KOSHA, Vol. 4 of "Physical Hazard Assessment Report of Chemical Substances"
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] #1. In August 2020, volatile gases were generated due to the decomposition of pesticide fungicide raw materials caused by temperature rise at an outdoor storage facility of a pesticide manufacturing plant in Ulsan.
#2. In August 2020, a fire and explosion accident occurred due to a temperature rise in drying equipment at a wastewater treatment plant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
#3. In January 2020, a fire and explosion occurred during the process of bringing paint pigment waste into an incinerator using an excavator at a waste disposal company in Ulsan.
The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (Director Kim Eun-ah) published a report analyzing the causes of actual fire and explosion accidents.
It is the "Physical Hazard Assessment Report of Chemical Substances" based on representative fire and explosion accidents that occurred in industrial sites last year.
The four volumes of the report published this time were disclosed through the institute’s website last year and cover fire and explosion accidents at workplaces caused by wastewater, pesticide, and paint raw materials that occurred in Ulsan and Gyeonggi Province last year.
The four volumes include △ Combustion characteristic evaluation of flammable solids according to GHS classification criteria, △ Thermal hazard assessment of pesticide raw materials, △ Physical hazard assessment of wastewater treatment process substances by evaporation concentration, △ Physical hazard assessment of paint pigments and waste.
The report contains combustion characteristics and dust explosion possibility evaluation of accident-causing substances such as wastewater, pesticide, and paint raw materials, analysis of flash point and ignition point, status and prevention measures of similar accidents, and institutional improvement points.
Including this report, a total of 55 "Physical Hazard Assessment Reports of Chemical Substances" are available on the agency’s research institute website.
The institute conducts physical hazard testing and assessment of chemical substances related to industrial accident investigation and industrial accident prevention projects.
Since 2006, based on scientific test results such as fire and explosion characteristics, reaction and stability using field investigations, literature surveys, and test equipment, the causes of accidents are identified and prevention measures are suggested.
Kim Eun-ah, Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, pointed out, "The use and handling volume of chemical substances in domestic industrial sites is increasing, raising the risk of fire and explosion," and said, "We will establish scientific evidence to set safety measures necessary for preventing fire and explosion accidents in industrial sites and prepare institutional improvement points by utilizing expert knowledge and test equipment."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
