Saturday 28 December 2013

Information On Handling Off Spec Chemicals

By Marcia Marks


Many manufacturing businesses produce off spec chemicals as a result of their activities. Off-specification products range from simple cleaning products to complex and costly intermediates used in pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis. These are simply a surplus in the company that probably arose because a certain product is no longer needed in the business, contaminated, or does not meet certain specifications. Regardless of the reason, these products should be disposed in the right way.

These products can be reused in such state. For instance, some products can be used for treating stagnant water in home environments to ensure that it is healthy and safe. This helps in preventing habitation of insects like mosquitoes in those areas. New or used oil is added to the water to kill mosquitoes.

In some situations, the manufacturer will always be willing to take them back. Instead of just discarding such products the supplier could be contacted to confirm if they could be taken through a process called reclaiming. This process usually involves the addition of the missing compound to bring it back to a state that it can be used for the previously intended use.

There are other options of disposal like burning the item to use it as fuel. Whenever one opts for this method to discard such commodities, uttermost caution must be exercised as some of them could be highly inflammable that can result to accidents causing injury to people or damage to property. Adequate studies should also be conducted to ensure the safety of fumes or smoke that may result from such fires. If they can cause adverse effect or are found to be pollutants to the environment then the method should be avoided.

With the knowledge of the adverse effects of such products to the environment and other people, it then requires that anyone generating or possessing them to carry out an evaluation process. The reason for this is to be able to categorize the chemicals according to the specific rule. It is through this process that such items will be classified as dangerous substance or not.

Such evaluation is also important in that it will tell if the chemical can be reclaimed or not be used in any way. At this point, special arrangements to discard the chemical appropriately should be considered. Because this might not be a material to be taken to the dustbin or washed down the drain given its composition and possibility of un-desired effects.

Anybody dealing in such chemicals is subject to the necessary permission to handle such substances. This is a move to regulate the trade and ensure that only responsible people are allowed to carry out such activities. They should be willing to follow the stipulated rules for handling of the items with regard to transportation and disposal.

The law requires off spec chemicals handlers to exercise utmost responsibility as their products may cause harm to others. They are charged to ensure that proper records are kept and even manifestations. They are in most cases allowed a capacity to handle such that if there be need to deal with more, then a report should be made to address the concern.




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