Safe handling of hazardous substances - Hazardous materials handling from Worker with hazmat equipment

Safe handling of hazardous substances

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Hazmat handling: Employee protection takes precedence

Handling hazardous substances is part of the daily routine in many workplaces. In doing so, employees are, for example exposed to hazards from explosion risks or carcinogenic substances in harmful concentrations. Toxic hazards and the threat of oxygen deficiency are also present in various application areas. Equipped with the right personal protective equipment (PPE), precise gas detector and practical training you can design these processes safely and efficiently. With hazmat equipment from Dräger you are well protected when handling hazardous substances.

Recognising and evaluating hazardous situations

Identifying and evaluating hazardous situations with Dräger

Many procedures and processes in routine work, e.g. cleaning procedures, decanting of chemicals, require close monitoring and additional protection against hazardous substances. Critical points can be derived from the risk assessment at the workplace. 

5 steps of a risk assessment should follow:

Step 1: Identify the hazards
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
Step 5: Review your assessment and update if necessary

Stay informed about hazardous materials handling

Impacts of hazardous substances
Protect yourself from hazmat materials

Hazmat handling on workplace can impact the body in three main ways:
1) Impacts on consciousness

2) Impacts on organs and vital functions

3) Skin irritations or mechanical injuries.

Hazard Signs
Understanding clp pictograms and hazard signs Infographic

Learn more about the different classes of hazmats and the symbols you should look for on the labels of potentially hazardous substances. Our infographic has it all covered.

Identifying and monitoring hazards in the workplace

Workplace monitoring

Personal gas detectors warn your employees in risk areas in good time about exceeding occupational exposure limits. They are usually worn directly on the work clothing. Therefore, ease of operation, high wearing comfort and robustness are important here. Our detectors to monitor single gases or multiple gases help to increase safety during handling hazardous substances in the workplace.

Dräger Pac® 8000

Dräger Pac® 8000

With the robust Dräger Pac® 8000, you'll be well equipped for tough conditions: this non-disposable, personal single-gas detection device is a reliable and precise instrument, which detects hazardous concentrations of 29 different gases, including special gases like NO2, O3 or COCl2. Measured data ...

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Dräger X-am® 5000

Dräger X-am® 5000

The Dräger X-am® 5000 belongs to a generation of gas detectors, developed especially for personal monitoring applications. This 1- to 5-gas detector reliably measures combustible gases and vapors as well as oxygen and harmful concentrations of toxic gases, organic vapors, Odorant and Amine.

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Mobile area monitoring

During maintenance works a flexible set up of a wireless fence line helps to monitor an area in which one or more workers are active. An innovative area monitoring device acts as a supplement or temporary substitute for stationary systems. Robustness, stability and well-recognized visual and audible alarms increase your workers safety.

Dräger X-zone® 5500

Dräger X-zone® 5500

​​State-of-the-art area monitoring – the Dräger X-zone® 5500 in combination with the Dräger X-am® 5000, 5100 or 5600 gas detection instruments can be used for the measurement of up to six gases and extends the portable gas detection technology to a comprehensive system with many applications.

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Dräger X-am® 5600

Dräger X-am® 5600

Featuring an ergonomic design and innovative infrared sensor technology, the Dräger X-am 5600 is the smallest gas detection instrument for the measurement of up to 6 gases. Ideal for personal monitoring applications, this robust and water-tight detector provides accurate, reliable measurements of explosive, combustible and toxic gases and vapors ...

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Stationary area monitoring

When working with hazardous materials there should be no unobserved moment. Gas readings are continuously logged and calculated. In hazardous areas many situations can lead to toxic or explosive gas accumulation. Oxygen saturation or undersaturation is also risky. Exceeding of threshold limit values (TLVs) results in an alarm and a temporary access ban. Dräger’s fixed gas detectors includes toxic, flammable and oxygen sensors that interface seamlessly in a system. We offer guidance through the complete process – including design, realisation and implementation.

