Management Systems

Hazardous Materials Management

 TABLE OF CONTENT

1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE ................................................................................................................. 3

1.1. Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2. Scope ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
2. RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................................................... 3
2.1. Sender ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Operations Manager ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2.3. Operational personnel .................................................................................................................................. 3
2.4. Logistics, Handling department managers.................................................................................................... 4
2.5. Q-HSE Manager ............................................................................................................................................. 4
2.6. Shipping and Transit department managers ................................................................................................ 4
2.7. Foreman, Shipping agent or Storeman ......................................................................................................... 4
2.8. Drivers ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.9. Employees ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
3. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................ 5
4. DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................. 5
5. PROCESS & METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 5
5.1. General .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1.1. Identification of hazardous products .................................................................................................... 5
5.1.2. Associated risk category ....................................................................................................................... 6
5.1.3. Compulsory information and documentation ...................................................................................... 6
5.1.4. Information about the dangers related to Dangerous Materials ......................................................... 6
5.2. Prior inspections ........................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2.1. Risk Assessment .................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2.2. Incompatibility and separation of dangerous materials ...................................................................... 7
5.2.3. Needs for retention ............................................................................................................................... 7
5.3. Loading / Unloading and Stuffing / Unstuffing ............................................................................................. 7
5.4. Storage of hazardous materials .................................................................................................................... 8
5.4.1. General provisions ................................................................................................................................ 8
5.4.2. Safety equipment .................................................................................................................................. 8
5.4.3. Storage.................................................................................................................................................. 8
5.5. Transport ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
5.5.1. Truck equipment ................................................................................................................................... 9
5.5.2. Safety instructions ................................................................................................................................ 9
5.6. Preventive actions ....................................................................................................................................... 10
5.6.1. First aid ............................................................................................................................................... 10
5.6.2. Prevention against spillage and pollution .......................................................................................... 10
5.6.3. General precautions against fire ........................................................................................................ 10
1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE
1.1. Purpose
This procedure defines the general measures taken by XYZ Logistics to control risks and dangers
relating to handling, storing, use and transport of dangerous goods.
This procedure also aims at:
1. Specifying the reference to the different documents which enable us to control the global
management of hazardous materials.
2. Breaking down the system in place to ensure that personnel who may be in contact with
dangerous products are made away of:
 The associated dangers and risks
 The use of suitable personal protection equipment
 Requirements in terms of first aid, fire safety and environment protection;
 Respect for regulatory requirements in terms of transport, storage, use and handling of
hazardous materials.
1.2. Scope
This procedure is applicable to all operational activities of XYZ Logistics in Africa concerned by the
transport, storage and/or use of hazardous materials

2. RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1. Sender
Senders of dangerous materials are obliged to respect current regulations relating to the transport of
dangerous materials (cf. documentation such as SDS or MDS, packaging, labelling and specific
marking).
2.2. Operations Manager
Ensures that all dangerous goods and products handled, stored or transported by our organisation are
dealt under acceptable safety conditions and in accordance with current local and international
regulations.
He also checks that:
 All the department managers are aware of the content of this procedure,
 The people involved are trained,
 The information and equipment (suitable Individual Protection Equipment, dangerous
materials training, etc.) required for the application of this procedure are available,
 The applicable regulations are up to date and available.
2.3. Operational personnel
Operations personnel, particularly the operations managers must:
1. Obtain from the sender:
o The regulatory denominations of the dangerous products,
o Their classes,
o The UN numbers,
o The dangerous goods certificates,
o The SDS or MSDS Safety Sheets.
2. Always:
o Compare the documents handed over by the sender and the marking on the package to be
handled,
o Check that the dangerous goods certificate is complete,
o Immediately indicate any anomaly to the sender to take all useful measures.
2.4. Logistics, Handling department managers
Responsible for the proper application of this procedure, they ensure:
 That all dangerous goods and products are accompanied by regulatory documents (MSDS or
SDS),
 The safe storage of hazardous materials, as well as the respect of any incompatibilities
between the different danger classes.
2.5. Q-HSE Manager
Is responsible for the proper application and monitoring of this procedure.
Updates and manages the "safety data sheet" database for SDS or MSDS dangerous goods,
Provides advice and assistance to all people in the organisation who want to or have to take care of
dangerous products or goods.
When necessary, carries out unplanned inspections and at least one inspection per week on the sites
where dangerous materials are stored.
Ensures that firefighting and pollution removal equipment conform and are available.
Ensures that personnel connected to dangerous materials have received the necessary training for
their activities.
2.6. Shipping and Transit department managers
Ensure that suppliers, producers or customers:
 Are informed of the obligation to provide regulatory documentation for the transport, storage
and handling of dangerous goods.
 Respect the requirements for packaging, labelling and transport,
They also ensure that:
 The regulatory documents relating to dangerous goods (IMDG, DGR-IATA, ADR Codes, etc.) are
updated regularly,
 The copies of the SDS or MSDS are always available to the Q-HSE Manager and the
Departments concerned by the operations.
The Transit department managers inform customers of the arrival of dangerous goods so that they
may contact local administrations if necessary.
2.7. Foreman, Shipping agent or Storeman
They co-ordinate the handling, storage and transport operations and ensure that these operations are
carried out in accordance with the specifications in this procedure and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS or
MSDS) which accompanies the product.
They ensure that only competent and trained people intervene in the handling of dangerous goods.
They are responsible for the safety of the teams under their authority, notably for the supply and
wearing of IPE.
2.8. Drivers
Before any transport, drivers must make sure they have:
 The written safety instructions specific to all goods loaded,
 The official designation and identification number of the material;
 The concise description of the natures of the danger presented by the material;
 The general or special preservation measures to be taken in the event of an accident;
 The personal protection resources required for the application of these measures.
All these information, provided by the sender and sent to the transporter at the latest with the
transport order must be kept in the driver's cab.
 2.9. Employees
All employees who order, use or handle dangerous products must ensure that the XYZ Logistics
requirements in terms of dangerous products or goods are applied and respected
Personnel who handle, store and/or transport dangerous goods or products must ensure that the
safety instructions in terms of individual protection and the wearing of suitable equipment are applied.

3. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

BLX-AFR-HSE-GDL-0003 HSE Training standard

BLX-AFR-HSE-GDL-0006 Firefighting and prevention
BLX-AFR-HSE-PRO-0008 Waste management
BLX-AFR-HSE-PRO-0025 Spill Contingency Plan
BLX-AFR-SEC-PRO-0001 Security Procedure
BLX-AFR-HSE-F-0540 HazMat Incompatibility Matrix
BLX-AFR-HSE-F-0558 Simplified MSDS
BLX-AFR-HSE-F-0570 Biological Samples Check-list for Road Transport
BLX-AFR-HSE-WI-0003 Classification of hazardous materials
BLX-AFR-HSE-WI-0004 Intervention in the event of accidental spillage of hazardous materials
BLX-AFR-HSE-WI-0010 Health and Safety Signage

4. DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS

Hazardous material Hazardous materials are any product likely to harm the physical integrity of
people or cause damage to installations and the environment.
Incompatible Product for which the accidental mixing generates flammable, explosive,
products toxic or corrosive products.
MSDS (Material Document which must always accompany any dangerous goods. Provided
Safety Data Sheet) or by the producer and must be attached by the sender to the goods, this is an
SDS (Safety Data essential information document
Sheet)
IMDG code International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
ADR European Agreement relating to the international transport of Dangerous
goods by Road.
DGR - IATA Dangerous Good Regulations - International Air Transport Association.
Tool Box Meeting Safety meeting which is always held before each goods transfer operation.
These short meetings are run, according to availability, by management
personnel. They are used to remind operations team members of the
dangers and risks related to their activities, as well as any recommendations
to deal with them.

