Unido tool kit 6-textbook

U N I D O C L E A N E R P R O D U C T I O N T O O L K I T

UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

6

Green procurement and hazardous materials

Main directorym

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Textbook 6 – Green Procurement and Hazardous Materials

6 A- Background Material

6 A-Textbook: Green Procurement

6.A.1 Introduction: purpose of the CP volume " Green Procurement and Hazardous Materials"

The CP-volume "green procurement and hazardous materials" is divided into two parts starting with the green procurement in companies. It is the goal to help you make the purchase of raw and process materials and other materials as environmentally friendly and health conscious as possible.

Environmentally friendly

This volume focuses on the various ways of getting informed about environmentally sound material and substances and on the prerequisites that have to be met by the company in order to make ecological purchasing possible.

The following questions will be dealt with in this volume:

What does green procurement mean?

How can ecological criteria for purchasing be defined?

What sources of information and procedures for the evaluation of products are available?

How can green procurement be organised in the company?

How can the necessary measures be implemented in the company?

Green procurement is cleaner procdution

Purchasing plays an important role in preventive environmental protection. All those environmentally damaging processes and products that are not purchased will not cause ecological problems later on during use or disposal. Green procurement is therefore the first step towards avoidance of waste and emissions and consequently an important field of action for every CP-company.

Authors:

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6.A.2. Green procurement - a key to environmentally oriented action

Starting at the source

The extent to which a company is able to ensure protection of the environment starts already at the time of selecting plants and production processes and of procuring raw and process materials. Environmental problems are imported into the company through investments and purchasing, but they can be avoided to a large extent by conscientious and goal-oriented procurement.

By making environmentally sound decisions the purchasing department has considerable power to prevent environmental burdens. Measures taken in the purchasing department are at the very source of environmental issues and are therefore extremely effective in the avoidance of problems.

If ecological action is neglected in your company, it could lead to negative effects on the company's image and have a negative impact on business success and development opportunities of your company in the long run. As a buyer - regardless of whether you work in a big or a small organisation, you have to be able to rely on the quality and reliability of your suppliers and the products procured. This also includes ecological and health criteria.

Green procurement

promotes quality

Just like all the other activities in a company that contribute to an improvement of in-house processes, ecologically oriented purchasing requires a systematic and carefully planned approach, which must - not least - be underlined by the way purchasing is organised. This is why there are also included suggestions for organisational measures.

Well-planned and systematic action

If you limit purchasing not only to the procurement of raw and process materials but include investments, you will realise that purchasing makes up for approximately half of the company's costs. So we are talking about a big field you can intervene with green procurement.

The experience gained by CP companies show how successful measures of green procurement can be. Usually more than one sixth of all measures planned and implemented in the framework of a CP- programme are taken in the "substitution of raw and process materials" category. Further measures with an impact on corporate procurement were taken in the "organisational measures" (approx. 30% of all measures taken).

Successful examples

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Below there are some examples of how green procurement helped to promote preventive environmental protection in various companies.

A dairy company was able to save approx. 43 t of packaging material per year by changing to lighter plastic cups for yoghurt production. The annual savings amount to approx. € 75.000.

The same company changed the external packaging of transport pallets from plastic stretch foil to grid foil. In addition to saving 2/3 of packaging material, this change of material also ensures considerably better cooling effects in the cooling chamber, energy is saved as well.

Several car repair companies substituted the single-use seat covers used for protecting the car seats from getting dirty by reusable textile covers.

Automobile factories, repair garages and a painting company achieved a considerable reduction of solvent consumption by the use of water based enamels with low solvent content.

One company was able to save more than 80% of the previously required amount of cleaning agents by substituting traditional detergents with biologically degradable concentrates.

An offset printer's shop replaced the volatile solvents used for the cleaning of printing machines by detergents on vegetable basis. There is less burden on the environment and the printers' health risk is reduced.

Heat supply of a large company building was entirely changed from fuel oil to long-distance heating.

A dry cleaner gave up the use of traditional perchloroethylene washing machines and now uses state-of-the-art PER-free machines. By using a thinner plastic foil, 25% of packaging material is saved.

Many of the measures of purchasing do not seem spectacular at all at first glance. However, a closer look at these measures shows that simple measures yield great results in the improvement of the environmental performance of a company. And this is what makes green procurement so essential.

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6.A.3. What are environmentally friendly materials?

If you want to purchase environmentally friendly products you first have to find an answer to the question: "How can environmentally relevant criteria of a product be discerned?" or "What is an environmentally friendly product anyway?“

There are two possible answers. On the one hand, "environmentally friendly" can be understood as a comparative measure, which means: not the product itself is environmentally friendly, but "environmentally friendly" refers to certain advantages with regard to environmental properties in comparison with other products serving the same purpose. A typical example would be copy paper made from recycled paper as opposed to paper made from chlorine-bleached pulp. This first approach therefore asks for the relative environmental friendliness of a product.

Relative environmental

friendliness

Absolute environmental

friendliness

"Environmentally friendly" can also be understood in another sense, i.e. as a description of products and/or services that do not cause any relevant environmental burdens (“absolute environmental friendliness”). A bicycle, for example, is an environmentally friendly means of transport. There may be a possibility of comparing two different types of bicycles in order to determine the more environmentally friendly one (e.g. material used during production, type of enamel, quality, life), but such a comparison already does take place at a very sophisticated ecological level.

Finding out about

environmental properties

Usually, in your company you will have to decide on the relative environmental friendliness of products. As a first step, you determine the environmentally relevant purchases made in your company. This task is not always easy, and sometimes it will be nearly impossible to distinguish between the environmental properties of products available on the market. You should, however - to the highest extent possible - list the properties of purchased products that are detrimental to the environment in order to lay down criteria that will help you select your product.

For evaluating the products you can use any of the various tools and aids described herein, such as eco-labels, eco awards and certificates or other methods of supplier evaluation, for the assessment of products.

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6.A.4 Life cycle of a product

All the phases of the life cycle of a product – like extension of raw material, production, use, disposal and in between all these phases transport- should be included in the ecological evaluation. The following figure shows the different phases of the life cycle. For each product you have to find out in which phase it produces the biggest envrionemntal burdens. This determines definitely your CP- strategy .

Consider the whole product

life cycle

raw materials

production

energy

Generally, it can be said that the smaller the amount of materials and energy required during the product life cycle the more environmentally friendly the product is. The same applies for the emissions of toxic substances and of noise.

For many products, it will hardly be possible for the responsible purchasing officer to carry out an overall comparison of all environmental criteria. It is not even always necessary, as the most important environmentally relevant differences can very often be restricted to a few main criteria.

