Western Australian Consolidated Regulations

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS 1996 - REG 5.78

5.78 .         Workplace requirements

                A person who, at a workplace, is an employer, the main contractor or a self‑employed person must ensure that a polyurethane manufacturing process involving the use of toluene diisocyanate or any blend of isocyanates that has monomeric toluene diisocyanate as a constituent is not conducted at the workplace unless —

            (a)         the workplace is divided into separate areas for the following purposes —

                  (i)         administration and amenities;

                  (ii)         bulk stores for raw materials that are polyhydroxy compounds;

                  (iii)         bulk stores for raw materials that are isocyanates;

                  (iv)         polyurethane manufacture;

                  (v)         curing area;

                  (vi)         bulk store for manufactured foam;

                  (vii)         the making of any product derived from the process;

                and

            (b)         the areas of the workplace referred to in paragraph (a) —

                  (i)         are each situated in a separate building not less than 6 metres from any other such area; or

                  (ii)         are separated from each other in the same building by walls having a fire resistance level not less than that required under the Building Code in relation to the class of that building;

                and

            (c)         the areas referred to in paragraph (a)(ii) to (vii) are in a building or buildings having not more than one storey; and

            (d)         each area referred to in paragraph (a)(ii) to (vii) has not less than 2 exits situated so that there is at least one exit within 20 metres of any part of the area; and

            (e)         there is, in addition to any requirement in the Building Code in relation to exit signs for the building, a self‑illuminating exit sign placed adjacent to each exit referred to in paragraph (d) at a height of 1.5 metres above the level of the floor; and

            (f)         there is a fire hydrant within 60 metres of each part of the workplace; and

            (g)         the storage of all isocyanates at the workplace is in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of Non‑explosives) Regulations 2007 ; and

            (h)         polyurethane foam produced from monomeric toluene diisocyanate is placed in the curing area for not less than 6 hours immediately after it is produced so that there is sufficient ventilation to ensure the dispersal of heat and fumes from the curing area.

        Penalty: the regulation 1.16 penalty.

        [Regulation 5.78 amended in Gazette 8 Jun 1999 p. 2525; 14 Dec 2004 p. 6018; 5 Jun 2009 p. 1880.]

        [Heading inserted in Gazette 24 Aug 2007 p. 4262.]

        [Heading inserted in Gazette 24 Aug 2007 p. 4262.]