Safety in store

摘要

Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) provide a simple and effective method of transporting and storing chemicals. They have proved to be flexible and cost-effective and, over the years, have developed a relatively good record for safety. However, investigations following a number of industrial fires have shown that these units do have certain vulnerabilities. Research commissioned by the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and conducted by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), for instance, has shown that plastics and composite IBCs (and others with plastics fittings) may release their contents relatively easily when exposed to comparatively minor fires. Many IBCs have exposed plastics components, such as valves, secondary closure caps and corner protection, that are not in good thermal contact with the liquid contained and that are susceptible to ignition by brief exposure to flames, including small and transient flames from even a lit match. This makes IBCs vulnerable to ignition by grass fires, small-ignited spillages and minor acts of arson.