An important distinctive feature in the environmental evaluation of paints based on organic solvents, for example, is the proportion of organic solvents; and this distinctive feature has, in turn, an effect on other product characteristics, such as the time required for drying.

As far as the evaluation of insulating material is concerned, energy consumption during production and origin of raw materials in addition to technical properties play an important role in the ecological material assessment.

Transport

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6.A.5 Eco-labels

Eco-labels are intended to help consumers and/or purchasing officers in their selection of environmentally friendly products. Eco-labels are usually awarded to general consumer products; but there are already several product groups, for which eco-labels are planned, that are also of interest for corporate purchasing.

6.A.5.1 How to utilise Eco-Labels for corporate procurement

Companies can profit from eco-labels in two different ways. On one hand they are informative for the buyer showing that a product with an eco-label has certain ecological advantages compared to other products. Based on this information the eco-label can have a direct influence on purchasing decisions.

Using the criteria of eco-labels

The second possibility of using an eco-label, or better using the criteria of an eco-label, is perhaps even more important. In the framework of tenders, companies can use the various criteria, that apply for an eco-label, as product requirements. These criteria can also be adapted to the individual demands of the company.

6.A.5.2 The Austrian Eco-Label

The Austrian eco-label was introduced in 1990. The eco-label is awarded on the basis of the award guidelines defined by the Federal Ministry of the Environment. The Federal Ministry of the Environment in close cooperation with the Consumer Information Association (VKI) develops the award guidelines and awards the eco-label.

Expert committees in the VKI are in charge of devising the criteria for the individual guidelines. These expert committees include representatives from the Federal Ministry of the Environment, business, environmental and consumer associations as well as from the field of science. The participation of these representatives is intended to create the highest acceptance level of the eco-label possible, both from the business arena and also from environmental and consumer protection organisations. At the moment 550 products covered by appr. 44 guidelines are represented in the eco-label

Comprehen-sive product assessment

The basic requirements of the Austrian eco-label call for comprehensive evaluation of the products and services that are to be awarded the label; the evaluation must not be restricted to one single criterion.

The award guidelines have to take into account the environmental effects during production and use with regard to

raw materials used energy consumption waste and emissions distribution systems and transport methods disposal and recycling

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The quality and the performance capability of the products and services are also assessed (such as handling, safety, ease of repair, service life).

The applicable guidelines for the award of the eco-label are revised at regular intervals and adapted to the state of the art. Compared to other eco-label guidelines, the guidelines of the Austrian eco-label are rather strict.

6.A.5.3 Blue Angel – the German Eco-Label

The "blue angel", the eco-label of the Federal Republic of Germany, was one of the first eco-labels established (in 1977). A high ecological quality of products with this label is only ensured to a limited extent, as the relevant guidelines define rather minimum ecological requirements The number of products marked with the German eco-label is correspondingly high (appr. 4000 products). For the individual buyer, the "blue angel” will in many cases not be helpful when it comes to taking a decision as it is awarded to so many products.

Compared to the Austrian eco-label that contains no reference to a certain individual environmentally relevant criterion, the German eco-label points out the main ecological advantage of a product compared to other, comparable products, e.g. "eco-label because made of 100% recycled paper", "eco-label" because reusable“.

Despite the obvious shortcomings of the "blue angel", the German eco-label can play an important role in the procurement of products. There are award guidelines for a wide range of products. The criteria can, of course, be adapted accordingly in the individual company.

Applies to a wide range of products

6.A.5.4 The Eco-flower – the Eco-Label of the European Union

In 1992 the European eco-label was born. The EU eco-label focuses on information for private consumers. Under the leadership of individual member states, award criteria are developed in cooperation with both sides of industry. The ecological criteria demanded by the European eco-label are rather “soft”. To date criteria for altogether 18 products group have been developed, please find below some examples:

EU ECO-LABEL

Washing machines Detergents and washing up liquids

Paper products Soils conditioners/ameliorants

Packaging material Light fixtures

Washing detergents Insulating material

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6.A.6. Safety-relevant product labelling

Environmental protection, protection of health at the workplace, and work safety in the company are inseparable. It is of great advantage for both environmental protection and protection of employees when both areas are seen as a unit. Safety in the company and protection of employees' health means internal environmental protection. If preventive measures are observed at the purchasing stage, many problems in the company can be avoided - this holds true for environmental protection, workers´ safety.and health. This holistic approach in a company is called Integrated (management) system and followed by many enterprises nowadays.

Integrated systems:

environment, health and and workers’ safety

6.A.6.1. The CE-labelling

The CE labelling plays an important role in the purchasing of machinery and plants. The following descriptions refer first and foremost to the regulations pertaining to the distribution of machines.

The CE label on a product shows that this product is in conformity with the EU regulations. In the past, the safety standards of machines and equipment were strictly controlled by national regulations, but today all products meeting the basic safety requirements of the EU are allowed to be distributed on the market. Any additional approval procedures or design sample inspections for machinery are, to a large extent, no longer applicable. Manufacturers attach a declaration of conformity and a visible stamp, the CE identification, to products which meet the respective EU directives. Despite CE identification it is up to the manufacturer to meet a stricter product standard or to have a design sample inspection of his machine carried out. National legislation, however, is not allowed to demand such additional inspections and tests.

Declaration of conformity

Unified standards for product safety

Design sample inspections carried out by certified or accredited inspection agencies apply only for particularly dangerous machines (such as circular saws, milling machines, presses, ribbon saws).

The CE label is not so much a quality seal but the prerequisite required for approval of the product in the European Economic Area. CE identification alone allows only limited conclusions about the quality of the product as the EU directives determine only safety-relevant minimum standards.

Sign of approval or quality?

The buyer of a machine is thus confronted with the question: "How can I check whether the machine on offer is safe?“ This question is of particular importance with regard to the determination and evaluation of risks under the labour protection law. The CE seal can be of help here even if it is no seal of quality in the strict sense of the word. A manufacturer of a machine has to fulfil strictly defined requirements in order to be able to sign the declaration of conformity and attach the CE seal to his product:

Requirements to be fulfilled by the CE identification

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The manufacturer of the machine (or his authorised representative) has to draw up technical documents including an overall plan of the machine and its control cycles. In order to have the machine verified as to conformity with the safety requirements laid down in the EU directives, he must also add the necessary detailed plans, calculations and test results.

The manufacturer has to draw up a list of the basic requirements in accordance with the machine directive, of the standards as well as other technical specifications met by the machine.

The procedures and solutions for risk prevention applied during design and production of the machine have to be documented..

In cases where the machine was tested by an approved inspection agency, the certificates and reports have to be included in the documentation.