5. PROCESS & METHODOLOGY

5.1. General
5.1.1. Identification of hazardous products
The classes of danger are used to define:
 The nature of the products and the associated risks
 The packaging, labelling and marking of packages,
  The handling, storage and transport methods.
The details concerning the identification of materials are contained in the BLX-AFR-HSE-WI-0003
Classification of hazardous materials document.
5.1.2. Associated risk category
There are nine categories of risk:
 Explosive: property to decompose violently under heat or impact, causing a mass of hot gases
and a shock wave;
 Gas: risk of leak or explosion of the container with release of gases into the atmosphere; risk
specific to the nature of the gas: flammability, toxicity, corrosiveness, etc.;
 Flammable: property to catch fire easily;
 Toxic: property to poison, i.e. to damage health or cause death by inhalation, cutaneous
absorption or ingestion;
 Radioactive: property to emit various radiation which is dangerous for living beings;
 Corrosive: property to rust, oxidise or corrode materials (metals, stuffing, etc.) or life tissue
(skin, membranes, etc.);
 Infectious: property to provoke serious illnesses in people or animals. This risk concerns the
materials which contain infectious micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria or parasites
 Spontaneous violent reaction: possibility to react quickly and spontaneously as an explosion
with production of heat and release of flammable or toxic gases under high pressure.
 Burns: property to provoke burns by heat or cold.
Certain materials only present a single risk, others combine several.
5.1.3. Compulsory information and documentation
The SDS or MSDS must be available for each type of product present on our sites. These documents
must be stored by both the Q-HSE Manager and the department where the product is.
In addition, for products in use, a simplified MSDS (BLX-AFR-HSE-F-0558) must be completed and
displayed on the location where the product is stored, to ensure all important information are quickly
available in case of an emergency.
These information must be available away from the packages which contain dangerous materials.
5.1.4. Information about the dangers related to Dangerous Materials
Damage to the body may occur if these products or goods come into direct contact with the human
body by one of the following methods:
 Ingestion
 Inhalation
 Direct contact with the skin
 Absorption
The reactions or consequences of these contacts are not always clearly pre-defined. In general, the
scale of the physiological consequences varies with the exposure time and quantity of contaminant in
the presence and absence of immediate reactions does not mean that the product or good in question
is completely harmless.
No dangerous products must be accepted, used, handled or transported:
 If they are not accompanied by regulatory documents transmitted by the supplier or
customer,
 After the expiry date.
5.2. Prior inspections
5.2.1. Risk Assessment
Before any contact, handling or use of dangerous products or materials, a potential risk assessment
must be carried out to define, using the SDS or MSDS, the recommendations or actions to remove or
minimise the risks.
The person in charge of receiving or despatching dangerous materials must:
 Check the packaging, marking and labelling,
 Systematically refuse goods whose packaging is not intact (leakage, hole or other),
 Isolate products which represent a significant danger by respecting the compatibility rules and
the requirements for storage.
5.2.2. Incompatibility and separation of dangerous materials
The loading and storage of dangerous materials of different classes cannot start before the following
document is consulted BLX-AFR-HSE-F-0540 HazMat incompatibility matrix.
After this matrix is analysed and upon the necessary provisions are made, the operations may begin.
5.2.3. Needs for retention
Prior storing any type of dangerous goods, the need for retention in case of a spillage must be analyzed
and needed provisions must be put in place.
5.3. Loading / Unloading and Stuffing / Unstuffing
Dangerous goods must only be unstuffed and handled under the direct surveillance of the Q-HSE
department or a person in charge who is trained and identified and who knows the risks and
emergency measures to be taken in the event of an accident or incident.
For any handling or transport of dangerous goods, the IMDG, DGR-IATA or ADR codes must be referred
to.
Before carrying out the loading/unloading or stuffing/unstuffing operations, the handling manager
and/or the logistics manager must:
 Quickly identify the type of product, the danger class and define the storage area,
