August 20, 2004—In the wake of several recent accidents in the manufacturing industry, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued warnings to the textile and fiber industries, as well as to those who work in closed spaces.
HSE issued a reminder to the textile industry, particularly companies working with flock or other dusty materials, to be aware of the risk of fire or explosion. The warning follows a recent fireball and explosion in Nelson while a stenter oven was being cleaned. The accident was attributed to the company’s history of poor cleaning. Textiles Industry Advisory Committee guidance “Fire precautions in the clothing and textile industries,” ISBN 0 7176 1786 6, price 8.50, can be obtained from HSE Books, at PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA. Further textile industry health and safety information is available from HSE/Textiles.
HSE also issued a reminder to all fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) firms be alert to the risks of fire, explosion, and styrene exposure. FRPs, a combination of a fiber and plastic resin, is used to produce products as diverse as baths and boats. The majority of fires and explosions in the industry are caused by poor control of flammable materials used or produced in the fabrication of FRP. Poor control of styrene can also put workers health at risk.
Information sheets published by HSE outline the actions industry should take to reduce the risk of incidents, and how to assess and control workers’ exposure to styrene. Single copies of Plastics Processing sheet No. 14 “Assessing and controlling styrene levels during contact moulding of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) products” (.pdf file) and Plastics Processing sheet No. 15 “Reducing the risk of fire or explosion during the manufacture of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) products” (.pdf file) are available online from HSE, or from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA. In addition, HSE issued a warning to the manufacturing industry, particularly waste and recycling companies, that entering confined spaces is extremely dangerous. The warning followed recent fatalities where three employees were asphyxiated while cleaning a slurry tank, two employees died while working in a “pit” associated with a high-pressure special atmosphere furnace, and another worker died while welding the inside of a petrol tanker.
HSE says that the danger of asphyxiation from entering confined spaces is well known, and that managers must not only implement a safe system of work, but must carefully train and supervise workers. HSE guidance includes “Safe work in confined spaces INDG258,” “Managing confined spaces on farms” Agriculture Information Sheet no 26, “Safe work in confined spaces,” and the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 L101, price 7.50, ISBN 0 7176 1405 0, all available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA.