In addition to that, reports about in-house inspections and tests of safe assembly and start-up of the machine are to be supplied.

The buyer must receive a copy of the operating instructions of the machine.

In the case of volume production of machines, the measures taken to ensure conformity of every single product with the requirements of the guideline are to be documented (quality assurance measures).

Based on the information in the declaration of conformity and the operating instructions, buyers can compare the machines of various suppliers. In addition to the safety-relevant information, eco-relevant and disposal-relevant criteria can be derived from this information. Thus a comparison of different offers is possible.

6.A.7. Eco-awards for companies and sites

If you want to buy environmentally friendly products or services it is not only important to pay attention to the products themselves but also to the way in which these products are produced. Generally it will not be possible for you to check at the premises of your supplier whether ecological criteria are observed in the production of products or services. Buyers with a high degree of market power such as big automobile groups have the possibility to do so and check their suppliers regularly as to quality (also with regard to environmental protection).

Eco programmes are helpful

Smaller buyers still have the possibility to use eco-awards and certificates as a criterion for evaluating their suppliers. If a supplier has taken part in an eco-programme and received a corresponding award you can assume that your supplier takes aspects of environmental protection into account and strives to improve the eco services of his company.

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There is still a certain degree of uncertainty for the buyer even if a manufacturer has been awarded eco-certificates or awards. The criteria for eco-awards or certificates refer mainly to the organisational integration of environmental protection in corporate procedures and/or to the proven implementation of a certain eco programme. The certificate does, however, not ensure that the products themselves meet ecological criteria. So it could be the case that a producer of chlorinated organic solvents may be given an eco-award for his company although these products pose a great risk to health and the environment during production, use and disposal.

Company awards are not indicators of product quality

There are a number of different programmes and certification procedures for companies. Some are limited to certain lines of industry, others are of a distinctly regional character. Some of these programmes are briefly described below.

6.A.7.1 Responsible Care

Responsible Care (RC) is an initiative for health, safety and environment of the chemical industry. The programme was initiated in 1984 by the Canadian Association of Chemical Companies and has since then been adopted by many other national professional chemical associations. The programme starts with the governing principles of responsible care in chemical companies that are laid down in a guideline. Implementing this guideline in a Responsible Care programme is the task of the national associations.

This is the reason why the standards for participating in the Responsible Care programme differ from country to country. In the Federal Republic of Germany it was - until recently - enough to be a member of the German Association of Chemical Industry to be able to use the Responsible Care logo. In Austria, the standards are stricter, so that the RC logo can definitely be seen as a quality seal of the chemical industry in Austria.

In order to be able to take part in the Responsible Care programme in Austria, companies have to prove in an external audit that they have implemented the RC guideline in a consistent manner. Companies have to have effective environmental protection, safety and waste management concepts. If an external audit carried out by an expert comes to a positive conclusion, the Trade Association of the Chemical Industry awards the Responsible Care quality seal to the company. The validity of the RC seal is limited to a period of three years.

RC calls for a comprehensive

management concept

The Responsible Care quality seal is an award given to the company not to products. The Responsible Care logo may only be used by the authorised companies in their corporate correspondence and for general advertising and PR purposes. It may not be used for the advertising of products. The use of the logo on product packaging, safety data sheets and other product information is also prohibited.

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6.A.7.2. EMAS - “Eco Audit”

A voluntary system for eco-management and eco-audits was introduced for trade in the EU by a regulation of the Council of the European Communities.

The EMAS regulation defines the steps a company has to take for a systematic integration of environmental protection in the company. In the first step, management defines the environmental policy. Then, the company collects its environmentally relevant data and checks its ecological situation (first review). Material flows are analysed and weaknesses are found. In its environmental protection programme, the company defines the goals that have to be achieved by the time of the subsequent eco-audit. The measures required to achieve these goals are planned, responsibilities are assigned and deadlines for implementation are laid down. In addition, an organisational structure for the environmental management system has to be established within the company. The aim of it being to ensure that the environmental protection programme is observed and checked on a regular basis. The company has to draw up documentation about its environmental protection activities so that the environmental management system can be verified.

Steps towards the eco audit

After all these steps have been followed, there will be a second review (management review) to verify whether the environmental protection programme and environmental policy are in line and whether the goals have been achieved. Finally, the company publishes its site-related environmental declaration including the environmental guidelines, the environmental management system, the company's material flows and the environmental programme. External auditors check and assess the information given by the company on site. After a successful conclusion of the eco audit, the company is allowed to use the EMAS logo for advertising purposes and it is entered in the European site register.

Use of the EMAS sign

EMAS and green procurement

The consolidation of the concept of green procurement is part of the "green procurement" chapter. Documented procedures control the procurement of routine purchases as well as the purchase of large machines and plants. Attention is to be paid to a clear definition of responsibilities for ecologically friendly purchasing and to the description of acknowledged eco criteria. On the basis of supplier evaluation in the form of checklists and product evaluation, "positive lists" as they are called, can be drawn up of routine purchases containing all products "released" for ordering.

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6.A.7.3 ISO 14001 and BS 7750

In addition to the EMAS regulation there are also two other methods on standard level that aim to support companies in integrating environmental protection systematically in their company.

ISO 14001 is the worldwide standard for environmental management systems. It is fully comparable to EMAS in terms of contents and structure, ISO 14001, however, does not require an environmental declaration.It is open to all sectors and enterprises from the beginning. Furthermore, it is the aim to make compatible ISO 14001 with the norm series of ISO 9000 (quality management system). Certain requirements are laid down more precisely in EMAS than in ISO 14001, like e.g material flow analysis, publication of environmental declaration. At the organisational level the ISO norm is regulating more precisely.

International environmental management standards

The first comprehensive eco-management standard ever, was established in Great Britain. The British standard BS 7750 "Environmental Management System“ has become generally established in other European countries, too, over the last few years. So it may well be that one of your international suppliers is BS 7750 certified.

6.A.7.4. ECOPROFIT

At community level ECOPROFIT has become one of the most important site certifications for companies in Austria and Germany. This CP-programme was developed in the city of Graz in 1991 and has meanwhile been disseminated in whole Austria, many parts of Germany as well as in many other countries e.g for example in Czech and Slowak Republic, Brazil, Columbia, Finland, Hungary, India, Nicaragua, Slovenia, Uganda and Ucraina.

