Geita Gold mine Navachab BASIC CYANIDE AWARENESS. 1 INTEREST. WHAT IS CYANIDE ? 2 What is CYANIDE ?? Cyanide is potentially the most hazardous chemical on site. It is highly toxic and potentially fatal, but if certain precautions are taken it can be used with complete safety. Sodium Cyanide in Metallurgical Plants is in the form of briquettes. It is being used to dissolve the gold in the ore. United Nation number is 1689. Warning: All forms of cyanide are poisonous whether it is in solid form, dissolved as a liquid or given off as hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN). 3 UNITED NATION NUMBER AND DATA SHEET 4 NEED: THE REASON FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THIS COURSE IS TO ENSURE YOUR AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF CYANIDE. TITLE: THE PROGRAMME IS DESIGNED TO CREATE AN AWARENESS WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES NOT CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH CYANIDE AND CYANIDE RELATED EQUIPMENT (EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MORE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH CYANIDE AND CYANIDE RELATED EQUIPMENT WILL BE TRAINED IN CYANIDE FIRST AID) RANGE: DURING PRESENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME THE FOLLOWING WILL BE COVERED: 1.0 RECOGNITION OF CYANIDE AREAS AND RELEVANT EQUIPMENT 2.0 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN IN THE VICINITY OF CYANIDE AREAS 3.0 WAYS OF POTENTIAL CYANIDE CONTAMINATION 4.0 SYMPTOMS OF CYANIDE POISONING 5.0 HOW TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY 5 6.0 ONE MINUTE RISK ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE ON COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAMME, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECOGNISE CYANIDE AREAS AND THE RELEVANT EQUIPMENT, TAKE THE NECESSARY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN IN THE VICINITY, RECOGNIZE WAYS OF CONTAMINATION AND SYMPTOMS OF CYANIDE POISONING, AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. 6 RECOGNITION OF CYANIDE AREAS AND RELEVANT EQUIPMENT Fenced and or locked areas THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT IS THAT CYANIDE STORAGE AND MAKE-UP AREAS ARE WELL FENCED. • THE AREAS KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY. • APPROPRIATE SYMBOLIC SIGNS ARE ACCORDINGLY POSTED. 7 SYMBOLIC SIGNS. 8 SYMBOLIC SIGNS. 9 SYMBOLIC SIGNS. 10 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN IN THE VICINITY OF CYANIDE AREAS: BE ALERT FOR PIPES,FLANGES AND VALVES WHICH SHOW LEAKAGE. DO NOT PURPOSELY STEP INTO SPILLAGES. WHEN NOTICING LEAKAGES WARN OTHERS AND CALL FOR IMMEDIATE 11 ASSISTANCE. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN IN THE VICINITY OF CYANIDE AREAS: FRIDGES MUST NOT BE USED FOR THE STORING OF FOOD OR DRINKING WATER UNLESS SO SPECIFIED. 12 • REFRAIN FROM ENTERING CYANIDE AREAS IF NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO • ONLY TRAINED AND COMPETENT PERSONS EMPLOYED WITHIN THE AREA SHOULD ENTER. • REFRAIN FROM DISTRACTING THOSE PERSONS EMPLOYED WITHIN THIS AREA • DO NOT CHOOSE TO SIT ON PIPES OR ANY AREA THAT COULD CONTAMINATE OVERALLS OR SKIN. • AT ALL TIMES OBEY SYMBOLIC SIGNS – STRATEGICALLY PLACED FOR YOUR PROTECTION. 13 WAYS OF CYANIDE CONTAMINATION: 14 SYMPTOMS OF CYANIDE POISONING • REDNESS OF EYES/WATERY EYES • COMPLAINT OF HEADACHE OR DIZZINESS • NAUSEA AND OR VOMITING (HCN GAS EXPELLED) • IRRITATION OF NOSE AND THROAT • WEAKNESS OF JOINTS • GIDDINESS – STUMBLING • SUFFOCATION – DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING • LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS 15 HOW TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY: • ALWAYS ASSUME EXPOSURE TO CYANIDE LIQUID OR HCN GAS. • ACTIVATE ALARM AND • CALL FOR HELP 16 HOW TO RESPOND IN AN EMERGENCY: • REMAIN UP WIND – CHECK WINDSOCK •PREVENT UNPROTECTED PERSONS FROM ENTERING THE AREA. 17 INDIVIDUAL RISK ASSESSMENT: Risk means the likelihood that an injury or harm can come to an employee. Each employee must at all times strive to eliminate the potential of an incident/accident by conducting a “ONE MINUTE RISK ASSESSMENT" • RED – STOP: MAKE SAFE • AMBER – THINK: ARE ALL ITEMS COVERED? • GREEN – CONTINUE: TAKE CARE 18 What each employee must do before performing a task! 19 ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: 1.0 AM I TRAINED TO DO THE JOB? Yes No 2.0 DO I HAVE PERMISSION/AUTHORISATION TO BE IN THE AREA/DO THE JOB? Yes No 3.0 DO I HAVE A PROCEDURE/PLAN FOR THE JOB? Yes No 4.0 DO I HAVE THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR THE JOB? Yes No 5.0 DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB? Yes No 6.0 ARE THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT THAT I WANT TO USE IN A GOOD CONDITION? Yes No 7.0 HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE I LAST DID THE JOB? Yes No 8.0 IS THERE ANYTHING AROUND ME THAT COULD INJURE ME? Yes No 9.0 IS AN ACCIDENT/INCIDENT POSSIBLE? Yes No 10.0 ARE THERE ANYONE ELSE WORKING WITH ME AND HAVE HE/SHE ANSWERED POSITIVELY TO THE QUESTIONS? Yes No 20 IF YOU HAVE ANSWERED NO TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS, IMMEDIATELY DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR AND HAVE THE SITUATION CORRECTED TO A YES ANSWER BEFORE COMMENCING WITH THE TASK! 21 Geita Gold Mine Navachab ANY QUESTIONS? 22