Fixed Gas Detection Solutions

Protection when handling hazmat

When working with chemicals, very different substances can pose a health hazard. When e.g. flaps and valves are opened during decanting and loading procedures increased exposure to hazardous substances often occur. Often several contaminants occur simultaneously and are thus a special challenge for respiratory and body protection. Employee protection means here: Protection against increased exposure to hazardous substances. Dräger offers a comprehensive portfolio on reliable personal protection equipment.

Dräger X-plore® 8000

Dräger X-plore® 8000

​​Challenging workplace conditions demand reliable solutions. The Dräger X-plore® 8000 offers a new level of intuitive handling combined with intelligent electronics that provide the high degree of safety your people need to focus on the task at hand.

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Dräger X-plore® 3300/3500

Dräger X-plore® 3300/3500

​A perfect combination: modern design and light weight offer you extra protection and comfort. Choose from the low-maintenance, cost-effective Dräger X-plore® 3300 half mask or Dräger X-plore® 3500 version for long lasting protection under tough conditions.

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Hazmat equipment for working in explosive atmospheres

Warehouse with chemicals

While handling hazmats also explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. In those environment explosion protection measures, mostly regulated by law, keeps the personnel and plants safe. The ATEX directives describe what equipment and work space is allowed in environments with an explosive atmosphere. Dräger offers detection and protection equipment according the ATEX standard which is indented for use in Ex-zones.

ATEX - Explosion protection and gas detection Ex-marking and meaning

ATEX at a glance

Explosion protection and gas detection: Ex-marking and meaning - these compact overview shows what you need to know.

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Monitoring Ex hazards

Unintentional leakage is never excluded for example in storage rooms with explosive substances. A stationary gas measurement system issues an alarm and triggers countermeasures such as the start of the ventilation system.

Dräger Polytron® SE Ex

Dräger Polytron® SE Ex

The Dräger Polytron® SE Ex ... DQ sensing heads are gas detectors for the continuous monitoring of flammable gases and vapours in the ambient air. Measurement is based on the heat of reaction principle where a chemical reaction takes place in a catalytic bead (also known as a pellistor) inside the sensor.

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Dräger PIR 7000

Dräger PIR 7000

The Dräger PIR 7000 is an explosion proof point infrared gas detector for continuous monitoring of flammable gases and vapours. With its stainless steel SS 316L enclosure and drift-free optics this detector is built for the harshest industrial environments, e.g. offshore installations.

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Protection while working in Ex-zones

Chemical protective suits and respiratory protection can become electrically charged when worn, the compatibility and dissipation capability of suit, respiratory protection, gloves and shoes must be taken into account when working in explosive atmospheres.

Dräger SPC 4400 / SPC 4800 / SPC 4900

Dräger SPC 4400 / SPC 4800 / SPC 4900

Light and comfortable to wear: Dräger SPC 4X00 liquid-tight splash suits offer reliable protection against the finest particles and powders, many concentrated inorganic acids and alkaline solutions, and are also resistant to a wide variety of organic liquid chemicals. They are CE-certified and classified as type 3, 4, 5 and 6.

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Dräger PAS® Lite

Dräger PAS® Lite

For use in industrial applications where a simple, robust and easy to use breathing apparatus is required, the Dräger PAS® Lite Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) combines reliability with comfort and performance, as well as excellent service life and easy maintenance.

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Dräger FPS® 7000

Dräger FPS® 7000

The Dräger FPS® 7000 full-face mask series sets new standards in terms of safety and wearing comfort. Thanks to its enhanced ergonomics and the availability of multiple sizes, it offers a large, optimized field of vision and a very comfortable, secure fit.

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Draeger VOICE - Hazmat equipment finder

The hazmat-based safety product finder

The new web tool Dräger VOICE supports you with vital information to more than 1,500 hazardous substances, about their physiochemical characteristics and relevant limit values and recommends suitable respiratory and body protection equipment as well as appropriate gas detection solutions.

Get in touch with Dräger

Contact us

Draeger Australia Pty. Ltd.

8 Acacia Place
Notting Hill
Victoria 3168

1800 372 437

Draeger New Zealand Ltd.

Unit 4
24 Bishop Dunn Place
East Tamaki
Auckland 2013

0800 372 437