Regional programmes The criteria for the award are:

Appr. 1 year of training participating in 10 workshops on CP-topics

Build up an envrionmental team

Define an environmental policy

Implement CP-measures (“environmental achievements”) and document them

Plan environmental measures for the next year (“envrionmental programme”) and document them

Draw up a waste management plan (including input/output, energy balance, environmental indicators, legal compliance as well as all waste relevant details)

Legal check carried out by the dept. of envrionmental protection of the city of Graz

Checklist used by the consultant covering all relevant areas

In Austria to date more than 450 companies have been awarded the ECOPROFIT prize, in Germany there are already more than 600 companies.

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6.A.8. Making good use of eco-awards and certificates

The basic award and certification principles of the eco-awards and programmes described above define more or less strict ecological requirements that producers have to fulfil. If a company or a product has been awarded an eco-award or certificate you - as a purchaser - can assume that the corresponding criteria have been met. It is therefore logical to ask your suppliers about any awards or eco-labels for his products or about eco-certificates for his company.

You should, however, make sure not to use these tools in a discriminatory way. All the programmes and quality seals described above are voluntary programmes. A manufacturer can decide not to apply for an eco-award for a certain product or to have his environmental management system certified, although all the eco-relevant criteria are fulfilled. Ask your suppliers about the measures they take in the field of environmental protection. Basing the selection of your supplier solely on eco-labels or certificates can lead to a distortion of the actual situation.

Do not discriminate suppliers

6.A.9 How to systematically plan green procurement

For a successful green procurement the criteria and selection procedures for purchasing have to be continuously adjusted to the changing demands. In the company itself the necessary organisational framework conditions and procedures have to be laid down. Only if all people involved know who is responsible for purchasing decisions and what criteria apply green procurement will work out.

In big companies the organisation of corporate purchasing is often laid down in written form in a manual. As already mentioned, all companies with a quality management system according to ISO 9001 have written regulations pertaining to purchasing. The QM element procurement requires clear guidelines concerning the principles of purchasing, procedures, supplier evaluation and the assessment of the quality of products bought.

Organise the company

A successful purchasing consists essentially of 4 elements shown below:

Analysis of the current situation: Survey of all the products and services purchased and definition of the purchasing criteria: Who supplies what? What requirements does the product have to meet? Collecting product information, assessment of products and suppliers: How do we select our suppliers and services? What criteria are decisive for the selection? Purchasing procedures and organisation: How is purchasing organised? Responsibilities - Who decides on what? Checking and adjusting procurement procedures: How do we check and document our purchasing procedures? What happens with insufficient or damaged goods deliveries?

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6.A.9.1. Purchasing guidelines - survey of products and determination of criteria

Environmental guidelines for your specific circumstances

During the CP- project you will determine the environmental guidelines for your company ensuring that green procurement becomes an important aim of your company's environmental protection efforts. By writing down these guidelines they become more binding.

Record all the products your company buys and clarify what requirements the various procured products have to fulfil as well as how you can bring these requirements (e.g. price, quality, process-specific requirements, etc.) in line with the ecological aims of your company.

Environmental criteria defined for products used in offices will be different from the criteria applied to raw and process materials used in production processes, as the latter will have to meet certain technical requirements or fulfil contractual agreements.

6.A.9.2. Collect and evaluate information

Information about the technical and ecological properties of products is essential for the daily work of the purchasing officers of your company. Knowing about the properties of products is an important precondition for the evaluation of different products and the comparison of them.

Sources of information

The main sources of information will be product information provided by the manufacturer or your supplier as well as any other information concerning the properties, use, handling and disposal of the products in question (e.g. operating instructions, safety and disposal notes, technical notes, application and handling instructions, safety data sheets, etc.).

The various product identifications and eco-labels can also be used for the assessment of ecological properties of materials as well as the site certifications. Find once again a list of labels/information that will help you in your purchasing decision:

Simple tools to assess and evaluate products / materials and suppliers

Eco-label Supplier self-auditing

Special product labels Eco-awards for sites

CE certificates Declaration of conformity provided by supplier

Supplier evaluation model Auditing by the purchaser

Quality certificates Reference lists of manufacturer

Previous experience with the supplier Cooperation between manufacturer and user

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6.A.9.3. Processes of purchasing and procurement organisation

If you want to implement green procurement in your company you should start with routine purchases, e.g. office material or detergents. It is most likely that you will soon be successful in these areas - with the support of the people concerned who are involved early enough.

“Simple products” first

6.A.9.4 Competencies and Responsibilities

The best product evaluation and product selection will not be helpful at all, if it is not clearly defined who is responsible for the ordering procedures.

Create suitable structures Getting the environmental representative and the safety expert involved is

of importance when decisions on major investments have to be taken. Unpleasant surprises at a later point in time can only be avoided if the effects of an investment on health and the environment are included in the decision-making process.

6.A.9.5. Purchasing of services

Getting third companies involved

A problem specific to corporate environmental protection is the purchase of service. In many large companies, cleaning (or parts of it) is out-sourced to professional cleaning companies. State in your contracts that third companies are obliged to provide you with information about the products used (safety data sheets) and make clear that products which are envrionmentally dangerous must not be used or have to be substituted.

6.A.9.6. Monitoring results

You can use the following tools to monitor the extent to which the measures taken by you have an effect on the company. The examination of measures taken is important because it provides you with the opportunity to point out the positive effects of your measures and prevent any negative developments.

Identify all environmentally friendly products in the material lists of your company and describe the basic criteria (e.g.: ecological purchase because ....). Review this material list at regular intervals.

Continuously record all eco-relevant procurement procedures where it has not yet been possible to change to alternative materials (e.g. solvents) with the aim of finding measures to reduce the quantities. The most ecological purchase is the one that is not made at all!

If there is a suggestion scheme for employees in your company propose to also consider suggestions concerning the introduction of ecological products.

Note the feedback of your colleagues about positive and negative experiences with ecologically purchased products and document the feedback.

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Inform your customers, your colleagues and your suppliers about your guidelines for eco-friendly purchasing (e.g. in the environment report).

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6 B- Background Material

6 B-Textbook: Hazardous Materials

6.B.1. What are hazardous working materials?

Between 60,000 and 100,000 different chemicals are used in the manufacturing industry, in trade and in the services industry of the industrial countries of the West. Not many of these substances are marketed as pure materials – most are sold as preparations or finished products. However, some chemical substances are actually produced as a by-product of the manufacturing process – in the shape of intermediate products, waste and emissions. Irrespective of the source of chemical substances and preparations used or produced or emitted by the company, it is in any case clear that many substances are a potential health hazard.

