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Feasibility Evaluation of Designated Quantities for Chemicals Requiring Preparation for Accidents in the Korean Chemical Accident Prevention System

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  • Mun Seob Ahn

    (Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., 146, Gwahaksaneop 4-ro, Ochang-eup, Chongwon-gu, Chongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28121, Korea
    Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University, 22, Soonchunhyang-ro, Sinchang-myeon, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do 31538, Korea)

  • Hyo Eun Lee

    (Department of Health Science, Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Kwang Soo Cheon

    (Ministry of Environment, Chemical Safety Management Department, 417 Daehak-ro, Youseoung-Gu Daejeon 34142, Korea)

  • Huoung Gi Joo

    (Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., 146, Gwahaksaneop 4-ro, Ochang-eup, Chongwon-gu, Chongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28121, Korea)

  • Ochang Chemical Safety Community

    (Ochang Chemical Safety Community, 146, Gwahaksaneop 4-ro, Ochang-eup, Chongwon-gu, Chongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28121, Korea)

  • Bu-Soon Son

    (Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University, 22, Soonchunhyang-ro, Sinchang-myeon, Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do 31538, Korea)

Abstract

To prevent chemical accidents, the United States (US), the European Union (EU), and the Republic of Korea operate legal systems, such as risk management plans (RMP) and process safety management (PSM), to prevent chemical accidents inside and outside the workplace. The duty to implement chemical accident prevention systems and the criteria for being a target workplace are dependent on the designated quantities of chemicals handled. A chemical accident prevention system is obligatory for storage and handling of legally declared chemicals in the workplace. Benzene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, and ethyl acetate are all flammable materials that are commonly used as solvents in the chemical industry. These substances are grouped into flammable substances groups in the US and the EU, and are managed with the same designated quantities. However, in Korea, the designated quantities are: benzene, 10,000 kg; toluene, xylene, and methyl ethyl ketone, 200,000 kg; and ethyl acetate, 20,000 kg. In order to evaluate the validity of the chemical quantities, fire explosion scenarios during chemical accidents were modeled using two modeling programs, Areal Location of Hazardous Atmosphere (ALOHA) and Korea Off-Site Risk Assessment Supporting Tool (KORA) software, under the same conditions. Similar damage radii were found for the five flammable materials with both pool fires and vapor cloud explosions (VCE). Based on these damage radii, the designated quantities of five substances were calculated and included in the range (10,000 to 13,500 kg). The results show that current designated quantities underestimate chemical substances, and for the prevention of accidents and post-management after chemical accidents, it is necessary to manage flammable substances under one grouping.

Suggested Citation

  • Mun Seob Ahn & Hyo Eun Lee & Kwang Soo Cheon & Huoung Gi Joo & Ochang Chemical Safety Community & Bu-Soon Son, 2020. "Feasibility Evaluation of Designated Quantities for Chemicals Requiring Preparation for Accidents in the Korean Chemical Accident Prevention System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:6:p:1927-:d:332938
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hyo Eun Lee & Seok J. Yoon & Jong-Ryeul Sohn & Da-An Huh & Seok-Won Jang & Kyong Whan Moon, 2019. "Suitability Assessment of Legal Regulation of Chemical Concentrations According to Vapor Pressure and Damage Radius," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Hyo Eun Lee & Jong-Ryeul Sohn & Sang-Hoon Byeon & Seok J. Yoon & Kyong Whan Moon, 2018. "Alternative Risk Assessment for Dangerous Chemicals in South Korea Regulation: Comparing Three Modeling Programs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Hyo Eun Lee & Seok J. Yoon & Jong-Ryeul Sohn & Da-An Huh & Bong Woo Lee & Kyong Whan Moon, 2019. "Flammable Substances in Korea Considering the Domino Effect: Assessment of Safety Distance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-14, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingqing Su & Lijun Wei & Shennan Zhou & Guoliang Yang & Rujun Wang & Yingquan Duo & Sining Chen & Mingliang Sun & Jiahang Li & Xiangbei Kong, 2022. "Study on Dynamic Probability and Quantitative Risk Calculation Method of Domino Accident in Pool Fire in Chemical Storage Tank Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Namjeong Son & Yoojin Kim & Mimi Min & Seungho Jung & Chankyu Kang, 2022. "Numerical Investigation of Overtopping Prevention for Optimal Safety Dike Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.

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