Nickel Risk Assessment The impact on Plating Activities

1
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• To what level of operation will this impact on
  the business of
• Nickel Plating

2
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• The effects of the current and proposed
  legislation on the day to day operation of a
  Nickel plating facility.
• Either Rack, Barrel or processes
• Equally applicable to -
• Bright Nickel
• Semi Bright Nickel
• Micro porous Nickel
• Satin Nickel
• Electroless nickel

3
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Exposure at tank side during plating
• Lip Extraction
• Agitation
• Air or Pumped
• Splashing during draining

4
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• This leads onto the problems associated with
  keeping the extraction system clean and
  functioning.
• With salts precipitating out the cleaning process
  is laborious, but steam cleaning with the high
  risk of aerosols is now going to be a significant
  problem.

5
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Solution make up
• Handling chemical solids
• High inhalation of dust risk
• Weighing out
• Adding to tank
• Skin contact when handling chemicals
• Eco rinse cycle
• Clean up drag out and use as top up
• Use liquid additions
• pH control splashing concerns

6
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Filter maintenance
• Minimal dust/solids issues
• High risk of aerosols when venting filter
• Splash problems when removing or inserting
  cartridges
• Cleaning of reusable cartridges will produce more
  nickel contaminated solution

7
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Pellet additions to cages
• Aerosol or splash risk during this operation,
  small but sufficient to warrant review of how
  this process is carried out.

8
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Anode maintenance
• Leave bags to drain over tank
• Beware if they dry out additional dust risk
• Bag removal is high contact risk if still wet
• Anode cages once exposed need to be cleaned, if
  pellets removed difficult to clean and save for
  re use.
• Steam clean in cage, high risk of inhalation
• Splashes and aerosol risk when removing
• Immersion of bare cage produces handling issues
• All processes generate contaminated liquid

9
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Tank emptying and refilling
• Control of discharge
• Removal of last liquids
• Clean down prior to entry
• Return of solution

10
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Tank Top Cleaning
• Removal of salt build up by any means will pose a
  risk
• Steam cleaning
• Hand brushing
• Air line
• Hot water washing

11
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Laboratory Functions
• Hull cell testing
• Wet analysis
• Density checks

12
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Maintenance
• Even if operators are fully aware of the new
  issues, the maintenance staff may not be.
• Make arrangements for all equipment removed for
  repair are fully cleaned.
• If working tank side ensure area cleaned prior to
  work starting.

13
Nickel Risk AssessmentThe impact on Plating
Activities

• Spill Handling procedures
• Remember that once the daily operation and
  maintenance activities have been considered there
  is always the unforeseen occurrence that needs
  dealing with in a safe manner.