Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)RegulationsGeneral Safety Regulations, 19864. Use and storage of flammable liquids |
| 1) | No employer shall require or permit any person to work in a place where the vapour of any flammable liquid is generated to such an extent that it constitutes an actual or potential fire or explosion hazard or endangers the safety of any person, unless the provisions of subregulations (2) to (12) of this regulation are complied with. |
| 2) | No employer shall require or permit a flammable liquid to be used or applied other than in a room, cabinet or other enclosure specially constructed for this purpose of fire-resisting material or in a place which, owing to its situation or construction or any other feature or circumstance, is of such a nature that- |
| a) | no fire or explosion hazard is, can or may be created thereat; |
| b) | any vapour resulting from such use or application is efficiently dispersed and diluted into the atmosphere subject to the provisions of the Air Pollution Prevention Act, 1965 (Act 45 of 965); and |
| c) | no other workplace can or may be contaminated by such vapour. |
| 3) | An employer shall cause every room, cabinet or enclosure contemplated in subregulation (2) to be fitted with an efficient intake and exhaust ventilation system to remove any vapour therefrom and to prevent its recirculation in a manner which may lead to the contamination of any other workplace of the creation of a fire or explosion hazard: Provided that, notwithstanding any other provision of this regulation, an employer shall provide every employee doing spraying with a respirator, mask or breathing apparatus of a type approved by the chief inspector, and that any such employee shall while spraying use such apparatus provided to him. |
| 4) | Where spraying is done in any room the employer concerned shall cause the ventilation system contemplated in subregulation (3) to conform to the following requirements: |
| a) | if the air supply and extraction is horizontal, the average air speed measured at a level of 1.5 meters above the floor, or at the level of the platform on which persons stand to work, shall not be less than 0.5 meters per second; |
| b) | if the air supply is vertical and the extraction thereof is done through slits or a grill along the side walls at floor level, the average air speed measured as a level of 1.5 meters above the floor, or at the level of the platform on which persons stand to work, shall not be less than 0.4 meters per second; or |
| c) | if the air supply is vertical and the extraction thereof is done through a grill over the whole of the floor area, the average air speed measured at a level of 1.5 meters above the floor, or at the level of the platform on which persons stand to work, shall not be less than 0.3 meters per second. |
| 5) | Where spraying is done into any cabinet or enclosure as contemplated in subregulation (2), the employer concerned shall cause the ventilation system contemplated in subregulation (3) to comply with the following requirements: |
| a) | where the area of the open face of the cabinet is not more than one square metre, the average speed of air movement through the said face shall not be less than one metre per second; |
| b) | where the area of the open face is more than one square metre but less than two square meters, the average speed of air movement through the said face shall not be less than 0.75 meters per second; or |
| c) | where the area of the open face is equal to or exceeds two square meters, the average speed of air movement through the said face shall not be less than 0.5 meters per second. |
| 6) | With regard to the ventilation system contemplated in subregulation (3) the employer shall cause -- |
| a) | all ducts, trunks and enclosures of the system to be of fire resistant material with a smooth interior finish and to be constructed in such a manner as to facilitate the cleaning thereof; |
| b) | the system to be kept in operation during working hours as well as for at least the period of time thereafter that may be necessary to clear the vapour from the atmosphere of the room, cabinet or enclosure to below 25 per cent of the lower explosive limit of that vapour; and |
| c) | the work to be so organized that the flow of air towards the intake of such ventilation system is not obstructed and draws the spray or vapour of the flammable liquid away from any employee operating the equipment. |
| 7) | With regard to any room contemplated in subregulation (2) the employer shall cause every such room -- |
| a) | with a floor area exceeding 20 square meters to have at least two separate entrances at opposite ends of the room, which shall be fitted with doors openings outwards that cannot be locked; and |
| b) | to be fitted with an inspection window of strengthened and shatterproof glass that cannot be opened. |
| 8) |
| a) | An employer shall not permit-- |
| i) | any fire, flame or naked light or anything which may generate static electricity or any other thing which may ignite a flammable liquid or its vapour, to be used in or taken into any room, cabinet or enclosure contemplated in subregulation (2) in which any such flammable liquid is used, sprayed or stored, and shall affix a suitable and conspicuous sign prohibiting any such act at all the entrances to any such room, cabinet or enclosure; |
| ii) | any person to, and no person shall, smoke in any place in which flammable liquid is used or stored, and such employer shall affix a suitable and conspicuous notice prohibiting such smoking at all the entrances to any such place; and |
| iii) | any process capable of causing sparks or fire, or the application of any heat for the drying of sprayed or treated articles, to take place in any room, cabinet or enclosure used for spraying, before the space or atmosphere has been cleared of all vapour. |
| b) | No person shall contravene any prohibition made known as contemplated in subparagraph (i) or (ii) of paragraph (a). |
| 9) | With respect to any room, cabinet or enclosure contemplated in subregulation (2), the employer concerned shall cause -- |
| a) | discarded cotton waste, cleaning rags or similar material to be removed daily and safely disposed of; |
| b) | only that quantity of flammable liquid needed for work on one day to be taken into or kept in such room, cabinet or enclosure: Provided that partially consumed stock may be stored in a properly marked, fireproof wall cabinet inside the work place; |
| c) | all drums, cans, canisters or similar containers holding flammable liquids to be kept tightly closed when not in actual use and, after their contents have been used up, to be removed from the workplace and safety disposed of daily; and |
| d) | every such room, cabinet or enclosure to be kept clean and all fans, ducts, trunks and enclosures of the ventilation system contemplated in subregulation (3) to be kept clean and in good working order: Provided that any cleaning, scraping or scouring shall be done with implements that cannot cause sparking if the concentration of the vapour exceeds 25 per cent of the lower explosive limit of that vapour. |
| 10) | An employer shall cause every flammable liquid store to be -- |
| a) | separated by means of fire-resisting material with a fire-resistance of two hours from any room, cabinet or enclosure contemplated in subregulation (2); |
| b) | constructed of fire-resisting material with a fire-resistance of two hours; |
| c) | constructed in such a way that, in case of spillage, a volume of the flammable liquid in question equal to the quantity of flammable liquid ordinarily kept in store plus 10 per cent of that quantity, can be contained; |
| d) | ventilated to the open air in such a manner that vapour cannot accumulate inside the store; and |
| e) | clearly marked with a sign indicating that it is such a store and also indicating the amount of flammable liquid which may be stored therein. |
| 11) | Taking into account the construction and location of the premises in question and the quantity and types of flammable liquids involved, an employer shall install an adequate amount of efficient fire-fighting equipment in suitable locations in and around every building in which such substances are used, handled or stored, or as may be recommended by the fire chief of the local authority concerned. |
| 12) | The provisions of this regulation shall not be construed as applying to the use of flammable liquids in the course of or in connection with building work: Provided that every employer engaged in building work shall ensure that, where flammable liquids are used or applied at the workplace concerned, this is done in such a manner that no fire or explosion hazard is created, and that the workplace is effectively ventilated: Provided further that where the workplace cannot be ventilated effectively the employer shall provide every employee involved with a respirator, mask or breathing apparatus of a type approved by the chief inspector, and shall take steps to ensure that every such employee, while using or applying flammable liquid, uses the apparatus supplied to him. |