Transcript Maintenance and dangerous substances – Best practice examples Klaus Kuhl Kooperationsstelle (Cooperation Centre) Hamburg IFE GmbH, Germany Presentation at the workshop “Maintenance and dangerous substances” during the conference “Maintenance.

Maintenance and
dangerous substances –
Best practice examples
Klaus Kuhl
Kooperationsstelle (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, Agency
Brussels, 25 November 2010
Overview
Substitution
Databases
The CatSub database
Examples – substitution of chemicals used in
maintenance processes
Short evaluation of CatSub
Statement
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Chemicals used in maintenance work
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)
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Main factors not to substitute
Uncertainty and ‘Never change a running process’
No priority neither at enterprises nor in practical governance
Dealing with the current problems is already too laborious
No additional problems by an unnecessary innovative approach
(existing standards etc.)
Uncertainty in risk assessment – Shift of risks
Substitutes are less tested in practice
Integration in the production chain makes an
innovation beyond enterprise borders necessary
Technological or economic difficulties
Service companies have often hardly any influence in
selecting chemicals
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SMEs need “ready solutions”
Thoroughly tested solutions
Application in similar conditions
Manageability of technological and quality
difficulties
Contact persons
Cost-benefit analysis
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Databases can be of help for SMEs when
looking for substitution possibilities
Easy access
Internet
Search tools
Search possibilities e.g. for chemicals, sectors, …
allowing to get to the needed information fast
Description of conditions
Specifications of conditions of use
Contact persons
Contact to ask further questions
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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


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Responsible:
Lone Wibroe, DK
Contact:
Lone Wibroe
CatSub – cleaning of injectors
Photo: Wikipedia
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CatSub – polyester casting
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CatSub – brake cleaning
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CatSub – replacing dichloromethane
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CatSub – in short
Description
Sectors
Limitations
SMEs
Data base containing
best-practice
examples regarding
the substitution of
hazardous
substances
All sectors and all
company sizes
In total ca. 300 cases
Language problem
for SMEs.
Further contacts are
given
Free text search
Sector search
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Rarely cost-benefit
statements
Most cases in Danish
Less cases in other
languages: English,
French ca. 150 each,
German 2
Last slide
Thank you for your attention
and contributions!
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Statement
More clear guidance on how dangerous
substances can be avoided or substituted
with non- or less dangerous agents is
urgently needed especially for the SMEs.
The current offers are no way satisfactory.
Especially the associations and the
manufacturers need to do more.
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