BOS 3640 Unit V Research Paper

Unit V Research Paper

Name

BOS 3640 Interactions of Hazardous Materials

Columbia Southern University

Unit V Research Paper

To discuss oxidizers and Process Safety Management (PSM) one must first ask a few questions. What are oxidizers? What is process safety management exactly, how does it impact chemical safety? After answering these questions, one gets a clearer picture what how these two terms can be tied together. There are three common terms used for oxidizers. Oxidizers being one of those terms and the other two terms are oxidants, or oxidizing agents, the last is mostly used by those that work in the field of chemistry. Only knowing the terms isn’t enough to fully understand what an oxidizer or oxidizing agent is, one must be able to define these terms and understand the chemical properties, uses, and hazards of oxidizers.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have similar but slightly different definitions or classifications of what an oxidizer is. The DOT defines an oxidizer as a chemical that may enhance or support the combustion of other materials, generally by yielding its oxygen. OSHA defines an oxidizer as any gas, liquid, or solid substance that voluntarily yields oxygen or other oxidizing gas that willingly reacts to encourage or start combustion of combustible materials, (Myer, 2014). When one breaks down these definitions into layman terms an oxidizer is any type of chemical or reactant that requires a fuel to burn. Common oxidizers looked at further in this paper are nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and fluorine.

Oxidizers or oxidizing agents are used in plenty of methods and products in today’s society, disinfection of water, household cleaning, and bleaching of fabrics. This is accomplished through oxidation-reduction reactions, the simple process is combining an oxidizer with a reducing agent to create a product that can be used to clean, disinfect water or bleach fabrics, (2020). As one can imagine there are plenty of hazards that can be linked to using an oxidizer depending on the use or route of exposure. Some of these hazards are fire, oxidizers can be both toxic and corrosive if inhaled, ingested of contact is made with eyes or skin. These hazards can be prevented if one is safe and stay below the oxidizers occupational exposure limits (OELs). To avoid hazards with the previously listed common oxidizers the user must stay below the following OELs: nitric acid – 2 parts per million (ppm) in an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA), sulfuric acid – 0.1 milligrams/meter cubed (mg/m3), hydrogen peroxide – 1 ppm in an 8-hour time TWA, fluorine – 0.1 ppm in an 8-hour time TWA. Additionally, one can prevent safety issues by utilizing a PSM program.

PSM is a method used for preventing industrial disasters through hazard analysis, training, prestart up safety reviews, compliance audits, incident investigations, and emergency planning, (Wirth, 2017). When these methods are used by companies that deal with oxidizers and oxidizing agents it enables them to have a better chance of for preventing or minimizing the consequences of a significant oxidizer related incidents. PSM program requirement as outlined by OSHA standard 1910.119 are employee participation, process safety information, process hazard analysis, operating procedures, pre-startup safety review, training, emergency planning and response, compliance audits, and incident investigation, (OSHA, n.d.).

Following the OSHA standard that outlines a good PSM program is immensely important to an operation such as a water treatment facility that utilizes liquefied chlorine gas for water treatment. The OEL for liquefied chlorine gas is 0.5 ppm in an 8-hour time TWA. It is listed as very toxic and fatal if inhaled so having adherence to a PSM that follows the OSHA standard can save the lives of worker that have the potential to be exposed to this oxidizer. If an accidental incident occurs with this oxidizer and the facility doesn’t have a PSM program that ensures employees are trained, emergency response is instinctual than lives can be lost with over exposure to this chemical.

To conclude this paper identified, defined and discussed what oxidizers are as well as discussed, some common oxidizers. Additionally, covered were the OELs for each of these common oxidizers and hazards associated with oxidizers. Also covered was the importance of a PSM program, what is required by the OSHA standard and the importance a PSM program has on a water treatment facility. PSM is very important to chemical safety and it is essential that when a company utilizes oxidizers their program is very sound and meets the requirements to protect the safety of not only workers, but delivery and shipping personnel, and the environment.

Reference:

Meyer, E. (2014). Chemistry of hazardous materials (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Process safety management of highly

hazardous chemicals. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.119

Wirth, O. (2017). COMMENTARY: Process Safety: Look Looking Beyond Personal Safety to

Address Occupational Hazards and Risks. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 37(3/4), 347–355. https://doi-org.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/10.1080/01608061.2017.1367751

Unit V Study Guide Chemistry of Some Oxidizers (2020). Retrieved from https://online.columbiasouthern.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/CSEG_Content/Courses/CSES/BOS/BOS3640/14I/Student/CSU/LPL20191206/UnitV.pdf