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The chemical industry is one of the main contributors to processing raw materials into the products we use every day. Agriculture, food industry, pharmaceuticals, and hygiene products are only some of the fields directly reliant on the chemical industry. With the use of technical innovation, chemical processes are constantly improved, which means that their efficiency in terms of energy consumption, time duration, and waste reduction is also increased.

Despite numerous advancements, mistakes and accidents still occur, having catastrophic consequences for the workers employed at chemical facilities and the surrounding environment. Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. Production system failure

Whether a human or a technical equipment error, accidents involving the production system failure are a threat that chemical manufacturers must take into account.

2. Natural disasters

Depending on the geographical location, chemical plants can be exposed to various natural disasters. For example, floods and earthquakes can significantly endanger the structural integrity of a chemical plant. They could cause toxic chemical leaks, explosions, and other catastrophic events.

3. Malfunctioning hazardous waste management systems

Due to their manufacturing processes, many chemical plants produce hazardous waste that must be managed appropriately. When the waste management systems fail to operate correctly,  ecological problems may occur, impacting everyone in that environment.

4. Terrorist attacks

Chemical facilities often handle high-risk chemical substances. If these fall into the wrong hands, they can lead to grave consequences.

In such highly uncertain conditions, the management in the chemical industry has developed many solutions to face the above dangers.

1. Elimination or substitution of high-risk substances

The risk is completely removed when a dangerous substance is eliminated from the manufacturing process or is substituted with a safer raw material that can serve the same purpose.

2. Facility adjustments

Physical restructuring of the production system can sometimes completely prevent workers from coming into direct contact with a hazardous substance and thus actually eliminate human error.

3. Safety gear

Gas masks, protective clothing, gloves, and goggles protect workers from the dangerous materials they come in contact with in the working environment.

4. Safety system implementation

Straightforward protocols and processes instruct workers on how to react in an emergency and remove any uncertainty or confusion that may occur in a stressful situation.

Also, many countries have laws that make it mandatory for chemical facilities handling dangerous substances to use a system that warns everybody inside the facility and in its proximity of any possible danger that is to occur.

For the above systems to function correctly, it is inevitable that equipment is installed to monitor all crucial processes in production. The acquired data is then sent directly to the responsible person in the control centre, or the systems are automatically activated for risk mitigation.

Our Pavian siren perfectly matches these requirements as it can use sensors’ inputs to activate and warn the surrounding area about dangers. Also, it can automatically start other safety processes inside the facility to close valves, shut down the equipment or even stop the production.

If you wish to learn more about Telegrafia’s solutions for the chemical industry, click on this link or the button below to send us an enquiry.

The article was written by

Vladimir Ilić 

Vladimir is a Marketing Assistant responsible for the Balkan countries. Work ethic, problem-solving and attention to detail are attributes he brings to the workplace every day. His proactive personality also translates into physical activity, music and traveling which is how he spends most of his free time.