Seychelles benefits from chemical safety and security workshop |19 July 2017

Seychelles is benefitting from a week-long workshop on chemical safety and security in the Eastern and Central African Region.

The workshop, taking place at Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa, Beau Vallon, is being held in countries of the region with the aim of strengthening regional and national capacities with respect to limitation of environmental consequences following a chemical incident in the region.

It is being hosted by three Polish representatives from the Chemical Safety and Static Electricity Department (CSSED) of the Institute of Industrial Organic Chemistry in Poland. It is being organized by the European Union (EU) in collaboration with its focal point person in Seychelles in the Department of Foreign Affairs. The EU representatives are Dr Katarzyna Drożdżewska, leader of Biocide Registration Group CSSED and leader of delegation; Paulina Flasińska and Joanna Szczygielska, all from the same department.

Attending the workshop are relevant stakeholders from various departments and agencies, both public and private whose daily works are related to the control, regulation, handling, distribution, storage of chemicals or responding to any chemical-related incidents. They include the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM); police, environment department, Seychelles Fire & Rescue Services Agency, public health services, Seychelles Ports Authority, National Biosecurity Agency, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Public Utilities Corporation, Red Cross Society of Seychelles, Postal Services Division, Oceana Fisheries and RMP Engineering.

Some of the topics being covered are pesticides and biocides – differences, use, application and dangers; criteria of classification of dangerous chemicals; industrial process safety – requirements for low tier and upper tier establishments (Seveso Directives); rules of registration for biologically active substances; risk assessment; regulations and transport of dangerous chemicals; how to prepare protection explosion document.

The three representatives said the EU found there was a need to support African countries of those regions to build up their knowledge and raise awareness on the proper use, handling of chemicals and pesticides.

“We need to assess the dangers and give information to the workers, public users on what kind of hazards are related to a chemical product.

“I described the methods on how to assess these hazards,” explained Ms Szczygielska.

“For example with ammonia, petrol, as there are lots of petrol tanks, these are dangerous goods and we will show the requirements companies need to handle such goods. For example how to prepare safety tools and the explosion protection documents as there is an explosive atmosphere near such facilities,” said Ms Flasińska.

After they have done an exam and assessment on what they have learned, the participants will receive certificates.