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Contents Acknowledgments ................................... vi Introduction .................................... 1 Who is this manual for? ................................1 Terms associated with regulatory requirements .............2 What is chlorine? ................................ 3 Uses ................................................4 Hazards of chlorine .............................. 5 Health hazards .......................................5 Fire ................................................7 Chemical action ......................................7 Corrosive action ......................................8 Employer responsibilities .......................... 9 Health and safety programs .............................9 Where to look for information in the Regulation ...........10 Written safe work procedures ..........................11 WHMIS programs. 11 Exposure control plans .............................12 Risk assessments and written work procedures for toxic process gases .............................12 Personal protective equipment (PPE) programs .........12 Written emergency procedures ......................13 Preventive maintenance procedures ..................13 Checking on a worker working alone .................14 Training, instruction, and supervision ....................15 Supervisors ......................................15 Working safely around chlorine .................... 16 Containers. .16 Storing chlorine .....................................17 Signage and location ..............................17 Housekeeping ....................................17 Handling chlorine ....................................18 Moving containers ................................18 Working with valves. 18 Repair and maintenance ...............................19 Identifying chlorine leaks ...........................20 Safe Work Practices for Chlorine iii Hazard recognition ...................................20 Moisture ........................................20 Foreign material ..................................20 Heat ............................................21 Written safe work procedures — examples ........... 22 Example one: Changing chlorine cylinders ................22 Example two: Detecting and controlling leaks .............25 Leak indicated after cylinder change ..................25 Chlorine alarm activated during routine operation of the system ....................................25 Preparing for emergencies ........................ 28 Written emergency procedures .........................28 Emergency equipment ................................30 Eyewash and shower facilities .......................30 First aid kits ......................................31 Chlorine-container emergency kits ...................31 Investigating incidents ........................... 32 Preventing and controlling exposure ................ 33 Elimination or substitution .............................33 Engineering controls ..................................33 Chlorine enclosure ................................33 Ventilation .......................................35 Automatic or remote shutdown device ................36 Administrative controls. .36 Alarm systems ....................................36 Fixed monitors ...................................38 Handheld and personal monitors ....................38 Personal protective equipment (PPE) ....................38 Eye protection ....................................38 Skin protection ...................................38 Respiratory protection .............................38 Tips for selecting respiratory protection ..................42 Person-check system .................................44 First aid ...................................... 45 Chlorine inhalation ...................................45 Skin contact with chlorine .............................46 Eye contact with chlorine ..............................47 iv Safe Work Practices for Chlorine Other resources ................................ 48 WorkSafeBC ........................................48 The Chlorine Institute .................................49 Standards ..........................................49 Other regulatory agencies .............................49 Chlorine enclosures ..................................50 Safe Work Practices for Chlorine v Acknowledgments WorkSafeBC thanks the following organizations and their representatives who either helped compile the information in the first edition of this manual or reviewed this new edition: • BC Ministry of Health • BC Recreation and Parks Association, Aquatic Recreation Branch • BC Water and Waste Association • Chem-Aid Services Inc. • City of Fort St. John • Metro Vancouver • Greater Victoria Water Supply Area • ICI Canada • Municipality of Delta • Teknowledgies Consulting Group Ltd. • Evoqua Water Technologies/Wallace & Tiernan Canada Inc. (previously named USFilter/ Wallace & Tiernan Canada Inc.) • Northwest Safework Solutions Inc. • ClearTech • The Chlorine Institute vi Safe Work Practices for Chlorine Introduction Chlorine is a powerful oxidizing agent commonly used for Note disinfection and bleaching. In both gas and liquid forms, it is a toxic All references in this substance that presents a number of hazards. If proper precautions manual are also listed are not taken while working with or around pure chlorine, serious in “Other resources” on injury or death can result. pages 48–50. If you as an employer fail to take the necessary precautions to protect your workers against exposure to chlorine, they can become seriously injured and even die from exposure-related injury. In order to prevent such exposures, there are legal requirements for employers and workers in workplaces where there is chlorine. These requirements are detailed in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. This manual doesn’t replace the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation This manual is meant to give you a basic understanding of your health and safety requirements, but you should also refer to the Regulation to be sure you’re meeting your legal responsibilities for workplace health and safety. You can find a searchable version of the Regulation and its accompanying OHS Guidelines at worksafebc.com/law-policy. Who is this manual for? This manual is meant for workers and employers in industries that use, produce, or store chlorine. Workplaces most commonly associated with potential chlorine exposure are those that use it as a disinfectant, such as public pools and