ArcelorMittal Appendix 1

Health & Safety

Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
Document Information
Short description: Instructions for all operations handle, load and unload chemicals within the premises of
the ArcelorMittal plants.

Scope: This Procedure is applicable to all ArcelorMittal employees involved in operations with load and
unload chemicals.

Business Owners: Frank HAERS Creation date (first version): 08.05.2012

Writer (prepared by): AM Health and Safety Lead Team Review date (new version): 08.05.2012

Reviewed by : Not applicable Implementation Date: 08.05.2012

Version History
Version Date Person Description
1 08.05.2012 Frank HAERS Creation

Reference Documents
Reference or date Title
/ /

Validation
Validated by Position Validation Date Signature

Frank HAERS VP, Head Corporate Health

and Safety

Approval
Approved by Position Approval date Signature

Health and Safety Committee /

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions

1. 1. Scope

The scope of these standards applies to all operations and personnel that use, handle, load
and unload chemicals within the premises of the ArcelorMittal plants.

These basic standards must be enforced and affect own personnel, contractors,
subcontractors, truck drivers, vendors, as well as those who represent them.

These rules must be adapted in the plants taking into account the specificity of the plants,
environment and organization and the applicable plant can raise the level of requirements in
case of jurisdiction and/or necessity.

Wherever local law would be more stringent than this standard, local law must be followed. In
other cases this standard is to be adhered to strictly.

It is the intent of this standard to provide information on the safe loading and unloading of
chemicals and afford employee protection from potential health and physical hazards
associated with accidentally mixing incompatible chemicals.

2. Other relevant documents to be respected

This standard has to be applied taking into account as well:

- AM Safety ST 006 : Vehicles and Driving
- AM Safety ST 008 : Contractors
- AM Safety ST 013 : Emergency preparedness
- AM Safety ST 003 : Working at Height (e.g. reducing risk of falls from vehicles during the
unloading and loading process
- AM Health PL 001 : Substance Abuse Policy
- AM Health ST 002 : Hazardous Substances Exposure Control

3. Responsibilities

Only trained and qualified personnel shall be allowed to handle certain hazardous chemicals.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that personnel are trained to handle chemicals, that
they wear the PPE and that all chemicals are stored in a safe manner.
The chemical incompatibilities discussed below are by no means exhaustive. As a result, it is
important for laboratory and also all concerned personnel to thoroughly research the
properties of the chemicals they are using.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or extended Safety Data
Sheets (eSDS) and/or Globally harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of
Chemicals (GHS) have sections on chemical incompatibility. The label on container's, tanks,
.. should also provide storage guidelines

4. Definitions

4.1. Pyrophoric Substance :

 Liquids / Solids:

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
Pyrophoric liquid / solid means a liquid / solid substance or mixture which, even in
small quantities, is liable to ignite within five minutes after coming into contact with
air.
E.g., white phosphorus.

4.2. Oxidising Agent :

Reactive material that oxidizes another substance and is reduced.

4.3. Acid :
Any of a class of compounds that form hydrogen ions when dissolved in water, and whose
aqueous solutions react with bases and certain metals to form salts. Acids turn blue litmus
paper red and have a pH of less than 7.

4.4. Base:
Any of a class of compounds that form hydroxyl ions (OH) when dissolved in water, and
whose aqueous solutions react with acids to form salts. Bases turn red litmus paper blue and
have a pH greater than 7.

4.5. Flammable
A flammable material can be a solid, liquid or gas
 Flammable liquids (according to GHS Flammable Liquid Criteria):
o Flammable liquid means a liquid having a flash point of not more than 60° C.
A flammable liquid shall be classified in one of the three categories for this
class in accordance with:
Category 1: Flash point < 23°C and initial boiling point ≤ 35°C
Category 2 : Flash point < 23°C and initial boiling point > 35°C
Category 3 : Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C

 Flammable solids (according to GHS Flammable Solid Criteria):

o A flammable solid means a solid which is readily combustible, or may cause
or contribute to fire through friction.
Readily combustible solids are powdered, granular, or pasty substances or
mixtures which are dangerous if they can be easily ignited by brief contact
with an ignition source, such as a burning match, and if the flame spreads
rapidly.

