A mining regulator has issued a warning regarding the inherent safety risks of hand sanitisers including the potential ignition of vapours from hand sanitisers from light switches and electrical outlets.
The West Australian Mine Safety regulator has highlighted that many hand sanitisers contain either ethyl alcohol (ethanol) or isopropyl alcohol (propanol).
“Alcohol-based hand sanitisers contain very high percentages of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. These types of alcohol are classified as flammable liquids, so they both present a fire hazard. The flash points of ethanol (80 per cent volume by volume) and isopropyl alcohol (75 per cent volume by volume) are 17.5°C and 19°C, respectively.”
DMIRS Dangerous Goods Safety Bulletin No. 0120
READ RELATED
- Driver escapes serious injury at Mount Arthur(Opens in a new browser tab)
- Mineworker crushed by hydraulic stairs – again!(Opens in a new browser tab)
- Miners receive serious injuries in rib fall(Opens in a new browser tab)
Hand sanitiser safety tips
The WA regulator has made a number of recommendations to prevent hazards associated with hand sanitisers including
- Keep hand sanitisers out of reach of children.
- Keep containers tightly closed when not in use.
- Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, hot surfaces etc. No smoking.
- Use hand sanitisers in a ventilated space – do not use liquid sanitiser inside confined spaces without plenty of ventilation when applying (e.g. inside cars without windows down).
- Do not keep hand sanitisers inside cars during warm or hot weather.
- Keep away from oxidising agents (e.g. granulated pool chlorine).
- Hand sanitiser dispensers should not be placed above or close to potential sources of ignition, such as light switches and electrical outlets, or next to oxygen cylinders, due to the increased risk of vapour igniting.
You can read the Regulator’s hand sanitiser safety bulletin here
Read more Mining Safety News
Add Comment