TOXIC CHEMICALS: Schools need to know how to dispose of it
News Straits Times, 22 April 2013
THE chemical explosion at SMK Datuk Lokman in Kampung Pandan following a spill is a grave matter which must be given utmost attention.
Although there were no serious injuries, other than 19 students and two teachers who experienced nausea after inhaling the chemical, the incident should serve as a lesson.
It is a wake-up call to other schools in the country.
The incident happened when eight barrels of chemicals that had been used in the school's science labs were being transported for disposal by a private contractor.
One of the barrels tipped over while being loaded onto a truck. This resulted in the spillage, which caused the explosion and a fire.
The Fire and Rescue Department must be complimented for acting swiftly to contain the accident.
The whole incident has brought into question the issue of chemicals hazardous to health, the disposal of chemical waste in accordance with the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005 and the storage of the scheduled waste.
Under the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, every waste generator (in this case, the school) shall ensure that the scheduled waste generated is properly treated, stored and disposed of.
Every waste generator shall ensure that the scheduled waste that is subjected to movement or transfer be packaged, labelled and transported in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the director-general of the Department of Environment.
Scheduled waste shall be stored in containers which are compatible with the waste and durable to prevent spillage or leakage.
With this in mind, all schools that use chemicals in their science labs must be aware of such regulations in the interest of safety, not only of the students, but also the school workers.
The Education Ministry should seek the help of relevant departments and agencies to fully engage all schools in this matter to prevent a repetition of such an incident.
Contractors who are appointed by the scheduled waste collector must ensure that they are able to perform their task professionally.
The incident has also reinforced the need for school authorities to be fully aware of good occupational safety and health practices in all schools, which are deemed as places of work.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman, National Institute Of Occupational Safety And Health (Niosh) Malaysia