Distribution of hazardous working materials

The damaging impact of chemicals on the environment and human health is often a combined effect. Organic solvents, for instance, contribute to the formation of ozone near ground level, but if handled carelessly they can also cause severe health damage. In some substances, the (human) health hazard is the major concern (e.g. cyanide), in other substances it is the environmental impact (for instance CFCs). However, there are many reasons why the impact on the environment and the health hazard can – and maybe should – be regarded as one single source of danger. This is why substances with a detrimental effect on both health and the environment are sometimes, for instance in this dossier, referred to as hazardous substances or hazardous working materials.

Damage to the environment and health risks often go hand in glove

A product used in the company is considered a hazardous substance if it exhibits a dangerous property for the workers’ safety and/or law on chemicals and if it is to be classified as a hazardous substance. Hazardous materials and preparations occur within the following categories:

flammable and explosive substances !

!

!

substances that damage human health, and

substances that damage the environment

In the workers’ safety regualtion as well as in the law on chemicals hazardous properties are assigned to subcategories such as caustic, irritating, fibrogenous, radioactive, infectious, biologically inert etc.

Different hazardous effects

Products classified as “hazardous” bear a label on the packaging and/or container. Dangerous properties are identified by a danger symbol (e.g. St Andrew’s cross) and a danger identification letter (e.g. Xn for health hazard). Many working materials unite several hazardous properties. For instance, the solvent toluene is a health hazard (slightly toxic), and it is also highly flammable.

Authors:

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Some substances that lawmakers or manufacturers do not classify as hazardous can nevertheless be a potential danger to health or environment if their concentration is high enough or if an excessive quantity is used. This applies, for example, to many detergents and cleaning agents.

6. B. 2 Hazardous properties and their identification

6.B.2.1 Flammable and explosive materials

The flammability and explosiveness of chemicals are severe sources of danger for the company. Many fires in industry were caused by improper handling and storage of flammable working materials.

For a fire or an explosion to occur, three conditions must be satisfied simultaneously:

Presence of an ignitable (i.e. flammable) material !

!

!

The flammability

triangle

Sufficient concentration of oxygen (air) or another substance to accelerate the combustion or explosion (“fire promoter”)

Presence of an ignition source (heat, sparks, open flame, electrostatic charge)

While fire promoters do not themselves burn, they are capable of keeping a fire alive. Their function for flammable materials is very much the same as that of oxygen. Therefore, fires involving fire promoters cannot be extinguished simply by cutting the oxygen supply.

The different identification elements for flammable materials identify the possible sources of danger. Some of the more important aspects are:

! the description of the danger,

! the danger symbols,

! the danger identification letters,

! risk warning and safety tips (R and S phrases)

! the classification according to flammable liquids (dfl)

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1. Description of the danger

oxidising

explosive

2. Danger symbol

Danger identification letter

O

E

Flammable materials are classified according to the ordinance on flammable liquids: depending on the potential danger, a distinction is made between extremely flammable, highly flammable and flammable materials. Substances with a flash point between 21 and 55°C (dfl: A II) do not carry a danger symbol. Materials with a flash point above 55°C are classified only pursuant to the ordinance on flammable liquids (dfl) (A III), but not pursuant to the chemicals ordinance.

Classification according to the chemicals

ordinance

Extremely flammable

Highly flammable Flammable

Danger symbol

no symbol no symbol

Identification letter F+ F - -

R phrase R 12 R 11 R 10 -

Flash point < 0°C 0 - 21°C 21 - 55°C 55 - 100°C

Identification according to the ordinance on flammable liquids

A I (not soluble in water)

B I (soluble in water)

A I (not soluble in water)

B I (soluble in water)

A II (not soluble in water)

B II (soluble in water)

A III (not soluble in water)

Examples Acetylene,

ether White spirit,

acetone Butyl acetate n-undecane

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6.B.2.2 Substances with a damaging effect on human health

Similar to flammable materials, the following identification is required for hazardous materials and preparations:

Description of the danger highly flammable

2. Danger symbol

3. Identification letter F

4. Risk warning and (“R phrases”)

Safety tips (“S phrases”)

R 10 Flammable

S 23 Do not inhale vapour/aerosol.

5. Disposal instructions (quotation of the code according to ÖNORM 2100 or ÖNORM 2101)

SN 55 370 Do not pour residues into the discharge

Working materials with a potentially damaging effect on human health can be clearly identified by using the appropriate danger symbol (of which 3 are available), identification letters (of which 5 are available) and descriptions, if applicable in combination with R - and S - phrases.

However, the five different danger descriptions defined in the law on chemicals must be sufficient to describe nine properties/conditions that may affect human health. Not each property has a separate danger symbol assigned to it. Only for five of these properties identical danger descriptions exist. These are the properties ‘highly toxic’, ‘toxic’ or ‘detrimental to human health (slightly toxic)’, ‘caustic’ or ‘irritating’. The identification system for these materials is shown.

No specific danger

symbol for each

property

Highly toxic Toxic Harmful Irritant Corrosive

Identification letter

T+ Identification letter T Identification letter

Xn Identification letter

Xi Identification letter

C

e.g. hydrocyanic acid

e.g. methanol e.g. toluene e.g. acrylate e.g. hydrochloric acid

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No specific danger symbol is assigned to the other properties mentioned in the chemicals legislation – such as carcinogenic, sensitising (allergy inducing) or mutagenic properties and substances with a potentially negative effect on reproduction. The above symbols serve to denote these properties, too.

# A substance is classified as highly toxic if the effect of a one-off short-term intake of a small quantity by inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin can cause severe acute or chronic health damage or death.

# A substance is classified as toxic if the intake of a small quantity can cause severe acute or chronic health damage or death.

# A substance is classified as harmful if its inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin can cause limited health damage. The term harmful means that the toxic effect is expected to be less severe than that caused by an intake of "toxic" chemicals. ‘Slightly toxic', the earlier term, has now been replaced with harmful.

# Irritant substances may cause itching, reddening of the skin, inflammation of the connective tissue and the respiratory tract. This group includes diluted acids and caustic solutions as well as organic solvents. Depending on the concentration of a substance, the product can be classified as irritating or caustic.

# If physical contact exists, corrosive substances can destroy living tissue. They destroy the upper layers of the skin, attack the mucous membranes and may result in severe physical damage. This group of substances includes many strong acids (hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid etc.), alkaline solutions (caustic soda, caustic potash solution etc.) and oxidising compounds (peroxides, bleaching soda concentrate etc.).

Harmful substances with the potential to cause chronic disease include cancerogenic substances as well as working materials with a potentially negative effect on reproduction or the nervous system.

