Explosive atmospheres – Standards instrumental in safety performance

The Ex (explosives) industry comprises all areas where a concentration of flammable gases, liquids, or combustible dusts may be present. These areas are called explosive atmospheres or hazardous locations. They include oil rigs, chemical processing plants, coal mines, sugar refineries, grain handling and storage sites, refuelling stations, and more. Working in such environments requires highly skilled people who are well aware of the potential dangers.

Safety is essential in these sectors and doesn't depend on the equipment alone. The personnel operating and handling the equipment are at the heart of the security issue. People working in hazardous areas are often subjected to extreme climatic conditions, on oil rigs for example. They need total confidence that the equipment they are operating is safe and reliable. They also need to be able to trust their skills and those of the people they work with.

STANDARD IN DEVELOPMENT

SAA/SNZ HB 76 Dangerous goods – Initial emergency response guide

Committee: HB76
Manager: John Kelly
Estimated publication date: April 2010
Comments: HB 76:1997 was developed as a joint handbook but subsequent editions, 2004 in Australia and 2003 and 2008 in New Zealand, have been Australian and New Zealand only handbooks. The handbook is now being revised as a joint document. A public comment draft was issued in New Zealand only in early March 2010, with publication scheduled for late April 2010.