Maintenance and dangerous substances –

Best practice examples

Klaus KuhlKooperationsstelle (Cooperation Centre) Hamburg IFE GmbH, Germany

Presentation at the workshop “Maintenance and dangerous substances” during the conference “Maintenance work: do it safely”organised by Belgian Presidency, Commission, AgencyBrussels, 25 November 2010

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OverviewOverview

Substitution

Databases

The CatSub database

Examples – substitution of chemicals used in maintenance processes

Short evaluation of CatSub

Statement

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Dirt

Cleaning agents, media (solvents, aqueous agents, blasting media including dry ice CO2, ..)

Substances in machines, buildings (hydraulic oils, cooling lubricants, brake fluids, gases, …)

Substances used for the maintenance/repair work (paint strippers, substances for crack detection, oils, greases, glues, epoxides, paints, gases …)

Substances developed during the processes (dust, fumes, DME, vapours, hydrogen from battery charging, …)

Finalising the work (waste)

Chemicals used in maintenance workChemicals used in maintenance work

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Integration in the production chain makes aninnovation beyond enterprise borders necessary

Substitutes are less tested in practice

Uncertainty in risk assessment – Shift of risks

Technological or economic difficulties

Service companies have often hardly any influence in selecting chemicals

No priority neither at enterprises nor in practical governanceDealing with the current problems is already too laboriousNo additional problems by an unnecessary innovative approach (existing standards etc.)

Uncertainty and Uncertainty and ‘‘Never change a running processNever change a running process’’

Main factors Main factors not not to substituteto substitute

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Thoroughly tested solutions

Application in similar conditions

Manageability of technological and quality difficulties

Contact persons

Cost-benefit analysis

SMEs need “ready solutions”SMEs need “ready solutions”

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Easy accessEasy accessInternet

Search toolsSearch toolsSearch possibilities e.g. for chemicals, sectors, … allowing to get to the needed information fast

Description of conditionsDescription of conditionsSpecifications of conditions of use

Contact personsContact personsContact to ask further questions

Databases can be of help for SMEs when Databases can be of help for SMEs when looking for substitution possibilitieslooking for substitution possibilities

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Responsible:Lone Wibroe, DK

Contact:Lone Wibroe

Responsible:Lone Wibroe, DK

Contact:Lone Wibroe

CatSub (www.catsub.eu)CatSub (www.catsub.eu)

Catalogue of examples of substitution of hazardous chemicals - case stories describing successful substitutions with less hazardous chemicals.

The case stories primarily come from companies, occupational health services and the Danish Working Environment Authority

Catalogue of examples of substitution of hazardous chemicals - case stories describing successful substitutions with less hazardous chemicals.

The case stories primarily come from companies, occupational health services and the Danish Working Environment Authority

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CatSub – cleaning of injectorsCatSub – cleaning of injectors

Photo: Wikipedia

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CatSub – polyester castingCatSub – polyester casting

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CatSub – brake cleaningCatSub – brake cleaning

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CatSub – replacing dichloromethaneCatSub – replacing dichloromethane

Description Sectors Limitations SMEs

Data base containing best-practice examples regarding the substitution of hazardous substances

Further contacts are given

Free text search Sector search

All sectors and all company sizes

In total ca. 300 cases

Rarely cost-benefit statements

Most cases in Danish

Less cases in other languages: English, French ca. 150 each, German 2

Language problem for SMEs.

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CatSub – in shortCatSub – in short

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Thank you for your attention Thank you for your attention and contributions!and contributions!

Last slideLast slide

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More clear guidance on how dangerous More clear guidance on how dangerous substances can be avoided or substituted substances can be avoided or substituted with non- or less dangerous agents is with non- or less dangerous agents is urgently needed especially for the SMEs.urgently needed especially for the SMEs. The current offers are no way satisfactory.The current offers are no way satisfactory.

Especially the associations and the Especially the associations and the manufacturers need to do more.manufacturers need to do more.

StatementStatement