| Definition |
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A major hazardous installation is defined as an
installation that produces, processes, handles, uses, disposes
of or stores, either permanently or temporarily, one or more
hazardous substances or categories of hazardous substances or
substances in quantities which exceed prescribed amounts. |
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| Criteria |
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- The storage, handling, using, manufacturing, or adapting
of over 50 tonnes of Petrol or petroleum products.
- The storage, handling, using, manufacturing, or adapting
of over 10 tonnes of asbestos or asbestos products.
- The storage, handling, using, manufacturing, or adapting
of over 10 tonnes of teratogenic chemicals or products.
- The storage, handling, using, manufacturing, or adapting
of over 10 tonnes of mutagenic chemicals or products.
- Highly mechanized process utilizing over 2000 watts of
power supplied by diesel or public generation process.
- The manufacture, generation and transmitting of over 2000
watts of power.
- The manufacture, storage, adopting or utilizing of any
chemical recorded on the hazardous chemical list.
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The following is taken from a document prepared
by the Department entitled "A Policy for Major Hazardous
Installations".
In recent times the number of minor, serious and fatal accidents
that have occurred in a class of factory, hereafter called
Major Hazardous installations, has been a source of concern
to this department. According to the Heinrich theory a trail
of many minor accidents will lead to death and disaster. Subsequently,
it is the aim of this programme to reduce accidents in hazardous
installations and consequently break the link to death and
disaster.
In the absence of regulations governing these installations,
and taking into consideration the progress of the proposed
Occupational Safety and Health Act, this policy will provide
support for a transition path to move from the Factories Act
to the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
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General
Requirements |
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| Written safety policy |
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A safety policy stating the intention of the establishment
to uphold the standards of safety and showing the commitment
of the management to this policy shall be developed, signed
by management and displayed in a suitable position that all
staff members are aware of management’s commitment to
safety. |
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| Hazard map |
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A map of the premises indicating the location of hazards is
to be provided using the following code: |
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- Fire /explosion hazards – red
- Chemical hazards – green
- Biological hazards– yellow
- Radiation hazards– blue
- Physical hazards – black
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A qualitative analysis and description of the hazard should
also be provided |
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| Process map |
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A line diagram showing the stages of process with the appropriate
labels and notes attached to out line the general processing
stages. This diagram is not intended to contain trade secrets
or information critical to security. |
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| Establish and maintain
a functioning safety committee |
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Under the requirements of the ILO recommendations safety
committees are required for establishments with 20 or more persons
in employ and in establishments where the minister so order.
Hazardous installations fall under section 30 of the proposed
Occupational Safety and Health Law. The ministry is therefore
treating this requirement as crucial and integral to any Safety
and Health programme in hazardous installations. The committee
so established is expected to comply with the requirements of
the ILO recommendation.
It will be the duty of the safety committee to ensue that
regular inspections are carried out
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| Reports of regular inspections |
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Regular inspections of the establishment shall be carried
out. A copy of the findings of these inspections should be kept
available for the ministry’s inspectors to scrutinize
on request. Suitable qualified persons, such as safety wardens,
safety committee members or safety officer capable of identifying
and assessing hazards, must carry out these inspections. In
the absence of the above-mentioned persons, only persons trained
in hazard identification and assessment should be allowed to
carry out the inspection.
Reports should also include corrective actions to deal with
the defects/breaches when identified
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| Workplace Information
Systems including chemical registry (WIS) |
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A viable information system readily accessible to workers
must be developed and put in motion. This system can be as simple
as a chemical registry (a document where chemicals are listed
and workers are able to glean information on safe use and handling
of the chemicals used in the work place) to a computer system
listing all hazards showing where they are to be found and preventative
methods for reducing the effects of the hazards.
The nature of the information system will be assessed according
to needs and the nature of the activities of the establishment.
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| Safety & Health officer |
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A safety officer capable of advising the management of the
requirements of the law and the safety procedures for the safe
operations of the establishment should be appointed. Such a
person should have the necessary training and/or experience
to develop and maintain a suitable safety programme for the
establishment.
Given the nature of hazardous installation the experience
and training shall be equivalent to at least that of an industrial
safety inspector
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| A system of safety &
health training for workers |
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A suitable safety training for workers should be established
designed to acquaint all workers with the requirements for
safety. Such training should include:
- emergency evacuation procedures,
- safety requirements for tools & equipment and the
safe handling of chemicals, electricity, or radiation as
required.
- Permit to work systems
- Safe systems of work procedures
- Safe work practices
- Isolation and lockout programmes
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| Emergency evacuation |
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An emergency evacuation system shall be drafted and implemented.
All workers should be well acquainted with this plan. The plan
should be rehearsed at least twice in ever year
Given the propensity for disaster in these facilities this
plan should be linked to an established liaison with the fire
fighting and emergency services
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| Regisration with the office
of disaster preparedness |
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High hazard installations shall be registered with the office
of disaster preparidness staging the nature of the hazard so
that a national strategy can be establsisehd |
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| Mitigation and containment
strategy |
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A suitable emergency plan, outlining the requirements and
procedures for fire fighting, spill containment, and hazard
management. Should be developed and documented. Such a document
must be made available to the inspectors on request. All workers
should be familiar with these procedures |
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| Signs and signals |
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Adequate and suitable signs, signals, or posters should be
posted so as to provide sufficient warning for workers. Such
signs or posters should be conspicuously displayed in area where
they are readily seen and easily read. |
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| Clearly demarked areas |
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Where heavy equipment or mechanical transporters operate in
areas where workers must also operate, suitable markings denoting
the areas for mechanical transport separate for humans should
be clearly marked on the ground. Where necessary suitable guardrails
and handrails should be installed.
They should indicate among other things, High Risk Areas,
safety glasses area, hearing protection areas, etc.
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