How to identify and mitigate fire hazards in chemical warehouses
Chemical management training as preventive measure
On 6 March, another fire incident took place at a chemical warehouse in a garment factory in Gazipur, Bangladesh. Sadly one worker was killed, allegedly from asphyxiation, and several dozen workers were injured.
While the cause of the incident is under investigation and unknown as of time of writing, a fire out-break at a chemical warehouse, or at any facility where chemicals are stored, can pose high levels of danger to the workers on-site and any residents nearby. To minimise fire risks at a chemical warehouse or production site, a robust chemical management system should be in place to:
- Identify and assess the hazards and risks of the different chemicals
- Determine and implement the recommended control approaches to reduce the risk of incident and protect the workers
Without a robust chemical management system, dangerous situations might not be identified and controlled, such as the inappropriate presence of poor or faulty electrical installations inside the chemical warehouse. Indeed, sparks from those electrical installations could ignite a fire or trigger an explosion if there is a high concentration of flammable chemicals in a confined space. To avoid such disaster, segregation of incompatible chemicals and regular ventilation are essential, among other control approaches.
Taking reference from the Chemical Management Toolkit by GIZ, a reputable German not-for-profit- organisation driving sustainable development globally, "any electrical installations in the store such as switches, switchboards, light fittings or cables have to be insulated and “explosion proof”. In the best scenario, switches should be placed outside the chemical store."
Progressively eliminating hazardous chemicals used in the materials production process and ensuring a safe working environment for workers is a key priority in the materials supply chain. To help equip buyers and suppliers with chemical management system knowledge, our chemical expert has designed a series of online courses covering topics such as understanding the chemical challenges in the materials supply chain, leadership and management roles in CMS, chemical risk assessment and much more.
