February 2021

38 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk February 2021 Industrial Cleaning SPECIAL FOCUS Ditching dirt – addressing the challenges of industrial cleaning F actories and plants are naturally a greasy environment with oils and coolants often dripping onto surfaces and floors; which in turn makes for further safety issues as workers tread in the spillage and spread the liquid into other areas of the factory. Keeping such areas clean and safe can be a challenge. Though manufacturing plants and industrial facilities are progressively becoming safer, cleaner and quieter, there are still opportunities to further reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety in the workplace. According to the HSE, Great Britain lost 28.2 million working days in 2018/19 due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries and it cost the European Union a reported € 476 billion a year in 2017 2 . Every year there are thousands of accidents and cases of ill health reported from activities at industrial and commercial facilities. Around one sixth of these accidents in Great Britain arise from slips, trips or falls. Another significant source of ill health in industrial and manufacturing settings can arise from exposure to hazardous materials such as metalworking fluids, oils, solvents and degreasers, as well as additives and contaminants such as metal fines. Common occupational diseases associated with hazardous materials include dermatitis and asthma, with around 200 cases of contact dermatitis reported to the European Prevention Initiative for Dermatological Malignancies every year as a result of exposure to cutting oils and coolants, for instance. Slips and trips sound relatively innocuous but can result in serious injuries like dislocations and broken bones and can mean long absences for employees affected. Employers are typically required to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees. In the UK, for example, this is mandated by the Health and Safety at Work Act. Measures required under the act include taking steps to control slip and trip risks as well as exposure to hazardous materials such as metalworking cutting fluids. Putting risk management first Considering operator risk is not only a regulatory and legal requirement, companies which fail to prioritise workplace safety also face significant reputational and commercial risks. The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for regulatory enforcement that can see substantial fines levied on companies and their directors. Given that breaching health and safety rules is a criminal offence in the UK, directors or responsible parties may even be jailed for major failings in risk management. In any event, companies must assess any potential risks to health and safety of employees and others and take appropriate action to put effective control measures in place. For example, HSE recommends cleaning up spills promptly to minimise the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals like metal working fluids and reduce the risk of slips and trips. HSE recommendations also include keeping absorbent materials to hand where there is a risk of a spillage, but this can potentially generate additional challenges. Industrial companies typically use blue paper roll to absorb and mop up spilled material or clean parts. However, any blue roll or rags which are used for this application then potentially become classed as hazardous waste which requires suitable management and disposal. Indeed, oily rags are classed as hazardous materials. The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that all waste oils (with the exception of edible oils), are “absolute hazardous” entries on the Waste Framework Directive’s “List of Waste” document. To ensure that a business remains compliant with European Union (EU) regulations, all wastes contaminated with oil, including rags used to mop- up spillages, must be safely stored before being disposed of by an accredited hazardous wastes contractor. If a business opts to transfer its Across Great Britain in 2019 there was an 85,000 work related ill health cases in the manufacturing industry 1 . With increased focus on safety and environmental performance even small changes can yield big health and safety benefits. Günes Yenen* looks at the options available to minimise risk to health and safety from slips and spillages.