The development of an integrated system

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR HAZARD ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL OF CHEMICALS USED IN THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY Sappi Technology Centre, PO Box 3252, Springs 1560, South Africa chemicals, databases, environmental compliance, fire prevention, food wrap papers, hazardous materials, industrial hygiene, information systems, legislation, pollution prevention, safety, safety precautions, water pollution control Since 1989 Sappi Technology Centre has been developing a database of the chemical products used at the mills. The information it contains is taken from the suppliers' material safety datasheets, and is used to produce a standardised emergency response datasheet which is available where the chemical is used. This paper describes the development of the database, and the changes which have occurred due to improved information technology and additional requirements. The present system, in addition to the risk control function, has been helpful in obtaining ISO 14000, as well as providing a valuable resource of data for product compliance to applicable legislation. The Sappi Technology Centre, based at Enstra Mill in Springs, maintains a database of all the chemical products used within the Sappi group in Southern Africa. The development of this database began in 1989 and has been through many changes, due in part to the vast improvements in information technology over the years. This has allowed the database to expand from the initial focus on risk control to become an important resource on the chemicals used in the manufacture of pulp and paper. It now provides information for determining compliance with food packaging regulations and other customer requirements, as well as being a useful tool in the maintenance of the ISO 14000 system. The Hazchem database, as it was named in 1989, was initiated due to an accident involving the inadvertent mixing of two incompatible chemicals at a mill. The resulting explosion luckily did not