Classification criteria (on the basis of the outcome of the UN Test N.1)

Category 1: Burning rate test

Substances and mixtures other than metal powders:
(a) wetted zone does not stop fire and
(b) burning time < 45 seconds or burning rate > 2,2 mm/s
Metal powders
burning time ≤ 5 minutes
Category 2 : Burning rate test
Substances and mixtures other than metal powders:
(a) wetted zone stops the fire for at least 4 minutes and

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
(b) burning time < 45 seconds or burning rate > 2,2 mm/s
Metal powders
burning time > 5 minutes and ≤ 10 minutes

 Spontaneously combustible
o Substance that ignites itself, without the presence of a flame, due to :
1: heat retained from processing,
2 : reaction with air resulting in ignition temperature, and/or
3 : reaction with water or moisture resulting in ignition temperature.
(CaC2)

4.6. Gas
See local laws for the definition of mobile vessel, warehouse, closed warehouse, open
warehouse, storage area capacity, storage surface, safety area, safety distance, safety
shield.
Generally, the local laws often also take into account different storage area categories
depending of the capacity: below 2500 l, from 2500 to 10000 l, above 10000 l.

4.6.1 Gas classification:

Only flammable gas: LPG, hydrogen, acetylene
Flammable and toxic gas: carbon monoxide, ethylene oxide
Flammable and very toxic gas: arsine, phosphine
Inert gas: Nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide
Toxic or injurious gas: hydrogen chloride
Only toxic gas: phosgene, boron trichloride
Only oxidizing gas: oxygen, nitrogen protoxide, compressed air
Oxidizing and toxic or oxidizing and very toxic gas: chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen
dioxide

4.6.2 Storage location (legal requirement requests):

See minimum distance with roads, other storage areas, building …
No closed storage area in a building.
Minimum height of the walls: 2 m
See gas detector

4.6.3 Storage of different kind of gas :

It is mandatory to divide the warehouse (open and closed area) in different areas if
storage of different kind of gas, and to separate them with safety shield.
Only one kind of gas in each storage area
The safety distance to separate the different areas depends of the local laws.
It is mandatory to clearly identify the storage areas, as the hazards of the gas.

4.7. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) according to the GHS:

A typical SDS consists of 16 sections. Each section contains specific information

regarding the chemical. The SDS contains the following information:

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
1. Identification of the product and of the company
2. Composition/information on ingredients
3. Hazards identification
4. First aid measures
5. Fire-fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and storage
8. Exposure control / personal protection
9. Physical and chemical properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological data
12. Ecological data
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport data
15. Regulatory data
16. Other information

5. Discharging bulk liquid chemicals and dry powder chemicals procedure

5.1 Receiving of bulk liquid chemicals by rail track (tank car) or roadway (tank truck) or truck,
shall be coordinated by the receiving department’s persons responsible for receiving such
goods. Only those persons trained and authorized shall make the required chemical
identification and perform or supervise the unloading of hazardous chemicals.

5.2 Prior to unloading, the authorized person shall make an inspection of the accompanying
papers, check the load and ascertain its identity. He will also check if the carrier and
discharging equipment is fully in order before starting any unloading operation: the
certificate of conformity of the tanks must be available with the transport.

5.3 If necessary for identification, chemical testing shall be accomplished prior to acceptance
and prior to discharge.

5.4 The authorized person shall direct the driver to the proper unloading area and will check the
use of the needed PPE’s, defined by the specific work Risk Assessments.