6.B.2.3 Environmentally harmful effect

In addition to flammability and explosivity and substances causing damage to human health, the law on chemicals also enlists 'environmentally harmful' properties. Damage to the environment is caused by substances that, when released into the environment, contaminate environmental media such as the water, air, soil or endanger the health of organisms such as man, animals, plants or micro-organisms. A separate danger symbol to indicate that a substance is 'environmentally harmful' exists:

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Description of the danger

environmentally harmful

2. Danger symbol

Identification letter

N

6.B.3. Health hazards caused by dangerous substances

Depending on the substance, quantity, quality, intake route and person affected, the effect of a substance can be more or less hazardous or damaging to human health.

6.B.3.1. How are substances dangerous to human health absorbed by the body?

Generally, there are three ways for such substances to get inside the body. The three routes of absorption are:

Inhalation - absorption through the respiratory tract

If it is exposed to an atmosphere of harmful gases, volatile liquids and aerosols (minute liquid droplets in the air, e.g. mist) the body may absorb harmful substances through the respiratory tract and the lungs (inhalation). The harmful substances mix with the inhaled air enter the blood stream through the lungs and can cause damage to the respiratory organs or other organs downstream of the breathing apparatus. There is an acute risk of this happening

Inhalation is the most frequent way of absorption

if gas escapes due to a failure to close connections or through a leak in a pipe or tubing

!

!

!

!

if a vehicle is repaired in a garage with the engine running

if paints, varnishes and adhesives containing solvents are used in closed, badly ventilated working spaces

during sand blasting work

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if paint is removed with a sander or by burning !

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

if welding work is performed without air removal equipment and breathing mask

Swallowing - absorption through the esophagus

The second way of absorbing hazardous materials especially liquids and solids is by swallowing them. In this way, the harmful substances reach the digestive system via the mouth. This may occur as a result of

Smoking, drinking and eating at the workplace are risk factors

misuse or improper handling, for instance when a product is decanted or if it is attempted to pipette acids, alkaline solutions or solvents by sucking with the mouth,

storage of hazardous products in drink bottles or food boxes,

eating, drinking or smoking with contaminated, unwashed hands,

accumulation of hazardous substances in food (e.g. air saturated with solvents, dust).

Skin contact – absorption through the skin

Often, the possibility of an absorption of hazardous substances through the skin is underestimated. When it comes to injuries caused by skin contact, one tends to think of irritating or caustic substances acting locally at the point of contact with the skin, the mucous membranes or the eyes. Nevertheless, a number of gases, vapours, liquids and solids are also capable of entering the body through the unprotected skin – and there are no visible signs of absorption.

Our skin is a permeable membrane

This may occur in the following situations

contact with readily liposoluble solvents (both as a liquid and as vapour)

disinfection of rooms with products containing phenol and formaldehyde

spraying of paint through spray guns

food contact with toxic gases

As many organic solvents are capable of degreasing the skin and affecting the kidneys, the liver and the nervous system, do not under any circumstances use technical solvents or fuels (e.g. diesel) to clean dirty skin.

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6.B.3.2. What is the effect of harmful substances on the body?

Whether a substance remains in the body and has a detrimental effect on the health of the victim or whether it simply passes through the body before being excreted depends on the type, quantity, way of absorption and toxicity of the substance. A substance can be removed from the body via the respiratory tract (for instance breathing out solvents or minute solid particles), the intestines or the bladder. Sometimes, the substances are broken down or transformed before excretion. In other cases, the toxic substance is the very product of the transformation in the body. The detrimental effect of working materials can come in many forms:

acute intoxication: e.g. by swallowing methanol, by inhaling chlorine gas

chronic intoxication: e.g. ingress of lead compounds in the blood, damage to the central nervous system caused by solvents

local effect: e.g. acid or alkali burn, caused by strong agents (sulphuric acid).

resorptive and systemic damage: e.g. paralysis of the respiratory muscles as a result of a major intake of solvents

allergy inducing effect: e.g. illnesses of the respiratory tract as a result of exposure to isocyanates in two-component paint and adhesives, nickel induced skin allergy

carcinogenic effect: e.g. benzene in combustion engine fuels, nickel dust, chromates

mutagenic effect (corruption of genes): e.g. benzene, cyanacrylates in adhesives

embryotoxic effect (teratogenity): e.g. methyl mercury

neurotoxic effect: e.g. heavy metals (mercury, lead), organic solvents

The full effect of chemical substances in the human body is not always exhaustively explained by the identification of the chemicals according to the law on chemicals. Thus the term “causes chronic disease” is e.g. used in the Austrian Workers’ Protection Act (1997, §40 sect. 5), but no identification symbol is assigned to it by the Law on Chemicals. Special risk warnings (R phrases) may indicate that a substance causing chronic disease is sensitising, harmful to the reproductive system or mutagenic.

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6.B.4 Information sources for hazardous working materials

The most important channels of information about hazardous working materials in the company are

!

!

!

the product data sheet

the list of so called MCW1 values and

the safety data sheet.

This information should be available at all times in any company. In addition, employees can usually address. a General Accidents Insurance.

The works doctors and safety experts (safety engineers) fulfil an important task when it comes to getting information about hazardous working materials and the training of employees.

Support by prevention services

1 The MCW values (maximum concentration at the workplace) are defined as the maximum admissible concentration of a working material – a gas, vapour or solid – which, based on the currently available knowledge, does not generally put the health of an employee at risk, even if he/she is exposed to the chemical repeatedly and for an extended period of time.

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6.B.4.1 Product identification using the safety data sheet

25405 20 TIROPUR G507

Content: 20kg

Batch

Vbf (A) A I

Vbf (D) A I

ADR 3/5b UN 1263

Mixture (parts by weight): 10 parts of Adler Tiropur 25405

1 part of Adler PUR hardener 82019

Pot life: one day Dilution: Adler DD-dilution 80019

airless +15%-20%

OBSERVE TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY DATA SHEET

STIR BEFORE USE!

Hazardous waste code number:

55502 (ÖNORM S 2101) 55512 (TA waste/FRG)

Prevent product from entering the sewage system. Do not dispose with domestic waste! Residues must be kept for collection by an authorised hazardous waste collection service.

FIRST AID:

In case of eye contact, rinse well with plenty of water and consult doctor. Wash affected skin with water and soap. Take off soiled clothing. In case of indisposition after inhalation of major quantities of vapour, remove victim from the danger zone and consult doctor. After accidental ingestion, do not induce vomiting. Obtain doctor's advice and show box.

MEASURES IN CASE OF ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE:

In case of spillage, use absorbing material to remove product. Extinguishing agents: sand, extinguishing powder, foam, carbon dioxide. Do not use water!

Product contains: isobutyl acetate

S 2 Keep out of children's reach.

S 23 Do not inhale gas/smoke/vapour/aerosol.

