GULFTENE C16-18 ISOMERISED OLEFINS - NICNAS

Drum and Isotank Recycling
During the cleaning of drums and isotanks for recycling, workers may receive eye and skin
contact to water-slop containing residual notified chemical.
6.3 CONTROL MEASURES
Personal protective equipment is expected to be mandatory for drilling crews. The Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Gulftene 16-18 recommends impervious protective clothing,
safety glasses with eye shields and nitrile, Viton, polyurethane, or chlorinated polyethylene
gloves. In addition, an organic vapour (Type A) filter respirator is recommended where
exposure to airborne material may occur.
6.4 WORKER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The notifier indicates that the pattern of use is non-dispersive that is, workers exposed to
Gulftene 16-18 would be employees of the major international petroleum and drilling rig
companies and would be educated and trained in all aspects of drilling operation safety and
chemical hazards, to achieve adequate control of exposure. Transport workers would also be
educated in the occupational health and safety aspects of petroleum derived products.
7. PUBLIC EXPOSURE
It is expected that during transport and storage the potential for exposure of the general public
to the notified chemical will be low.
Onshore small spills should be cleaned up using appropriate technology such as sorbent
materials or pumping before being transferred to suitable containers for recovery or disposal
in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. Prompt attention to spillages will be
needed to prevent spill and clean up material from entering waterways. All sources of
ignition in the vicinity of the spill or released vapour should be eliminated. Where feasible
and appropriate contaminated soil should be removed.
The chemical will only be used on offshore drilling platforms, and the public will not be
exposed during this operation.
Cleaning of used drums and isotanks will remove more than 95% of Gulftene 16-18 from
wastewater prior to discharge into sewers. Thus, disposal is unlikely to produce significant
public exposure.
8. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
8.1 RELEASE
The notifier indicated that very small quantities of Gulftene 16-18 may be left in the
200 L drums and isotanks which are subsequently steam cleaned and reconditioned. The
FULL PUBLIC REPORT 26 April 2000
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