5.5 At the receiving area, where chemicals are unloaded:

 Use (M)SDS’s to identify those chemicals that are dangerous. The (M)SDS should tell
you if the potential hazard requires proximity of an emergency shower and/or eye wash
unit.
 The unloading operator should verify the location of all fittings before unloading
 The storage tanks shall be secured behind a locked fence enclosure or all receiving.
connections shall be under lock and key or made secure by other positive means.
 All the filling lines must also be identified.
 Connection hoses must be regularly checked by a competent person.
 Appropriate (PPE) must be worn during the discharging time.

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
E.g.: Splash-proof chemical goggles, rubber boots and gloves, or other chemical-
resistant materials. Refer to safe operating procedure (SOP), safe work instruction (SWI)
and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (or Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or extended
Safety Data Sheets (eSDS)) for further information.
 A safety shower and eyewash fountain must be located on the same level as the
unloading area, must have unobstructed access (required not more than 10 seconds to
reach) and clearly marked. People to identify the position of such showers before start of
the unloading.
 The storage tank and the (un)loading points must be properly identified by a label
explaining the hazards of chemicals and its name and / or the chemical abbreviation.
 Suitable warning signs and the corresponding Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS (or
SDS or eSDS)) or the simplified (M)SDS must be properly posted at the point of use.
Everybody must know where to get hold of the (M)SDS (e.g. at the point of use, crisis
room, medical station, and in the vehicle which is used for the transportation of the
chemical)..
 No combustible materials should be stored close to the chemical storage or unloading
area.
 Extinguishers (the used extinguisher class must be defined by the MSDS – or SDS), and
for and if the chemical product required, a source of water must be available close to the
unloading area for safety purposes.
 Where receiving areas are adjacent to roads and walkways, the road or part there-off
must be locked, where required, by means of positive barrier and demarcation warning
pedestrians of off-loading process hazard. E.g. Acid – offloading stay clear.

5.6 The authorized person shall be responsible for control of keys or combination to locking
devices.

5.7 The unloading rail track (train, tank car) or roadway (tank truck) driver must set the
handbrake, chock the wheels and perform the grounding of the truck before starting the
unloading.

5.8 Tank cars and tank trucks should be connected, unloaded, and disconnected in daylight, if
possible. Adequate lighting should be provided if these operations must be done when dark.

5.9 Before unloading, personnel should confirm the storage tank is properly vented, the vent
line is clear and open, and that the storage tank(s) will hold the entire contents to be
unloaded. Before the unloading always test (activate) the safety shower and/or eye wash
unit to flush the lines in order to verify the condition of them.

5.10 Tank cars and tank trucks should be unloaded over an appropriately designed spill
containment area

5.11 The driver may make connection to the tank truck. Only an authorized person shall make
connection to company receiving connections and supervise the unloading into storage.
The tank truck driver may make both connections provided an authorized person is present
to identify, check and supervise the connection and unloading. In receiving areas where
more than one (1) chemical is stored, the tank connection shall be individually keyed with
locks having different keys. Connection to different chemical receiving systems shall be

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
locked by separated keying arrangement. Due caution shall be made to prevent spills and
to assure that the receiving tank is not overfilled. Prior arrangements shall be made to
assure that inadvertent overflow is controlled without exposing employees. (As a best
environmental practice and /or required by jurisdiction protect storm or sewer drains.)

5.12 Wash off all spillage from the tank car or tank truck thoroughly with water before return to
sender. Wash water should be collected and properly disposed.

5.13 Upon completion of unloading, the receiving device or the enclosure shall be locked and the
key returned to its designated security location or other equivalent action be taken to secure
the chemical inventory.

5.14 Emergency personal protective equipment for the body, eyes, face, etc., and / or
appropriate respiratory gear shall be immediately available in case of emergency.

5.15 Proper storage and labelling is needed to minimize the hazards associated with accidentally
mixing incompatible chemicals.

6. Charging bulk liquid chemicals and dry powder chemicals procedure

6.1 Charging of bulk liquid chemicals by rail track (tank car) or roadway (tank truck) or truck,
shall be coordinated by the trained and authorized department’s persons responsible for
sending out such goods.
E.g. of goods: used acids, contaminated (dirty) dry chemicals, unusable chemicals, ..

