Brochure Dry Cleaning En

8/10/2019 Brochure Dry Cleaning En

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ON END OPEN

Cleaning anddry cleaning sector

www.chemicalscampaign.eu

SLIC

Senior Labour

Inspectors

Committee Financed by the European Union

Hazardous substances:

Be aware, assess and protect


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This leaflet provides information on the risks of exposure to hazardous substances used in dry

cleaning and other cleaning operations (for example, domestic cleaning).

Workers may be exposed to various hazardous substances during cleaning operations. Some

of them contain high risks, such as the organic solvent perchloroethylene, which may enter

the human body when the vapours are inhaled or when it comes into contact with the

skin. Symptoms of exposure include: Loss of memory

Dizziness

Headaches

Irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract

What should employers doto assess the health and safety risks to exposed workers and to

decide on the necessary preventive measures?

1. Identify the hazards and assess the types of risk resulting from operations carried

out in their workplace.2. Select the preventive or risk control measures they should use.

3. Always re-examine these measures to check whether they remain adequate and

whether any new risks have emerged.

WHAT MEASURES?These may be collective protection, work organisation or personal protective equipment (PPE)

measures.

How are collective protection measures implemented? By fitting specially adapted devices to the work equipment or premises.

NOTE:When designing premises or purchasing equipment, you should ensure that safety

features are fully integrated.

How can work be organised in order to eliminate or reduce risk?

For example, by reducing the exposure time of each worker, exposing fewerworkers to risk, removing risks from areas where workers are present and storing

products and materials correctly.

What kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used?

It should be borne in mind that PPE is always an additional or supplementary

measure. The best solutions are those which opt for fully integrated safety,

collective protection or work organisation measures.

There are various types of PPE, such as masks, gloves, goggles, aprons and boots.

Consult the product label or material safety data sheet to find out which should

be used (see the final page).


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3Cleaning and dry cleaning sector

Is there any document that provides information on the substances used?

Yes. You can find detailed information in the material safety data sheets.

Additionally, the labels on the packaging of each product contain information

which should be studied. Read them carefully!

How can exposure to hazardous substances be reduced in dry cleaning premises?

There are technologies which enable exposure to perchloroethylene to be reduced, such as

the use of a wet cleaning process whenever possible.

DRY CLEANING EQUIPMENTDry cleaning equipment should be kept as far away from workers as possible to ensure that they

only remain close to it for short periods of time.

The greatest source of exposure for workers occurs when the dry cleaning machines are loaded

and unloaded. When new machines are purchased, preference should be given to those fitted

with refrigeration and carbon absorbers.

Maintenance of the equipment is very important, since it not only increases their useful life

and performance but also reduces the exposure of workers, as a machine in poor conditioncan result in greater exposure to solvents.

During maintenance, great attention should be paid to the vapour recovery systems and

checks should be carried out to ensure that liquids and vapours are not escaping into the

tubes and pipes of the equipment itself. Whilst carrying out maintenance work, workers

should wear individual protective equipment (gloves, goggles and mask).

No. Why?There is no separation between the

equipment and the areas where workers arebased, meaning that they are always exposed

to vapours.

Yes. Why?The dry cleaning equipment is

installed in an area which workers only go tofor short periods of time.


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What preventive measures should be implemented?

The workplace should be ventilated and maintained at a constant temperature.

The ventilation should be installed in a way that prevents vapours from reaching

the respiratory tract of workers.

Ventilation should be supplemented by capturing and eliminating vapours close

to the area where they are produced or released (local exhaust ventilation) or by

systems to dilute the vapour concentrations (general exhaust ventilation).

Work equipment should not be allowed to release vapours.

The best solution is a machine with integrated exhaust ventilation, which employers may opt

for when purchasing new equipment. A vacuum system fitted near the door may be used on

older machines to capture vapours whenever it is opened and to prevent the door from being

opened when the vapour concentration in the drum is above 300 ppm.

WARNINGKeep workplaces ventilated and at

temperatures suitable for the physical well-

being of workers. Expose only the minimum

number of people to vapours.

No. Why? The pipes are not properly installed

and the equipment is not checked regularly. The

vapours released into the workplace are harmful

to workers.

Yes. Why? The equipment is insulated, the

pipe leads directly to the exterior and is in

good condition. Maintenance is efficient.

Workers are protected.


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GOOD WORKING PRACTICES

Prevention of exposure to vapours also involves adopting good practices. The employee is

responsible for training workers and informing them about the risks to which they are exposed

and the working practices they should adopt to avoid exposure. The following are examples

of good practice:

Do not open the door when the machine is running.

