China is seeking comments on two rules concerning safety assessment of hazardous chemical enterprises
The Chinese State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) has published a notice on 1st April to consult on two draft measures concerning safety assessment of hazardous chemical company: “Detailed rules of safety assessment for hazardous chemical construction projects” (hereinafter as SA Rules for Construction Projects) and “Detailed rules of safety assessment for hazardous chemical use enterprise” (hereinafter as SA Rules for Use Enterprise). The drafting party consisting of China SAWS, the Chinese chemical safety association and NRCC-SAWS advise releasing both rules as mandatory standards following the conclusion of partial consultation due on 30 April 2012.
Drafted both under the scope of the national industry standard for safety production, the SA Rules for Construction Projects identify the overall safety assessment management for new construction, reconstruction and expansion of hazardous chemical production or storage projects as well as for other related chemical construction projects (e.g. hazardous chemical pipelines); and the SA Rules for Use Enterprise have specified safety assessment practice for hazardous chemical downstream users in their application for the “hazardous chemicals safe use permit” with the NRCC-SAWS.
Key safety assessment elements indicated in the SA Rules for Use Enterprise include identification of hazard/danger, distribution of SA cells, determination of SA methods, analysis of inherent hazard and risk severity, and analysis of safe use conditions including identification of major hazard installations (based on GB 18218-2009), consideration of premises, layout and facilities, protection against occupational hazards, employee education and training, response/rescue practice and other relevant safety production requirements.
This draft standard also defines the content and structure of a safety assessment report which, according to article 22 of State Council Decree 591, shall be concluded by qualified safety assessment agencies and then submitted by the assessed enterprise of hazardous chemical production or storage at local authorities of work safety for administrative record.
