General requirements for safety in chemical production and trade in Vietnam

General requirements for safety in chemical production and trade in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is chemical production and chemical trade?

Chemical production means an act of producing chemicals through chemical reactions or biochemical or physiochemical processes such as extraction, concentration, dilution and mixture and other physiochemical processes without the unintentional release of chemicals.”

(Clause 1, Article 3 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CP (amended in Clause 2, Article 8 of Decree 17/2020/ND-CP)

- Chemical trade includes sale, export and import of chemicals to provide chemicals on the market for profitable purposes.

(Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CP)

2. General requirements for safety in chemical production and trade in Vietnam

2.1. Requirements for factories and warehouses in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CP, requirements for factories and warehouses in chemical production and trade are prescribed as follows:

- Factories shall satisfy requirements national technical regulations and standards, nature, scale and production and storage technology of chemicals.

- Factories and warehouses shall have emergency exits. The emergency exit shall be clearly marked, lighted and designed to facilitate the escape and rescue in case of an emergency.

- Ventilation systems of factories and warehouses shall satisfy ventilation system regulations and standards.

- Lighting systems shall meet requirements for chemical production and storage. Electrical equipment in factories and warehouses storing flammable and explosive chemicals shall meet fire safety standards.

- Floors of chemical factories and warehouses shall be resistant to chemicals, load and good drainage.

- Chemical factories and warehouses shall have regulations on chemical safety and warning signs hanged in visible places corresponding to the hazards of chemicals.

Such signs shall display information about chemical identification numbers; warning graphics and words.

If a chemical substance poses various types of hazards, its warning symbols shall specify all types of such hazards. Instruction signs specifying safety procedures shall be equipped at areas producing hazardous chemicals.

- Factories and warehouses shall have lightning arrester systems or and inspections carried out periodically.

- The bunds should be built around storage tanks to prevent chemicals from exposing to the environment when a chemical emergency occurs and take preventive measures for fire and lightning. 

- Factories and warehouses shall satisfy requirements for fire and environmental safety, occupational safety and hygiene according to regulations of relevant law.

2.2. Requirements for technology, equipment, tools and packages in Vietnam

Requirements for technology, equipment, tools and packages are specified in Article 5 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CPas follows:

- Chemical production technology shall be selected to minimize the threat of chemical emergencies, environmental pollution and ensure fire safety.

- Technical equipment shall satisfy general requirements for safety in accordance with national technical regulations and standards, types of chemicals and technological process to meet the production capacity and business scale.

Machines, equipment and materials subject to strict requirements for occupational safety and hygiene and testing measurement equipment shall be inspected, calibrated and maintained in line with regulations on machine and equipment inspection.

- Requirements for packages

+ Containers and packages must be tight, firm and resistant to chemicals, weather and normal impacts when handling. Used packages shall be stored separately.

Before filling chemicals, filling station shall check chemical packages and containers and clean the used packages to eliminate the possibility of reaction or fire when filling chemicals.

Containers and packages that have been used but not reused shall be collected and disposed of in accordance with regulations of law on environmental protection;

+ Chemical containers and packages shall have labels specifying the contents prescribed in regulations of law on chemical labeling.

Chemical labels must be stated clearly and resistant to effects of chemicals, weather and normal impacts when handling.

2.3. Requirements for storage and transport in Vietnam

Requirements for storage and transport in Vietnam include:

- Hazardous chemicals shall be classified and stored according to the nature of each chemical substance.

It is not allowed to store chemicals that are likely to react together or subject to requirements for chemical and fire safety in the same area.

- Chemicals in the warehouse shall be stored according to national technical regulations and standards to ensure safety and facilitate response to chemical emergencies.

- Chemical transport process shall be carried out under regulations on transporting dangerous goods.

(Article 6 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CP)

2.4. Requirements for extraction and packaging in Vietnam

According to Article 7 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CP, requirements for extraction and packaging include:

- Chemical extraction and packaging shall be carried out in an area where requirements for fire and environmental safety, occupational safety and hygiene are satisfied according to regulations of relevant law.

- Equipment used for chemical extraction or packaging shall meet general safety requirements under national technical regulations and standards.

Machines, equipment and materials subject to strict requirements for safety and testing measurement equipment shall be inspected, calibrated and maintained in line with regulations on machine and equipment inspection.

- Chemical packages and containers after extracting or packaging chemicals shall meet the requirements mentioned in Clause 3 Article 5 of Decree 113/2017/ND-CP.

- Employees responsible for chemical extraction or packaging shall be provided with training courses in chemical safety.

Thanh Rin

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