6.2 Prior to loading, the authorized person shall also check if the carrier and charging
equipment is fully in order before starting any loading operation.

6.3 Before loading, personnel should confirm the storage tank is properly vented and that the
storage tank(s) or containers will hold the entire contents to be loaded.

6.4 Concerning the charging procedure in the previews chapters ( 5.4; 5.5; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8 and
5.10 ) unloading becomes loading.

6.5 Concerning the charging procedure the previews chapters ( 5.11; 5.12; 5.13; 5.14 and 5.15
) remain unchanged.

7. Pre-Delivery

Before delivery of new and actual chemical products and/or by a new and actual vendor /
suppliers in a chemical truck or tank, a Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA)
should be made in corporation with the supplier to determine the necessary actions for a safe
unloading e.g.: weather conditions, grounding, approved material, ……. etc.
An update of the substances inventory must be done at all new chemicals deliveries on site.

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ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
For European sites, Purchasers/Suppliers/Customers have to be in compliance with REACH
regulation (pre-registration & registration numbers, process under strictly controlled
conditions…)

8. Training

8.1 Authorized persons responsible for the acceptance of potentially hazardous chemicals shall
have an understanding of the particular hazards associated with those chemicals
individually and in combination.

E.g.: Only unloading personnel who have been properly trained in the required safe
handling and first aid procedures for caustic soda solution should be assigned to caustic
soda solution service.

8.2 The written operating procedures for all unloaded chemical products and especially for
Calcium Carbide (CAC2) and Magnesium (Mg) have to be known by all the concerned staff,
contractors and truck drivers. A special training in these loading and unloading procedures
shall be realized.

8.3 Employees subject to exposure in the storage area requiring the use of respirators shall be
fitted for and trained in their use, all in accordance with AM Safety Standards.

8.4 Truck, forklift, .. drivers (ArcelorMittal and/or Contractor) should be declared competent for
transporting chemicals e.g. in Europe ADR drivers and ADR equipped vehicles.

8.5 Maintenance personnel should be trained to test and serviced all showers and eye wash
units in accordance with procedure or standard. Report missing, blocked or clogged
nozzles, improper water pressure (too low or too high), activation valve out of order, etc,
for corrective actions.

9. Emergency procedures

 Determine what type of chemical emergencies can happen on site.

 Information as set out in the (M)SDS must be used during emergency drill exercises.

 Written emergency evacuation plans and special first aid procedures have to be known and
practiced by all potentially affected employees.

 Location of emergency showers and eye wash fountains demarcated and signposted.

 Fellow employees must know how to assist and contact medical help whether they work
directly with chemicals or not. If a fellow employee becomes contaminated while assisting an
injured worker, he or she may use the shower with the victim to flush the effected area.

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 ArcelorMittal Appendix 1
Health & Safety
Chemical Unloading
AM Safety ST 006 A5 v1 –
Chemical Unloading and
and Loading
Loading Instructions
 Reporting of spillages: Spillages of chemicals must be reported for clean-up operations.
Preventative measures to be taken to minimise the risks of human exposure and release to
the environment (e.g. soil and water pollution).

10. ATTACHMENTS and REFERENCE FORMS

The following incompatibility matrix and table contains examples of incompatible chemicals:

Chemical Incompatibility Matrix

Acids, Acids, Acids, Alkalis Oxidizers Poisons, Poisons, Water Organic
Inorganic Oxidizing Organic (Bases) inorganic organic reactives solvents

Acids, X X X X X X
Inorganic

Acids, X X X X X X
Oxidizing

Acids, X X X X X X X
Organic

Alkalis X X X X X X
(Bases)

Oxidizers X X X X

Poisons, X X X X X X
inorganic

Poisons, X X X X X X
organic

Water X X X X X X
reactives

Organic X X X X X
solvents

X = Not compatible – do not store together

---- End of Document ----

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