Dangerous Goods - The Cost of Ownership

Aside from making a profit, at the forefront of most practical business owners’ minds is how they can save on operational costs. What they often don’t realise is that using dangerous goods is costing them more in the long run!

The use of chemical products in day-to-day operations has become second nature to most enterprises. Chemicals are present in most workplaces no matter the industry: they’re in our cleaners, office furniture, electronics, and more. Depending on the industry, some companies rely on chemicals for their processes more heavily than others.

Hazardous Substances vs. Dangerous Goods

Some products are classified as ‘hazardous substances’ and others as ‘dangerous goods.’ These two terms may sound similar and are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but the definitions of each are significantly different. More importantly, their applications and the way they must be stored and handled can vary.

‘Hazardous substances’ refers to chemicals that can cause harm to human health, whether immediate or long-term. Exposure to such substances could cause poisoning, irritation, chemical burns, cancers, or other diseases.

Meanwhile, ‘dangerous goods’ refers to chemicals that can cause immediate damage to property and the environment, and/or result in serious injury to people – or worse, death. These chemicals can be corrosive, flammable, explosive, spontaneously combustible, toxic, oxidising, or radioactive.

Costs Involved with the Handling, Usage & Transportation of Dangerous Goods

It’s true that most dangerous goods are inexpensive compared with their safer counterparts. However, due to increasingly stringent WHS and environmental compliance laws, there are various factors that make choosing these substances less economical.

Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements can vary depending on the hazards a particular chemical presents. An assortment of PPEs offer protection for the head, face, ear, eye, body, respiratory system, hand, foot, and more.

It is the employer’s responsibility to source and supply appropriate PPE for their employees and to make sure that they fit each individual employee correctly. In addition, employers must ensure that their employees are sufficiently informed and trained in the importance of using PPE.

PPE will also need to be replaced every so often. Regular use of the PPE means it is subjected to wear and tear that can degrade effectiveness. Over time, the cost of PPE will add considerably to your operational expenses.

Shipping Dangerous Goods

Fact: Transporting dangerous goods is expensive. Not to mention, there are strict regulations that apply to shipping these types of substances that can complicate matters. The onus is on the shipper to ensure compliance with these protocols to avoid incidents and hefty non-compliance penalties.

Waste Management

There are four tiers to waste management to reduce its environmental impact: pollution prevention and source reduction; reuse or redistribution of unwanted, surplus materials; treatment, reclamation, and recycling of materials within the waste; and disposal through incineration, treatment, or land burial.

In the UK, the most common disposal method is landfill. Incineration, anaerobic digestion and other disposal methods are also used. Each year approximately 111million tonnes, or 57%, of all UK controlled waste (household, commercial and industrial waste) are disposed of in landfill sites.

Dangerous Goods Legislation & Storage

ECHA (European Chemical Agency) Since 2013, together with EU countries & the European Commission, has worked to identify substances of very high concern (#SVHC) & put measures in place to manage their risks. https://echa.europa.eu/

Post BREXIT Europe has implemented a number of additional measures through REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)

Under REACH, authorising uses of hazardous chemicals and restricting their placement on the market are two powerful instruments to manage chemical risks. Although their mechanisms work differently, they complement each other to protect health, safeguard the environment and ensure that companies can operate on a level playing field.

This new legislation implemented separately in the UK has forced the creation of a new database clearly defining every company’s relationship, responsibility & interaction with Chemicals, whether being a manufacturer, importer or user.

Once registered each (significant) purchase and delivery will be logged and tracked forcing those responsible, to comply with safety, storage, handling & distribution rules.

Aimed primarily at helping SMEs with safe storage of chemicals in their premises. It is imperative for enterprises that use and store dangerous goods to ensure that these guidelines are properly and strictly followed in order to avoid disasters such as what happened in Tianjin, China, in 2015, and many other similar catastrophes.

For many companies, this can mean a total overhaul of their structures and processes. Regular inspection of facilities and equipment is a must, as is updating of employee training and knowledge in safety procedures.

Dangerous Goods Disposal

According to GovUK. www.gov.uk/dispose-hazardous-waste

? You must make sure hazardous waste produced or handled by your business in England causes no harm or damage.

? You have responsibilities known as your ‘duty of care’.

? You must also meet extra requirements depending on whether you’re a waste:? producer or holder (you produce or store waste) ? carrier (you collect and transport waste) or ? consignee (you receive waste, such as for recycling or disposal)

Activities involving hazardous waste are more tightly regulated than those involving inert or non-hazardous waste. Besides the general waste management controls, e.g., duty of care, there are many provisions specific to hazardous waste, governing its classification, storage, handling, transport, treatment and disposal. Waste producers must complete a hazardous waste consignment note when sending waste for treatment or disposal.

The co-disposal of hazardous with non-hazardous waste at landfill sites has been banned since 2004. As a result, few landfill sites in the UK can accept hazardous waste, and waste producers must find alternative disposal methods or recovery options. If a landfill site is able to take hazardous waste, the waste must still be pre-treated to render it less hazardous (unless treatment is not a practical option, e.g., asbestos), making it considerably more expensive to dispose of.

The Effects of Dangerous Goods

On Workers

Personnel who are directly involved with handling, storing, transporting, or disposing dangerous goods are trained to do their jobs well. They know they must always be vigilant, alert, and prepared for anything. However, accidents can happen even to the most well-trained employee.

Constant risk of exposure to dangerous chemical products can take a toll on a person’s mind. And when their safety is also compromised, by putting them into contact with harmful chemicals, it can have lasting or devastating consequences.

On Assets

Some dangerous chemicals are not only harmful to humans, but they also pose a risk to your equipment. They can corrode items composed of metal, plastic, and rubber, among others, shortening the lifespan of your assets. This can mean anywhere from your storage containers, pipework, machinery, vehicles, etc.

Corroded equipment poses a serious risk to your entire operation, hence the need to regularly monitor, repair and maintain, or even replace them.

On the Environment

Dangerous chemicals that are classified as hazardous to the environment can cause acute and chronic toxicity. Emissions of these types of substances to air or water can cause long-term and far-reaching negative effects. They can kill organisms in lakes, rivers, or oceans; destroy forests; displace, sicken, or kill wildlife; and threaten the health of ecosystems.

Is it Worth it?

Environmental agencies on the national and international levels are systematically bearing down on hazardous substances and dangerous chemicals. Consumer demand for safer products are growing as more information on these chemicals is becoming readily available. Non-compliance with regulations comes at a steep price, not to mention litigation expenses when serious incidents occur.

Considering all the costs of dangerous goods ownership, there’s no question that the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits. Whilst it can seem more expensive at first glance, substituting dangerous goods for safer alternatives pays off in the long-term, reducing operational costs downstream.

More than the financial benefits to businesses, however, it’s important to think about protecting human and environmental health – for present and future generations – today.

CLEANING · CONTAINMENT · ABSORPTION · REMEDIATION

Credits:

Envirofluid, Australia,

https://app.croneri.co.uk/topics/duties-under-hazardous-waste-regulations/indepth