Singapore Government Press Release

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I am pleased to learn of the very good response to participate in this seminar on the practical aspects of managing hazardous solvents used in industries. As you are aware solvents are widely used in industries in many applications.

Solvents in general have high vapour pressures and, therefore, their potential hazard by inhalation and subsequent systemic toxicity is great. They pose a threat to the health, productivity and efficiency of workers in many occupations and industries if the use of the solvents are not properly managed and controlled.

In Singapore, there has been a two fold increase in the number of workers over-exposed to or poisoned by solvents over the last 10 years, from 69 cases between 1987 and 1991 to 135 cases between 1992 and 1996. Many of these cases involved degreasing solvents such as trichloroethylene. However, the number of cases of skin diseases from solvent exposure has reduced from 144 cases to 92 cases over the same period of time.

Besides safety and health hazards, solvent vapours can pose serious environmental problems. CFC compounds are known to cause depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer. Another problem is photochemical smog produced by volatile organic solvent vapours in the presence of sunlight and other pollutants. This has become a serious environmental health problem in some urban atmospheres.

There is therefore a need for greater awareness about the potential hazards posed by solvents. It is timely for this seminar to discuss the impact of solvents on human health and the environment and to formulate strategies to safeguard the health of workers and to protect the environment. I must commend the Working Group on Solvent Hazards Control for spearheading the task to identify safer solvent substitutes and alternate technology for the control and prevention of solvent hazards.

An effective solution to eliminate solvent hazards is to substitute harmful solvents with less harmful or harmless substances. For example, water-based cleaning agents may be used instead of solvent-based degreasing agents.

Another solution is to use alternative or innovative technologies which preclude the use of toxic or hazardous solvents. One example is laser cleaning.

I note from the seminar programme that the use of alternative chemicals and processes instead of hazardous solvents would be addressed in this seminar.

Where the use of hazardous solvents is necessary, workers' exposure to the solvents and release of these materials to the environment should be kept as low as is practicable. Relevant statutory limits must be complied with in this respect. Proper procedures are required to ensure maintenance of health, safety and environmental standards during transport, storage, use and disposal of such materials. Everyone in the company has a responsibility to follow these procedures diligently.

These procedures should require new processes and chemicals to be carefully investigated for potential hazards prior to requisition or purchase. Information should be obtained on the potential hazards and on the requirements for protection against acute and chronic hazards. This information could be sought from suppliers and supplemented from other sources, as necessary. Chemicals should not be purchased unless such information is available. The provision of this information will assist individuals to minimise their exposures to chemical hazards.

For existing processes and work operations involving solvents, a risk analysis should be carried out to determine the hazards associated with normal activity, abnormal operating conditions and possible emergency situations. Where the risk is significant, appropriate measures should be taken to eliminate or reduce the risk.

As with other toxic and hazardous chemicals, solvents can be used safely when appropriate precautions are taken. These include the use of enclosed or automated system and effective local exhaust ventilation system to remove any airborne contaminants at the source of generation. Suitable respirators should be used if it is not practicable to reduce the exposure to below the permissible exposure levels by engineering means. The skin and eyes should also be protected from contact with the solvent by following good work practices and wearing suitable personal protective equipment.

My Ministry has given priority to the control of chemical hazards in factories.

Since 1995, suppliers of toxic or flammable chemicals used in factories must provide material safety data sheets (MSDS) and occupiers of factories where such chemicals are used must obtain the MSDS and implement safety measures to protect workers. These requirements help to create a greater awareness of chemical hazards and their prevention. Before the requirements were introduced, the full compliance rate of provision of MSDS was less than 30%. Now, it is about 50%. There is obviously room for improvement and I urge those who have not done so to comply with these requirements expeditiously.

To promulgate occupational exposure standards in Singapore, My Ministry introduced the Factories (Permissible Exposure Levels of Toxic Substances) Order in 1996. This Order specifies the exposure limits for some 600 toxic chemicals. Factory occupiers must carry out regular workplace monitoring and ensure that workers are not overexposed to these chemicals. My Ministry is monitoring the compliance with this Order closely and will take enforcement action where necessary.

This year, my Ministry has extended the Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations to cover workers who are exposed to TCE and PCE. Under the Regulations, employers must send the exposed workers for prescribed pre-employment and periodic medical examinations. The objective of these examinations is to detect excessive absorption and early cases of poisoning. This helps factories to take measures to control the hazard and protect their workers.

As solvents are widely used for cleaning or degreasing and many incidents involving solvents have occurred, my Ministry's Department of Industrial Health has produced a set of guidelines on solvent degreasing. These guidelines provide technical information and measures to eliminate or minimise solvent exposure during degreasing. I understand that some of the more important guidelines will be highlighted in one of the papers to be presented in this seminar.

The control or prevention of solvent hazards cannot be achieved by governmental action. Chemical manufacturers or suppliers, factory occupiers and employers have a responsibility to protect the employees, the environment and the community at large from any toxic, flammable or hazardous solvents which are within their control. All factories using hazardous solvents should establish and implement a management programme to control and prevent solvent hazards. Safeguards should be considered at all stages in the life cycle of the chemicals.

In conclusion, we must be constantly alert to the presence of potential health hazards, especially with the rapid changes and developments taking place, and new chemicals and processes being introduced. To promote occupational health and safety, we should continue to collaborate among employers, unions and the government. Your overwhelming response to this seminar is indeed encouraging. It indicates your concern and interest in managing and controlling solvent hazards to safeguard workers health and well-being.

It is now my pleasure to declare this seminar open and to wish you an enjoyable and fruitful discussion.