Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00420:reg:15:p17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00420
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 15 (pt 17/22)
Character Range: 240727–243580

components are collected in a metal basket and then manually transferred into
the solvent vapour-degreasing unit to remove the oil. Trichloroethylene is used as the degreasing solvent. One operator runs the press and the degreasing unit.

Information about the chemical classification:
Manufacturer's SDS and label indicate that trichloroethylene (a volatile solvent) is a hazardous chemical. The oil is not classified as a hazardous chemical.

Health effects for the different routes of exposure:
The SDS indicates that exposure through inhalation can affect the central nervous system and organs such as the liver, lungs and kidneys. Skin and eye irritation can also occur on contact.

Physicochemical hazards of the chemical
Stable at normal conditions, and stable under recommended storage conditions.
Flammability – substance is not flammable. However, it decomposes in a fire giving off toxic fumes: hydrogen chloride gas
Conditions to avoid: Keep away from open flames, hot surfaces and sources of ignition.
Materials to avoid: Incompatible with strong bases and oxidizing agents, alkaline metals / alkaline earth metals.

Exposure standard:
The exposure standard for trichloroethylene is 10 ppm (parts per million) in air averaged over
an 8-hour period. Trichloroethylene also has a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 40 ppm averaged over a 15 minute period.

Controls already in place

Task: normal operation
The degreaser is fitted with a cooling coil to prevent escape of the hot vapour. The baskets are lowered into, and raised out of the degreaser at a pre-set controlled rate (slow speed) using a winch to minimise vapours being dragged out of the unit.

Task: cleaning out the sludge
Before the operator enters the degreaser to clean out the sludge, the solvent is drained out of the unit. A half-face respirator and gloves are worn. This task is carried out approximately three times a year.

Task: storage areas
The chemical is stored away from incompatible materials.

Routes of exposure
Considering the nature of the hazardous chemical and the task during normal operation, the main route of exposure is inhalation. There is very little potential for skin and eye contact during normal operation because of the way the components are handled and the solvent readily evaporates. This would also apply to ingestion.
When cleaning out the sludge at the bottom of the degreaser, there is the potential for significant skin and eye exposure in addition to inhalation.

Evaluation of risk to health
It was determined that there is a risk to health for the following reasons:
    * The degreaser is quite old and poorly maintained.
    * A very strong solvent odour can be detected in the vicinity of the degreaser, particularly when lifting the basket out. This is because the components trap the condensing solvent vapour.  In this case,