Growing industries across Australia including mining , oil and gas, petrochemical, metallurgy and heavy manufacturing has seen a huge increase in the use of caustic liquids and chemical solvents in the manufacturing and maintenance process of many business.
From chemical separations, Alkylation, Electripolishing. Anodising, Phosphating, Caustic cleaning through to fuel management all require the material handling of potentially dangerous chemicals that can cause life threating burns from chemical splash.
Each industrial sector uses many chemical agents in its manufacturing processes such as:
Coatings - paints, solvents, resins, polyurethanes, oils.
Surfactants - hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, acetic acid.
Bases - sodium and potassium hydroxides, lime ; solvents ; colorants and wastes.
Mechanical liquids - Engine coolants, heat transfer fluids, oil soluble colorants, hydraulic fluids, fuel additives.
Machinery Fuels - Jet A-1, Diesel, Naphtha, Engine oils, all of which a major chemical splash risk.
What are the chemical splash danger areas?
Petrochemical
- Operations : Handling chemicals or adding chemical agents.
- Inspection : Handling mistakes when testing or analysing the products and sampling.
- Stock Management : Unloading, storing, and transfer of chemicals from a container or a tank to another one.
- Maintenance : Operations of draining, cleaning, sanitation, and purging.
Mining, Oil and Gas
- Solvent extraction: Separation of one or more substances from a mixture by treating an aqueous solution of the mixture
- with a solvent that will extract the required substances, leaving the other undesirable materials behind.
- Leaching: Extracting a soluble metallic compound from an ore by selectively dissolving it in a suitable solvent, such a
- water, sulfuric acid, or sodium cyanide solution.
- Refining: Electrolytic or chemical process that produces a pure metal.
- Flotation: Chemicals are added to a crushed ore-water slurry to recover the mineral.
Heavy Manufacturing
- Plant Operations: Use of chemicals such as adhesives, acids, bases and cleaning chemicals
- Manufacturing: electrochemical and chemical milling, Corrosion inhibition liquids, Heat transfer fluids and coolants, Oil soluble colorants, Hydraulic fluids, Fuel additives �?? efficient and ecological
- Maintenance: Solvents used for different tasks of preparation of surfaces, such as cleaning, degreasing and pickling
Metallurgy
- Electropolishing : commonly used electrochemical method for smoothing, polishing, deburring and cleaning various metals.
- Aqueous cleaning : the workpieces are placed in this process solution for several minutes.
- Pickling : pickling is a chemical procedure used to brighten and/or remove oxides from the metallic surface prior to other surface treatment processes with an acid-based pickling agent.
- Anodising : the anodising of metals is an electrolytic surface oxidation process which enhances the natural aptitude for the metal to oxidise.
- Phosphating : The treatment of a surface with a diluted solution of hot phosphoric acid allows its passivation
What is the best way to protect your team?
To protect operational teams responsible for handling chemicals onsite there has been an increase in development of chemical splash and Hazmat apparel designed to withstand splash and gaseous dangers face during the handling of chemical materials.
The latest generation of Chemical Splash Suit fabrics are constructed with a breathable hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE laminate made from a high performance, high quality 5 layer breathable fabric manufactured specifically for the requirements for chemical splash protection. These fabrics allow heat vapour to transfer through the fabric while preventing liquid penetration by a variety of chemicals. As these materials allow the body to �??breathe�??, so your perspiration can evaporate reducing the possibility of heat stress and therefore improving wearer comfort.
The multiple layers in these new fabrics include a Chemical, Oil, Soil Repellant treatment on the Outer Fabric, 300D Oxford Outer Fabric, Moisture Vapour Permeable PU Hydrophilic Coating, Moisture Vapour Permeable Microporous PTFE Film Membrane and Tricot Nylon Knit Liner.
Chemical Splash suits made from Chemtech have been highly tested to ensure that they provide high protection against chemical splash including to the following standards AS4602.1999, EN471:2008, EN1149-1:1995, AS2755.1-1985, AS/NZS ISO 6530-2006, AS3765.1:1990 and GB12012-1989. Chemtech fabrics have also been tested against liquid chemicals including Hydrochloric Acid 37%, Sodium Hydroxide 40%, Jet Fuel A1 100%, Sulphuric Acid 98% Toluene, Tetrachloroethylene and Nitric Acid 50%.
Elliotts is an Australian based designer, manufacturer and distributor of world-class quality safety gear servicing the Australasian market. Elliotts take care to only supply quality protective clothing and equipment that protect people from harm on a daily basis. Products include Specialist Safety Apparel, Welding & Workshop Protection, Gloves & Hand Protection, Safety Workwear & PPE for workers across industries including ELECTRICAL, MINING, OIL & GAS, WELDING & METAL FABRICATION, ALUMINIUM SMELTING, FIRE FIGHTING, CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION. For more information visit www.elliottaustralia.com.