WSH (Abrasive Blasting) Regulations 2008

Workplace Safety and Health (Abrasive Blasting) Regulations 2008

PART II

ABRASIVES USED IN BLASTING

Abrasives used in blasting

4. It shall be the duty of —

(a)the employer of any person carrying out any blasting in a workplace; or

(b)the principal under whose direction any person carries out any blasting in a workplace, to ensure that no sand or other substance containing free silica is used as an abrasive in blasting or is introduced into or present in any blasting equipment as an abrasive.

Abrasives not to be used again

5.  It shall be the duty of —

(a)the employer of any person carrying out any blasting in a workplace; or

(b)the principal under whose direction any person carries out any blasting in a workplace, to ensure that no substance which has been used as an abrasive in blasting is used again or be introduced into or be present in any blasting equipment as an abrasive unless, since last being so used, that substance has, so far as is reasonably practicable, been separated by means of a suitable and effective device from dusts and particles of materials arising from blasting.

PART III

PRECAUTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH BLASTING

Safety precautions

6.—(1) It shall be the duty of —

(a)the employer of any person carrying out any blasting in a workplace; or

(b)the principal under whose direction any person carries out any blasting in a workplace, to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (8) are complied with.

(2)  Subject to paragraph (3), no blasting shall be carried out, so far as is reasonably practicable, except in a blasting enclosure.

(3)  Where it is not reasonably practicable to carry out blasting in a blasting enclosure —

(a)all reasonably practicable measures shall be taken to ensure that the dust generated from blasting is minimised and does not cause nuisance or pose any hazard to any person in the workplace at which the blasting is carried out;

(b)adequate signs to warn of the hazards associated with blasting shall be provided at suitable locations in the workplace; and

(c)no person shall be allowed to enter any area where there is a risk of exposure to dust arising from blasting unless the person is wearing suitable personal protective equipment as referred to in regulation 10.

(4) No person shall be allowed to enter any blasting enclosure except for the purpose of carrying out 

(a)any blasting; or

(b)the cleaning, repairing or maintenance of the blasting enclosure or any equipment, device or fixture situated therein.

(5)  Nothing in paragraph (4) shall operate to interfere with or render unlawful any rescue work or other work necessary for ensuring the safety of life or for preventing damage to property.

(6)  Except in the case of a blasting cabinet, every blasting enclosure shall be so constructed as to be safe for any person to enter or work within the blasting enclosure.

(7) All reasonably practical measures shall be taken to protect any person who is outside the blasting enclosure from exposure to dust generated by blasting.

(8) Every door of a blasting chamber shall —

(a)be kept closed but shall not be securely locked while blasting is being carried out therein; and

(b)be kept closed for a reasonable time after blasting has ceased.

Construction of blasting chamber

7.—(1) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace in which blasting is carried out within a blasting chamber to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) are complied with.

(2) Every blasting chamber shall be —

(a)of sound construction;

(b)so situated or constructed as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, dust escaping from it;

(c)provided with suitable and adequate means of access which shall at all times be kept free from obstruction; and

(d)provided with inspection ports placed at suitable locations.

(3) The interior of every blasting chamber shall, so far as is practicable, be free from projections on which dust might settle.

(4) The illumination of every blasting chamber shall not be less than 200 lux over all parts of the chamber measured in a horizontal plane at one metre above the floor.

Handling of heavy or bulky articles

8. It shall be the duty of —

(a)the employer of any person carrying out any blasting in a workplace; or

(b)the principal under whose direction any person carries out any blasting in a workplace,to provide suitable and adequate means to secure in position any heavy or bulky article while such article is being blasted within the blasting enclosure.

Static electrical charges

9.It shall be the duty of —

(a)the employer of any person carrying out any blasting in a workplace; or

(b)the principal under whose direction any person carries out any blasting in a workplace, to provide effective means for the discharge of static electrical charges from blasting nozzles used in blasting.

Personal protective equipment

10.—(1)  It shall be the duty of —

(a)the employer of any person carrying out —

(i)any blasting or other work connected with the blasting process; or

(ii)any cleaning, repairing or maintenance work;

within any blasting enclosure in a workplace; or

(b)the principal under whose direction any person carries out the work referred to in sub-paragraph (a) in a workplace, to ensure that the requirements of paragraphs (2) to (5) are complied with.

(2) Every person carrying out any work referred to in paragraph (1) —

(a)shall be provided with suitable overalls, boots and gloves; and

(b)shall be provided with a supplied-air blasting helmet.

(3) Every supplied-air blasting helmet referred to in paragraph (2)(b) —

(a)shall be supplied with sufficient breathing quality air;

(b)shall be provided with an efficient pressure reducing or limiting device;

(c)shall be provided with an efficient valve or other appliance as means for the person wearing it to regulate the flow of air to his needs;

(d)shall be for use by a single person only; and

(e)must not have been previously used by another person or, if it has been so used by another person, must have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected since it was last used.

(4)No pipeline carrying gases, other than a pipeline carrying breathing quality air, shall be connected to the air-supply line for any supplied-air blasting helmet.

(5)Every personal protective equipment shall, when not in use, be kept in a storage accommodation that is free from dust arising from blasting.

These are just some of the legal requirement for ABRASIVE BLASTING. To learn more refer to the Singapore Statues Online and update your organization compliance obligation procedure