Chemical Industries — including: Coke-oven by-products and coal-tar distillation products; Industrial gases (nitrogen, oxygen, acetylene, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, halogenated hydrocarbon, ozone, etc.); Industrial carbon; Alkalies and acids; Chromates and dichromates; Lead and its compounds; Electrochemicals (metallic sodium, potassium and magnesium, chlorates, perchlorates and peroxides); Electro-thermal products (artificial abrasive, calcium carbide); Nitrogenous compounds (cyanides, cyanamides and other nitrogenous compounds); Phosphorus and its compounds; Halogens and halogenated compounds (chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine); Explosives (including industrial explosives, detonators and fuses)
A hazardous process listed in the First Schedule to the Factories Act 1948 (s.2(cb)).
Typical industries: Heavy and fine chemical plants, chlor-alkali, industrial-gas plants, chromate/lead-chemical works, electrochemical and electro-thermal units, calcium-carbide plants, phosphorus and explosives manufacture.
Principal hazards
- Toxic/corrosive gases (chlorine, ammonia, SO2, ozone, HF)
- Hexavalent chromium and lead compounds
- Cyanides; phosphorus (white phosphorus); halogens
- Reactive metals (Na/K/Mg) and oxidisers (chlorates/peroxides)
- Explosives (blast/detonation); flammable industrial gases (acetylene, hydrogen)
Health effects
Acute gas poisoning and pulmonary oedema, chrome/lead/cyanide systemic toxicity and cancer, 'phossy jaw' and burns (phosphorus), fluorosis, blast and burn injuries, asphyxiation, severe chemical burns.
Key engineering controls
Fully closed and automated process with continuous toxic-gas detection and emergency isolation/scrubbing; chlor-alkali and electrolysis enclosure; inert handling of reactive metals; segregation and minimum-quantity storage of oxidisers/explosives with blast protection; on-site emergency plan under s.41A-41H.
PPE
- Air-fed / supplied-air respirators and escape SCBA
- Full encapsulating chemical suits and gloves
- Face shields/goggles
- Personal multi-gas monitors
- FR anti-static clothing
- Specialist PPE for explosives/reactive-metal handling
This page is a statutory / occupational-health reference for factory Occupational Health Centres. It is not medical or legal advice. Verify against the current bare Act, Rules and your State amendments before acting.