How to reduce the risk of flammable liquids in the workplace

A Methodology For Managing Risk

As ammable liquids pose many risks upon the people, property and environment of your workplace, it is very important that you have a risk management process in place to mitigate the risk that ammable liquids pose upon your workplace. A methodology that STOREMASTA has developed can be used to control the risks associated with ammable liquids. This methodology is called:

Identify Assess Control Sustain

Identify If you don’t know what hazards are present in your workplace, you won’t be able to take any action to reduce them. A hazard is an event that will hinder you from reaching your objectives. If your organisation’s objective is “Zero Harm” then a hazard is anything that will hinder you from achieving the state of zero harm. Therefore the risk management process starts by rstly identifying the potential hazards associated with the ammable liquids in your workplace. To carry out this part of the risk management process successfully, you must go into your workplace and physically identify all the areas on your premises where ammable liquids are stored or used. A good way to do this is to print off a oor plan of your premise and then mark in all the locations where ammable liquids are present.

Some common places where ammable liquids are stored or used are in areas where: Petrol/diesel powered machines are used and serviced Paints are mixed and applied Greasy metals are cleaned with solvents • • •

Each time you identify a location in your workplace where ammable liquids are stored you must also identify any hazards that may be present. There are a number of hazards that ammable liquids may present. These hazards are outlined below:

• • • •

the potential to burn or explode when ignited the potential to undergo a spontaneous reaction the potential to react with other chemicals or water the immediate, delayed or long-term health effects on humans or animals through inhalation, skin absorption or ingestion the effect on the environment, including aquatic life The potential corrosive chemical action on other materials, in particular, packagings and living tissue (including skin)

Flammability Instability Reactivity Toxicity

• •

Environmental impact Corrosivity

How to Reduce the Risk of Flammable Liquids in the Workplace

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