 Ensure that the seals and visible packaging are intact,
 Consult the reference documents (MSDS or SDS) for the measures or precautions to be taken
in relation to individual or collective safety for handlers,
 Complete the necessary documents for the reception or transport (Dangerous material
declaration),
 Check that the fire-fighting and/or first aid equipment is available and compatible with the
recommendations in the safety data sheet (SDS or MSDS).
 Prepare the operations by holding a Tool Box Meeting with their team.
The operations may then begin:
 Prevent access to any unauthorised people by positioning safety signage (BLX-AFR-HSE-WI-
0010) – a fence or any other appropriate resource, at least 1.5 m away from the container,
recipient or tank containing or which has contained the dangerous goods or products.
 Ventilate, leaving the doors open for enough time before people enter the container, recipient
or vehicle (used to transport the dangerous goods, cooling agents or products under
fumigation) as this may present a particular risk due to the existence of a dangerous
atmosphere (flammable, explosive, asphyxiating or toxic),
 If there are any flammable materials make sure there are no flammable sources nearby,
 Immobilise doors, as far as their opening, for containers which present risks of goods falling,
 Ensure carefully that there are no dangers after stuffing. For this, perform special cleaning in
particular if there are any leaks of toxic, corrosive or harmful materials, or if they are
suspected.
 Systematically remove markings, labels and panels for dangerous goods when the container or
recipient no longer presents any risk.
The containers which have been used to transport dangerous goods must be sent back clean and in
condition to be used to transport all types of cargo.
Particular measures:
 If there is any reason to feel that there is a danger, due to the fact, for example, that the
packages are damaged (traces of water, oily deposits, sweating, etc.) or because of the
 presence of smoke-products, you must request the opinion of an expert or the Q-HSE
department before storage.
 If the container or recipient shows signs of abnormal high heating, the transport puts it in a
safe location (away from people and property) and calls the fire brigade immediately
5.4. Storage of hazardous materials
5.4.1. General provisions
 A designated area must be put in place to store dangerous products.
 The dedicated area must be clearly indicated: Signage (Danger – Dangerous materials – No
smoking – access controlled and other safety instructions) must be clearly visible and indicate
the potential dangers and risks that exist as well as the access restrictions.
 The containers or storage tanks must always be watertight.
 The floors for the storage surfaces must be made of concrete or cement
 Security Procedure (BLX-AFR-SEC-PRO-0001) must be enforced
5.4.2. Safety equipment
For all storage premises, the following equipment must be provided (unless measures required by
client or regulations are more stringent according to the goods to be stored):
 At least an eye bath and a portable shower;
 At least one cartridge mask, protective clothing, a pair of gloves and a pair of boots specific to
the dangerous products;
 Special absorbing products for dangerous materials,
 Extinguishers: at least one of 9 kg (minimum) per 150 m2 of storage surface with a minimum of
2 extinguishers per premises, separated from 30 m each (less than 5 meters from the storage
area) and at least one per floor;
 Smoke detectors
 Evacuation layout displayed on boards
 A covered tub of sand and a bucket
 Emergency Response procedure (in case of a fire? In case of a spillage?)
 Retention:
o If container capacity is less than 250 litres,
 If total capacity stored < 800 litres, retention must be 100% of total stored
capacity
 If total capacity stored > 800 litres,
 Flammable:
o Retention is 800 l if total capacity stored is less than 1600 l
o Retention is 50% of total stored capacity if total capacity
stored is more than 1600 l
 Others:
o Retention is 800 l if total capacity stored is less than 4000 l
o Retention is 20% of total stored capacity if total capacity
stored is more than 4000 l
o If container capacity is more than 250 litres, retention is maximum between 100% of
highest container capacity and 50% of total stored capacity
5.4.3. Storage
Unless measures required by client or regulations are more stringent according to the goods to be
stored, the following measures must apply:
The personnel, management and operational staff must have undergone dangerous materials training.
They must place the dangerous goods in dedicated areas – cool, well ventilated and free of any source
