1.14 Chemicals and Dangers: A Deep Analysis
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1.14.2 A Special Category. Fire and Explosion Hazards
Chemicals can play a role in starting a fire through their presence in air or when mixed
with other products. They can also aggravate the extent of a fire event. Many substances can also cause explosions of varying size and severity if they are flammable,
combustible, or unstable products, under certain conditions. They are mostly gases
and vapors, but also flammable dust and particularly unstable compounds. In relation to ‘crowded’ areas such as certain food production areas (without a definite
route for entering raw materials and packaging materials, and exiting final products,
intermediates, and waste), similar events can occur (Davletshina and Cheremisinoff
1998).
1.14.3 Dangerous Chemical Reactions
Finally, the mixture of incompatible chemical agents, the heating of products, thermal
degradation, friction, or even shocks can cause massive emissions of toxic vapors,
exothermic phenomena resulting in a deflagration, a detonation, splashes of material
or inflammation, etc.
1.15 Other Hazards: A Short Selection
1.15.1 Hydrofluoric Acid
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a deadly risk: It is not used in the food and beverage industry,
but it is also discussed here as a simple example in relation to remarkable risks. It can
indeed cross the dermis and attack the organism in depth (tissue necrosis). Its handling
requires special precautionary measures for the skin. A burn with concentrated HF
(50–70%) is immediately felt, whereas it can take several hours to feel a burn with
diluted HF (1–25%). In addition, a HF burn on only 2% of the body can already
prove to be lethal.
1.15.2 Acids and Bases in General
In addition to their corrosive nature, some acids are toxic for the body and therefore
harmful by inhalation. Bases generally penetrate tissue deeper than acids. The damage linked to burns from basic solutions is therefore potentially greater (in particular
for eyes). In the event of leakage, spillage, or handling errors, acids and bases may
29
1.14.2 A Special Category. Fire and Explosion Hazards
Chemicals can play a role in starting a fire through their presence in air or when mixed
with other products. They can also aggravate the extent of a fire event. Many substances can also cause explosions of varying size and severity if they are flammable,
combustible, or unstable products, under certain conditions. They are mostly gases
and vapors, but also flammable dust and particularly unstable compounds. In relation to ‘crowded’ areas such as certain food production areas (without a definite
route for entering raw materials and packaging materials, and exiting final products,
intermediates, and waste), similar events can occur (Davletshina and Cheremisinoff
1998).
1.14.3 Dangerous Chemical Reactions
Finally, the mixture of incompatible chemical agents, the heating of products, thermal
degradation, friction, or even shocks can cause massive emissions of toxic vapors,
exothermic phenomena resulting in a deflagration, a detonation, splashes of material
or inflammation, etc.
1.15 Other Hazards: A Short Selection
1.15.1 Hydrofluoric Acid
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is a deadly risk: It is not used in the food and beverage industry,
but it is also discussed here as a simple example in relation to remarkable risks. It can
indeed cross the dermis and attack the organism in depth (tissue necrosis). Its handling
requires special precautionary measures for the skin. A burn with concentrated HF
(50–70%) is immediately felt, whereas it can take several hours to feel a burn with
diluted HF (1–25%). In addition, a HF burn on only 2% of the body can already
prove to be lethal.
1.15.2 Acids and Bases in General
In addition to their corrosive nature, some acids are toxic for the body and therefore
harmful by inhalation. Bases generally penetrate tissue deeper than acids. The damage linked to burns from basic solutions is therefore potentially greater (in particular
for eyes). In the event of leakage, spillage, or handling errors, acids and bases may