Chlorine Gas Disinfection Facility Safety Guidelines & Chemical Safe Handling Recommendations

www.ablewright.com

By Doug Mitch / Able Wright, Inc.

The following safety guidelines are provided for managers & operators of chlorine gas feed systems, and they are intended to be useful in Safety Meeting presentations and facility planning. This technical data has been provided courtesy of Severn Trent Services / Capital Controls…

General

The safe handling of chlorine gas and a safe chlorination system includes a proper facilities design, an operation and maintenance program, the proper safety equipment, and an emergency action plan. This bulletin will cover some of these elements and some data about the chemical and physical characteristics of chlorine.

Chlorine Data

Chlorine is a greenish-yellow gas under ambient conditions, nonflammable, and about 2.5 times heavier than air. Chlorine is toxic and irritating to skin, eyes, nose, and mucus membranes. Liquid chlorine, amber in color, causes severe irritation and blistering of skin. Chlorine should only be used in a well ventilated area with easy access to an eye wash and shower. Exposure to low concentrations of chlorine gas will cause burning nose, throat, redness in the face and coughing. Higher concentrations will cause tightness in the throat and chest; and pulmonary edema. Concentrations of 1000 ppm are rapidly fatal.

OSHA/EPA Data

Permissible Exposure Level (PEL): 0.5 ppm/v

Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) 15 minutes: 1.0 ppm/v

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH): 50 ppm/v

Effects Data

Least detectable odor: 0.02-0.2 ppm

Slight symptoms after several hours exposure: 1 ppm

Maximum amount that can be inhaled for one hour without serious disturbances: 4 ppm

Noxiousness, difficulty in breathing after several minutes: 5 ppm

Irritation of the throat: 15 ppm

Causes coughing: 30 ppm

Safety Equipment

1. Provide the following:

a. Two (2) pressure-demand type air masks for working in a leak area. Locate one (1) at a prominently marked, easily accessible location outside the chlorine room. Locate the second at a location remote to permit access in time of need. Provide spare 30-minute air tanks at a remote location.

b. Chlorine gas detector

c. Chlorine Institute approved Emergency Repair Kit

d. Emergency eye wash

2. Have available:

a. Colored vests

b. Flash lights

c. Safety helmets, goggles

d. Life lines

e. Communication devices

Emergency Action Plan

1. Ensure that community fire, medical and HazMat personnel are trained in chlorine emergency procedures.

2. Train plant emergency crew

3. Prepare a written emergency control plan

a. List do´s and don´ts

b. Training responsibilities

c. Conduct classroom training

d. Schedule regular drills

4. Conduct Training Program:

a. Duplicate excitement

b. Simulate gas with smoke bombs

c. Enact worst case, day/night

d. Conduct unscheduled drills

e. Critique drills

f. Record on video tape

5. Use Chlorine Institute Pamphlet #64 - "Emergency Control Planning" as a guide.

6. Contact CHEMTREC at 800-424-9300, a public service HotLine for first responders.

7. Establish fast access and exit routes. Prepare escape plans from areas where there might be a chlorine emission. (Move uphill and upwind of a chlorine leak)

8. Two persons should make the repairs on a leak. Never repair the equipment alone.

9. Spray water on containers only if there is a fire hazard (water will cool the container to prevent the fusible plug from melting). Water sprayed on a leaking container will make the leak worse.

10. Position a leaking container so the chlorine escaping is gas, not liquid.

First Aid for Chlorine Exposure

1. Inhalation

a. Remove the victim from the contaminated area

b. Keep the victim warm in a reclined position with the head and shoulders elevated

c. Give artificial respiration if necessary

d. Administer oxygen as soon as possible

e. Call a physician immediately

2. Skin Contact

a. Shower victim, removing all contaminated clothing

b. Wash affected area with soap and water

c. Call physician immediately.

3. Eye Contact

a. Irrigate eyes with water for 15 minutes holding the eye lids wide apart

b. Call physician immediately

c. Irrigate for a second 15 minute period if the physician is not immediately available

Engineers & Operators: If we can be of assistance to you during design or upgrade of a chlorine gas disinfection facility – give us a call. We offer design assistance, technical field service and prompt delivery of spare part kits & replacement components for gas feed equipment, as well as coordination of factory rebuilds.

Contact us at:

Able Wright, Inc.

PO Box 849

Plains, MT 59859

(406)250-8389

www.ablewright.com

AbleWright@blackfoot.net

Doug Mitch is the founder and President of Able Wright, Inc. – a provider of water treatment equipment and technical services, specializing in disinfection and chemical feed applications in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington.

www.AbleWright.com