.
2
.1
G
eneral considerations
The importance of the proper storage of Hazardous Substances on board ship should not be
underestimated. A wide variety of them, which are commonly used in the marine industry, can react violently
together should the packaging become damaged or involved in a fire. The following points
should
be
considered:
x
Stora
g
e areas
–
such areas
should
be arranged so that in the event of a spillage or leakage the
substance concerned is contained locally and does not react violently with any nearby substances or
materials. The following routines
should
be undertaken :
o
retention trays placed under hazardous substances (the capacity of trays
should
be suitable
for containing spillage) ;
o
absorbents available in storage areas to be used as fast as possible in case of leakage
(absorbents are perishable products, check periodically expiring date). After using,
aborbents
shall
be placed in appropriate receptacles.
x
Se
g
re
g
ation
–
substances
shall
be stored as required in
§4.2.2 Hazardous Substances Segregation
Table
. Flammable materials usually need to be stored away from other materials and protected from
accidental ignition. Precautions for handling and storage contained in the Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS)
shall
be respected. If substances have different pictograms, use the most restrictive
storage requirement.
x
Sa
f
e sto
w
a
g
e/Stora
g
e at
h
ei
g
h
t -
all stores
should
be securely stowed. If materials are stored at
height (e.g. on shelving) make sure necessary guard rails are in place to stop items falling and, if the
storage area is fitted with a fixed sprinkler system, ensure that the maximum stowage height limit is
adhered to at all times.
x
Tidiness
- keep all storage areas tidy, whether in designated stores areas or at a workstation on
board the ship;
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