of heat or fire – in accordance with current regulations (IMDG or IATA DGR code). They must respect
the following scrupulously:
  The supplier or producer's storage instructions contained in the regulatory documents (SDS or
MSDS).
 The compatibilities and incompatibilities between dangerous products.
Conditions of storage are as follows:
 Maximum Height of stored products: 5 meters for liquids / 8 meters for solids.
 Storage in cells of 5 000 m2, in small areas (600 m2) separated from 1.5 m each except for
flammable products where security distances requirements detailed in BLX-AFR-HSE-GDL-0006
Firefighting and Prevention standard are applicable.
5.5. Transport
5.5.1. Truck equipment
 Electrical installation
Tanker vehicles and special vehicles for transporting explosives must have conforming
electrical equipment (bipolar battery circuit breaker, waterproof sheathes, etc.).
 Extinguishers
All transport vehicles must have two portable fire-fighting appliances:
 An extinguisher with a minimum capacity of 2 kg of ABC powder, able to combat an
engine or cab fire;
 An extinguisher with a minimum capacity of 6 kg of ABC powder able to combat tyre or
brake fires or any fire involving loading.
Depending on the load transported, the capacity to fight any fires must be adapted in terms of
the quantity and type of resource.
 First aid equipment
All transport vehicles must have:
 A communications resource,
 At least one wedge,
 Two portable warning signals (reflective cones or triangles or flashing lights)
independent of the vehicle's electrical installation,
 A bib or appropriate fluorescent piece of clothing for each member of the vehicle's
crew,
 A torch for each member of the crew
 An emergency Response plan with up-to-date emergency phone numbers,
This basic equipment must be completed where necessary by the resources needed to apply
additional special measures which are specified to the driver in the written safety instructions
specific to the material transported.
5.5.2. Safety instructions
Drivers responsible for transporting hazardous materials must have received the training defined in the
internal standard BLX-AFR-HSE-GDL-0003 HSE training standard
All transport must be the object for each material transported of written safety instructions. They must
be provided by the sender and be part of the on-board documents in the vehicle's cab. They must
specify at least:
 The denomination of the goods, their class and UN number
 The nature of danger and the safety measures to be observed
 The individual protection equipment to be used
 The general measures to be observed in the event of an incident
 Any additional measures to be taken according to the nature of the incident
 The intervention equipment required: bucket, mask, gloves, etc.
 The BLX-AFR-HSE-F-0570 completed form for biological sample transport.
5.6. Preventive actions
5.6.1. First aid
 The MSDS or SDS and the EMG (Emergency Response Plan) provide the necessary indications
and recommendations for first aid in the event of accidental direct contact.
 A team of First Aiders at Work (trained employees) is available at each work site.
 In the event of contact with a dangerous material, seek medical help and launch the sanitary
evacuation procedure which is displayed in all XYZ Logistics sites.
In general:
 If any hazardous materials are splashed into the eyes, face or body you are recommended to:
o Rinse the contact areas thoroughly with water for at least fifteen minutes;
o Remove all contaminated clothing.
 If ingested or absorbed, drink a large quantity of water or milk and above all do not try to
vomit.
 If inhaled, leave the contaminated areas and go to a well-ventilated area. If breathing has
stopped provide artificial respiration.
5.6.2. Prevention against spillage and pollution
Always take precautions to prevent against any accidental spillage. If spillage occurs you must:
 Fence off or mark the polluted area until it is fully cleaned and declared clean by the Q-HSE
department,
 Remove any source of combustion during cleaning operations,
 Apply the cleaning instructions provided by the producers or the supplier via the MSDS,
In case of a spillage, the BLX-AFR-HSE-WI-0004 Intervention in the event of accidental spillage of
hazardous material instruction and BLX-AFR-HSE-PRO-0025 Spill contingency Plan procedure apply.
When recovering the area, separate all absorbents used to clean spillage into an adapted container
according to the requirements in the BLX-AFR-HSE-PRO-0008 procedure (Waste management).
5.6.3. General precautions against fire
Refer to the BLX-AFR-HSE-GDL-0006 standard (Firefighting and Prevention)