Nynas Safety Toolkit

Keeping safe around bitumen begins with knowledge and awareness of potential hazards. As a company strongly committed to safety standards, Nynas have created a toolkit that brings together key information relevant to everyone involved in the production and delivery of bitumen.

First produced in 1996, last year [2012] saw the latest update to the safety toolkit, entitled ‘Safe Handling of Bitumen’. The current version reflects the most up-to-date Eurobitume safe handling guidelines, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations as well as the impact on H2S in bitumen storage tanks.

Included in the toolkit are a practical handbook, DVD, information cards, posters and quick pocket guides. Hands-on material such as reference cards from Eurobitume highlight the danger of bitumen burns, as well as a health and safety plan that can be adopted by companies dealing with bitumen.

Paul Lamb, UK HSSE manager for Nynas, was central to the update of the toolkit and highlights its benefits for users: ‘The toolkit has a simple layout, it’s compact and is full of up-to-date information, covering topics such as product data, information on health, safety, the environment, safe distribution and safe handling practices.’

The toolkit’s DVD describes the best practice framework for bitumen delivery across Europe. It offers an overview of the latest safety equipment for delivery vehicles and plants and how to assist drivers in an emergency situation. The DVD was created in collaboration with E & JW Glendinning Ltd, independent suppliers of quarry and concrete products located in Devon, UK.

‘The relationship throughout the production of the safety DVD was excellent,’ Paul Lamb commented. ‘Glendinning value their safety partnership with Nynas, and realized that the DVD would help to raise awareness about bitumen handling and storage.’

Nynas recently welcomed Glendinning’s management team to their refinery in Eastham to present them with a certificate of appreciation for their work and commitment to the making of the DVD.

Both the DVD and safety toolkit are designed to be used by asphalt plant personnel, customers, and contract hauliers including bitumen delivery drivers. The materials are also a very useful resource in training activities. Andrew Williams, UK distribution manager for Nynas explained: ‘We have shared the DVD with our customers and we openly encourage them to use it as a training aid. It could be used to train new entrants and staff or as part of a refresher training course every year.’

The toolkit is another example of Nynas’ dedication to the highest safety standards. The toolkit is suited for all of its bitumen operations in the UK, Nordic countries and Continental Europe, and is available in 11 languages.

Learn more about the safety toolkit and watch the video.