The New Straits Times, September 10, 2000
By Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
A RECENT suggestion by Sabah's Deputy Chief Minister to highlight fatal accidents involving industrial waste (NST, Aug 23) is an excellent idea.
It not only encourages transparency and accountability, but can also be a practical way of educating the various sectors involved.
As pointed out, "giving publicity to this issue would be a way for the mass media to disseminate educational knowledge and information to the industry, workers and the consumers".
Such an attempt is deemed timely in view of the fact there are already regulations on the safe use of chemicals in workplaces, in the Occupational Safety and Health Acts 1994.
In addition, hazards implicating toxic substances are not limited to accidents alone, and may include problems of abuse as well.
In fact, such untoward incidences can occur anywhere.
For example, communities located near industrial plants or situated close to service centres using such hazardous chemicals (especially petrol kiosks) are often unaware of the dangers and the risks they can be subjected to.
In other instances, hazardous materials are being transported on roads, railways, and even waterways daily, passing through nearby residential areas to and from the manufacturing and service areas. All these constitute potential risks no matter how small they seem to be.
Should anything happen, the public will be placed in a vulnerable position and things will be made worse because many are not well-versed with what to do during emergencies.
The situation can even be more tricky as many hazardous materials do not have a taste or an odour for someone to readily detect their presence.
It is imperative therefore that everyone be alerted of the best way to detect the presence of such materials, and more importantly how to deal with them safely.
Here again the mass media and affordable educational material could heighten public awareness with the right type and level of information.
It cannot be overemphasised that in nearly every household, products containing potentially hazardous materials are being used in considerable amounts and frequency.
Although the risk of chemical poisoning can be considered slight, this may not be so for children, especially those below five.
Hence, knowing how to handle these products and how to react during an emergency is vital to further reduce the risk of injuries.
This applies to a range of seemingly harmless products like cleaners and germicides, deodorisers, detergents, drain and bowl cleaners, laundry bleaches, liquid fuels, paint removers and thinners.
In most cases, such substances have no specific antidotes that could be relied upon for quick treatment. This makes appropriate public knowledge about the products even more pertinent.
Thus, apart from information on how to securely store household chemicals, information about their disposal is also vital to prevent any accidents.
Some, for instance, bathroom and glass cleaners, bleach and drain cleaners, as well as toilet bowl cleaners, can be safely poured down the drain with plenty of water in small amounts, while others cannot.
Other hazards such as kerosene, motor or fuel oil, car batteries or battery acid, diesel fuel, transmission fluid, etc should be disposed at a recycling centre or an appropriate collection place.
If any of the products come in spray cans, the can must first be totally emptied of its content. Only then can it be disposed of in the trash bin.
Do not place spray can (even empty ones) into a burning flame, incinerator, or trash compactor because they may cause it to explode.
If there is danger of a fire or explosion, get out of the vicinity immediately to avoid any possible exposure to toxic fumes or substance.
Find out the evacuation plan be it at home, workplace or wherever it is likely to happen. Be ready to evacuate through the safest route.
Based on these very broad categories, one wonders how many of us are actually familiar with, or practise the proper waste disposal of the chemicals that we use daily. And how many times have accidents occurred as a result of our own negligence or ignorance.
It is with this in mind that the suggestion made by the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister deserves serious consideration so that we can at once educate Malaysians, not only those working at the industrial sites, but also those in various other sectors where potentially hazardous chemicals are often used. By frequently publicising the occurrences involving such risks it is hoped that the community will take responsibility for their own safety.