S 24 Avoid skin contact.

S 29 Do not pour product in the drain.

S 46 In case of ingestion, immediately obtain doctor's advice and show box or label.

S 51 Use only in sufficiently ventilated areas.

S 62 Do not induce vomiting after accidental ingestion. Immediately obtain doctor's advice and show box or label.

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Hazardous substances and preparations must be identified as such on the box. According to the Law on chemicals, the following minimum requirements apply to the identification of a hazardous substance or preparation (identification elements):

Name of the hazardous substance or hazardous ingredients of a preparation plus percentage by mass

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

Company name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer or importer of the product, respectively,

Danger symbols, identification letters and description of the risks associated with the product,

R phrases - standard labels with indication of special risks,

S phrases - standard labels concerning safety precautions,

Information about measures to be taken in case of an accident,

Information about the proper disposal of the product,

Substance code number, if applicable

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6.B.4.2 What kind of information does a safety data sheet provide?

The safety data sheet (SDS) is an easily understandable guide for the users of hazardous substances and preparations; it describes the impact of hazardous substances on human health and the environment.

As of 1 May 1994, the member states of the European Union are obliged to use the new safety data sheets, which now comprise 16 sections (according to directives 91/155/EEC and 93/112/EC). If carefully and completely filled out, these EU safety data sheets offer a fair overview of the composition, and of the expected health and environmental hazards, associated with each product. Together with the new Chemicals Act (in preparation), both EC directives will shortly be implemented in the national law of the member states. The content of the safety data sheet is described in EU directives 91/155/EEC and 93/112/EC.

to EC directive

Safety data sheets are free of charge, and the owner or supplier of the goods must distribute them to all users in trade and industry together with his first delivery of the hazardous working material and on each occasion thereafter if so requested by the receiver. A supplier, manufacturer or importer must also provide a safety data sheet each time the composition of the products changes.

It is your right to get a safety data sheet

With each delivery, order the updated safety data sheets and have them collected by the department responsible (e.g. purchasing dept.or safety officer)

To help you organise the handling of chemicals in the most efficient and safest way, the suppliers’ preparedness to co-operate by providing the necessary information about potential health and environmental hazards should be an important factor when it comes to choosing among several products of comparable technical merit.

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6.B.4.3 Which information must be included in the safety data sheet?

According to directives 91/155/EEC and 93/112/EC, the safety data sheet in Europe must be subdivided into 16 sections as follows:

Name of substance/preparation and company name

Composition / ingredients

Possible risks

First aid measures

Fire fighting

Measures to be taken in case of accidental release

Handling and storage

Exposure limits and personal protective clothing

Physical and chemical data

Satbility and reactivity

Toxicology

Ecology

Disposal

Transport

Legal requirements

Additional information-sources of advice

Therefore, the safety data sheet includes commercial information (product name, date issued and address of the supplier or manufacturing company), information about the chemical / physical properties and safety/technical advice.

1. Name of substance/preparation and company name

The name of the product must coincide with the one printed on the label affixed to the packaging material.

2. Composition / ingredients

By referring to this information, the buyer should be able to understand without any difficulty the hazards associated with the substance.

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3. Possible risks

A short and precise description of the most important hazards for human health and the environment.

4. First aid measures

This section describes the first aid measures and specifies whether it is necessary to consult a doctor. Furthermore, it lists any special apparatus (such as an eye-flushing bottle) that may be required to give first aid at the workplace.

5. Fire fighting Extinguishing

agents Describes suitable extinguishing agents and the risks associated with the substance in case of fire (e.g. hazardous combustion gases). Also includes information about the protective gear required in the event of a fire, as well as extinguishing agents that should not be used for safety reasons.

Cleaning measures

6. Measures to be taken in case of accidental release

This section is subdivided into measures for the protection of human health and the environment as well as cleaning procedures.

7. Handling and storage Minimising exposure Protective measures to ensure safe handling of the substance. Also includes

recommendations of technical measures (e.g. local removal, measures to prevent the formation of aerosols).

8. Exposure limits and personal protective clothing

To minimise the harmful effect of a substance on the employee, this section provides a comprehensive list of measures available to monitor and limit exposure. Technical measures must be given priority over the use of personal protection gear. All limit values that need to be monitored are specified. If personal protective clothing is recommended, the type of gear must be specified, too – for instance breathing mask, gloves, goggles or other protective clothing.

9. Physical and chemical data

A low boiling temperature (e.g. <80°C) or boiling range or a high vapour pressure, respectively, mean that the product can easily evaporate at low temperatures. If the product is flammable, this may result in explosive gas / air mixtures.

Boiling point

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The solubility of a substance in water is important if the product is spilled, if the container leaks or if the product is stored. The pH value indicates whether the product is an acid or an alkaline solution and whether the substance is likely to cause corrosion or irritation. Products with a pH<2 (highly acid) and pH>12 (highly alkaline) are usually classified as corroding liquids while weaker acid and alkaline solutions are classified as irritating liquids.

Solubility in water

The flash point is the temperature above which a substance can be ignited or caused to explode. Generally, the flash point of a substance is at least 50°C below the boiling point. A substance with a boiling point of 65°C is likely to be highly flammable (flash point < 21°C), while a substance with a boiling point of 90°C is likely to be flammable (flash point < 55°C). The ignition temperature tells you the temperature the ignition source (flame, spark, embers etc.) must have before it is able to ignite a substance. In liquids, the ignition temperature is usually high and far above the flash point. The explosion limits indicate the concentration range within which a mixture of air and the substance is potentially explosive.

Knowing the difference between flash point and ignition temperature

The information about thermal decomposition should include the decomposition temperature and all potentially hazardous products of decomposition. For instance, chlorinated hydrocarbons (TRI, PER, 1,1,1-trichloroethane etc.) will decompose at as little as 200°C and in the process form hazardous gases (hydrochloric acid, phosgene gas etc.). Hot parts of machinery or the tip of a lit cigarette will easily reach this temperature. Therefore, refrain from smoking in rooms where PER or TRI occurs.

Decomposition products are dangerous

Dangerous reactions are reactions that can be triggered by light, heat or contact with other substances, for instance by introducing water into concentrated sulphuric acid (release of heat).

10. Stability and reactivity

Describes the stability of a substance and the substances/conditions that should be avoided because they will trigger a dangerous reaction. If the reaction can produce other hazardous substances, these must be stated as well.

11. Toxicology

Description of the hazardous

property

The effects of the substance on human health are described, e.g. acute and chronic effect, cancerogenic, embryotoxic effect, sensitisation etc. The most important limit values are stated. This section is subdivided according to the route of intake, for instance inhalation, ingestion, absorption through the skin, or eye contact.