Do not reduce the drying time.

Keep the door closed whenever you are not loading or unloading clothes.

When loading or unloading clothes, keep your head as far away from the machine

door as possible.

Never put your head inside the machine. If an article of clothing becomes stuck in

the machine, use a suitable tool to remove it.

HOW CAN EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES BE REDUCEDIN OTHER CLEANING OPERATIONS?When cleaning, workers may be exposed to:

Perchloroethylene, if they are cleaning clothes

Ammonium compounds, if cleaning floors, glass, toilets or when waxing Isopropanol and acids, when cleaning glass and toilets

Surface-active agents, which are considered the main active component in most cleaning

agents, may cause skin problems. Cleaning products used in the most common operations

are usually mixtures of different chemicals, including respiratory and dermatological irritants

and sensitising agents.

The use of diluted bleach, air fresheners and aerosols by domestic cleaners who have asthma

or chronic bronchitis has been associated with a worsening of pulmonary diseases. Carpet

shampoos and floor cleaning products which contain ethanolamine as an active substance

are the main cause of respiratory diseases.

No. Why?The door of the machine should only

be left open for the minimum amount of time

necessary.

Yes. Why? The worker is waiting for the

machine to end the cleaning cycle and will

only open the door when the sign is displayed.


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WHAT IS STATED ON THE LABELS?All containers for hazardous products or preparations must be duly labelled.

Labels must be legible and contain the following information:

Name of product

Identity of manufacturer

Importer or distributor

Risk warnings

Safety warnings

Hazard pictograms or symbols

HOW DO YOU READ THE LABEL?

WHICH SYMBOLS ARE USED ON LABELS?In Europe, hazards are identified in accordance with Annex II of Directive 67/548/EEC.

The symbols mean the following:

1. Highly flammable (F) and Extremelyflammable (F+)

2. Toxic (T) and Very toxic (T+)

3. Corrosive (C)

4. Oxidising (O)

5. Harmful (Xn)

6. Irritant (Xi)

7. Explosive (E)

8. Dangerous for the environment

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

IDENTIFYING HAZARDS (in accordance with Annex II of EC Directive 67/548)

IDENTIFICATION OF PRODUCT(Substance or preparation)

ABCDE-33Contains...

XXX Plc

ABY St.

Tel: ...

COMPOSITION

(List of hazardous

substances contained

in the preparation,

according to concentration

and toxicity)

NAME OF ENTITY

RESPONSIBLE

FOR SALES

(Name, address and

phone number)

R 11-23/25:

Toxic by inhalation and if swallowed

Highly flammable

S7-16-24-45:

Keep container tightly closed

Keep away from sources of ignition no smoking

Avoid contact with skin

In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice

immediately (show the label where possible)

PREVENTION

MEASURES(S phrases)

(In accordance with

Annex IV of EC

Directive 67/548)

DESCRIPTION

OF RISK(R phrases)

(In accordance with

Annex III of EC

Directive 67/548)

NOTE:In addition to symbols indicating toxic,

harmful and irritant substances, you may also

find carcinogenic, sensitisation, mutagenic

or reproductive toxicant symbols identified

by means of a characteristic R phrase.a

T

Toxic

F

Highly

flammable


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For further information, please contact:

The new classification system for hazard symbols shown below, developed in order to create

the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling, may already appear on some

labels.

Physical hazards

1 - Explosive / Self-Reactive / Organic peroxides2 Flammable / Self-Reactive / Pyrophoric / Self-heating

/ Emits flammable gas / Organic peroxides3 Oxidiser

4 Gas under pressure

5 Corrosive

Health Hazards

1 - Acutely toxic2 Irritant / Skin sensitisation / Acutely toxic / Narcotic effect

/ Respiratory tract irritant

3 Carcinogenic / Respiratory sensitisation / Reproductive toxicity

/ Specific organ toxicity / Mutagenic / Inhalation toxicity

4 Corrosive

Environmental hazards

1 - Toxic for the environment

What are l safety data sheets?

The safety data sheet enables you to identify whether hazardous

chemical agents are present in the products used and helps you assess

the risks to the health and safety of workers resulting from the use ofthese agents.

When delivering a hazardous substance, or even before doing so, every

manufacturer, importer and/or distributor must send the user a safety

data sheet containing the information needed to protect human life and the environment. The

information contained in the safety data sheet must be written in the official language of the

Member State in which the workplace is located.

If this is not the case, you should demand this from your manufacturer or supplier.

The ACT is solely responsible for the contents of this publication

Examples only. For further information, consult the labels.

Documents

Brochure Dry Cleaning En