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Hazard

Presence of chemicals

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Hazard Knowledge

Throughout the utility and fuel industries, chemicals play a key part in the processes of production, transportation and supply to the customer.

Fire and rescue service personnel, at any incidents in these industries, need to be aware of the presence of chemicals and the possibility that they may need to be managed and controlled.

While gathering information for Site-Specific Risk Information (SSRI) and emergency response plans, a list of chemicals and quantities of those chemicals needs to be recorded.

Below are some examples of chemicals that could be found in different utility and fuel industries.

Water industry

  • Algaecides (copper sulphate, iron salts, rosin amine salts and benzalkonium chloride)
  • Disinfectants (chlorine, chlorine oxide, ozone)
  • Boiler water chemicals (scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, etc.)
  • Coagulants (aluminium and iron)
  • Neutralising agents (sodium hydroxide solution, calcium carbonate and lime suspension)
  • Oxidants (hydrogen peroxide, ozone, combination ozone and peroxide and oxygen)
  • Resin cleaners (sodium chloride, potassium chloride citric acid and chlorine oxide)

Electricity industry

  • Boiler water chemicals (scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, etc.)
  • Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) - refer to the hazard for Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (found in older electrical equipment) - refer to the hazard for Polychlorinated biphenyls
  • Dielectric fluid (mineral oils used to cool or insulate underground transmission feeders)
  • Transformer oil (generic term for oil used to cool and insulate transformers)
  • Sulphuric acid (contained in lead-acid batteries)
  • Lithium (component of lithium-ion battery systems)

Gas industry

  • Mercaptan (chemical added to natural gas to give it an odour similar to rotten eggs)

Petrochemical industry

There will be numerous refined petroleum products and chemicals in a facility. Examples include:

  • Corrosion inhibitors
  • Sulphuric acid (contained in lead-acid batteries)
  • Resin cleaners (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, citric acid and chlorine oxide)