12. Ecology

The effect of the substance / preparation on environmental media (e.g. hazard class, emission class, biological degradability, ichthiotoxicity, bacterial toxicity etc.).

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13. Disposal

The information about the disposal of the product often also states the corresponding waste code numbers according to European standards. This standard relates hazardous wastes to five digit code numbers which in turn describe the type of wastes to be committed to disposal.

Statement of the code number

14. Transport

The transport of hazardous goods is tied to binding national and international rules. Hazardous goods are categorised according to hazard classes. The information may refer to road transport (e.g. ADR/GGSt), rail transport (e.g. RID) and marine transport (e.g. IMDG).

Transport requirements

The UN number –

a world-wide numbering system

The UN number identifies hazardous substances during transportation. It is derived from United Nations (UN) recommendations and part of a world-wide numbering system for hazardous goods. e.g. “Per” UN no. 1897, methanol UN no. 1230

The ADR/RID is the European Convention on the Transportation of Hazardous Goods by Road. Introduced in 1957, the ADR/RID applies to the national – including Austria– and cross-border transport of goods. When last amended on 1 January 1997, a distinction into so-called "Only Classes" and "Free Classes“ was introduced. The "Only Classes" control only the transportation of specifically listed hazardous substances, which is allowed subject to compliance with certain specified conditions. All other substances of this hazard class not specifically listed are excluded from transportation. In the "Free Classes“, not specifically mentioned substances may be transported as well.

The meaning of the hazard classes according to ADR is as follows:

ADR Class Properties of the hazardous good

ONLY FREE

1 Explosives and objects with explosives

2* Gases

3 Flammable liquids

4.1 Flammable solids

4.2 Self-igniting substances

4.3 Substances producing flammable gases when in contact with water

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5.1 Substances with igniting or oxidising effect

5.2 Organic peroxides

6.1 Toxic substances

6.2 Nauseating substances or substances carrying a risk of infection

7 Radioactive substances

8 Corroding substances

9** Several other hazardous substances and objects

* Class 2 products: as of 1 January 1997, an 8 digit classification system replaces the former 14 digit system **Class 9 includes all substances that cannot be assigned to any of the other 8 classes.

15. Legal requirements

Here, the EU directive makes reference to national requirements concerning danger signs, identification codes, R and S phrases, limit values (MCW and TSC values), advice pursuant to the Chemicals Act, the ordinance on the storage of flammable liquids (dfl danger class A I, A II, A III or B) and TA air.

Information about legal

requirements

TA air uses the following classification:

Class 1: highly toxic, difficult to degrade, cumulative

Class 2: moderately toxic and degradable, slightly cumulative

Class 3: slightly toxic, readily degradable, slightly cumulative

The water danger/protection class (WGK) system comprises the following groups:

WGK 0: not generally a water hazard

WGK 1: minor water hazard

WGK 2: water hazard

WGK 3: major water hazard

16. Additional information

Space for additional information such as training instructions, recommended use and application etc.

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6.B.4.4 What can safety data sheets do for the company?

The safety data sheet is an important help in the assessment of the risk potential of hazardous working materials. Even if the safety data sheet does not state all relevant ingredients of the product, it often includes hidden references that all but tell you the individual ingredients. For instance, the "transport" section often states ADR or UN code numbers which, interpreted together with other bits and pieces of information such as the MCW value, ID or danger symbols, can easily betray the presence or absence of a certain ingredient.

Considering other

information in the

assessment

Non-chemists should check the information contained in enclosure 2 of the safety data sheet. Safety data sheets do not always reflect the full scope of potential environmental or health hazards, but if they are prepared accordingly and interpreted with other documentation, they can make a valuable contribution to the protection of the environment and health.

Check whether your safety data sheets are fit for use!

Estimate the risk potential of hazardous working materials used by your company based on the information contained in the safety data sheet and the product identification!

Employees often find it

difficult to understand safety data

sheets

For practical use and the provision of information to the employees, we recommend you to revise the safety data sheets. This can be done, for instance, by issuing written internal instructions. These should provide easily understandable information at the workplace, advising the user of the risks associated with a certain product, and of the protective measures to be taken when processing the product. The internal instructions should be prepared in co-operation with the company's preventive services (occupational physician, safety experts etc.).

6.B.5 How to store chemicals safely

Some basic rules and guidelines should always be borne in mind to minimise the risks associated with the storage of hazardous substances. Safety precautions are indispensable if a company uses a large number of different toxic substances, or if it stores large quantities of chemicals. The following issues need to be considered:

Spatial separation of stored chemicals according to their properties

!

Substances who may cause a powerful reaction (e.g. strong acids and alkaline solutions) as well as substances capable of releasing toxic reaction products (acids + solution of chlorinated lime) must be stored separately.

The following graphics provides you with a simplified scheme for the common storage of hazardous working materials .

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Storing together hazardous materials

+ can be stored together

-….cannot be stored together

o….can be stored together if specific precautions are taken. Have a look at the safety data sheets.

Storage of liquids in collection trays close to floor level !

!

In shelf-type racks, always store liquids on the lower shelves. If there is an accident (e.g. container breaks or leaks), this will prevent the liquid from oozing into materials stored on the lower levels. Liquids kept in small tanks/containers (up to approx. 200ltrs) must be stored in collection troughs as befits their chemical properties.

Safe storage prevents accidents

Separate storage of substances that can be extinguished with water and substances that cannot be extinguished with water

Not all chemicals can be extinguished with water

It makes sense to keep chemicals that can be extinguished with water separate from chemicals that must not be extinguished with water. Wherever possible, store these two groups of substances in different rooms.

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No storage of chemicals at the workplace !

!

!

Often large amounts of hazardous substances are (temporarily) stored at the workplace (e.g. solvent containers under worktops). If there is an accident, these substances are a major source of danger. Do not keep more than one day's requirement of any hazardous substance at the workplace. Refill daily from the central storage point.

Keeping storage records

At each storage point, you must keep a storage list. The list should include the type, quantity and risk potential of the stored substance. If an accident occurs, the storage list tells the fire brigade how to fight the fire.

Keep records to know where you are

Substitution of high risk substances

The best way of avoiding risks associated with the storage of chemicals is to altogether eliminate high risk substances from your company and replace them with less dangerous alternative substances. In particular, you should substitute substances with a high potential to cause a fire, damage human health or the environment (e.g. chlorinated hydrocarbons, products containing heavy metals and water-soluble substances that will not readily degrade, for instance non-degradable tensides).

Prevention is the best precaution

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Date post:	13-Apr-2017
Category:	Environment
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