1) PURPOSE

1.1 To define the requirements for the identification, repair or removal of old electrical equipment containing Polychlorinated Biphenyl's (PCB).

1.2 To define the requirements for the safe disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyl's.

2) RELATED DOCUMENTS

2.1 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
2.2 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1998.
2.3 The Environmental Protection Act 1990.

2.4 APPENDICES

2.4.1 Appendix "A" 
List of United Kingdom Waste Disposal Authorities 
(Available Via Wrexham)

2.4.2 Appendix "B" 
Example of a consignment note for the carriage and disposal of hazardous wastes 
(Available Via Wrexham).

2.4.3 Appendix "C" 
Specialist firms offering a PCB removal, disposal or retrofilling service 
(Available Via Wrexham).

3) PURPOSE

3.1 Old electric equipment may look harmless. But it may contain chemicals which can cause a skin rash called "Chloracne" or even liver damage and an increase in the amount of fat in the blood of people who work with them.

3.2 The chemicals belong to a group of toxic substances known as PCB's. The abbreviation for Polychlorinated Biphenyl's. They are toxic.

4) WHAT ARE THE RISKS FROM PCB's

4.1 The main risk from PCB's comes from contact with the skin. But their vapour can also be dangerous. So if you have to work with them, do so in the open or in a well ventilated area and wear protective clothing.

4.2 PCB's must not be allowed to enter drains or seep into the ground or they will cause long lasting contamination of soil and water supplies.

4.3 If PCB's are involved in fires they can give off highly toxic thermal breakdown products which may result in long lasting contamination of buildings.

5) WHERE ARE PCB's LIKELY TO BE FOUND?

5.1 PCB's have very good electrical properties and do not burn. For many years they were used together with other chemical mixtures known as Askerels. They have been used as dielectric filler fluids in electrical transformers and capacitors and in small capacitors or chokes in some older fluorescent light fittings. Now, in Britain, they are only to be used in some types of hydraulic mining machinery and in particular kinds of electrical heating equipment. You are more likely to find PCB's in older equipment. Often they go under manufacturers trade names.

6) IDENTIFICATION OF AND MARKING OF EQUIPMENT CONTAINING PCB's

6.1 Each operating location should inspect all electrical equipment particularly switch gear, capacitors and transformers and log all equipment containing PCB's.

6.2 As a short term measure all equipment thought to contain PCB's should be clearly marked in accordance with the Safety Signs Regulations 1980 (e.g. yellow background with black writing stating Danger PCB's).

6.3 All rooms or cupboards containing electrical equipment thought to contain PCB's should be labelled as per paragraph 6.2.

7) SOME COMMON PCB MANUFACTURERS PRODUCT TRADE NAMES

7.1 Apirolio, Aroclor, Asbestol, Bakola 131, Chlorextol, Clophen, Inerteen, Kanechlor, No-Flamol, Pyralene, Pyranol, Saf-T-Kuhl, Sovol.

8) THE PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WITH EQUIPMENT WHICH MAY CONTAIN PCB's

8.1 Check the equipment regularly if there are any signs of leakage at welds or flanges the equipment must be repaired or disposed of immediately.

8.2 It is sometimes possible for the PCB's to be drained of but any alternative chemical may become contaminated from chemicals trapped in the windings.

8.3 Anyone working with PCB's must use a very high standard of protective equipment. Good personal hygiene is equally essential particularly in jobs like draining large items of equipment or clearing up leaks or spills.

9) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR WORKING WITH PCB's

9.1 It would be preferable especially when working in a confined space to use self contained or compressed air line breathing apparatus.

9.2 Alternatively respirators may be worn for work at normal temperatures, a suitable type is a full face piece canister type respirator complying with British Standard 2091, with a type C or CC canister.

9.3 All respiratory protective equipment is to be fitted with eye protection. Where this is not possible then a class O1 chemical grade face shield is to be worn.

9.4 An Impervious overall or boilersuit is to be worn with suitable heavy duty gauntlets and protective overshoes.

9.5 No personal protective equipment is to be manufactured from rubber or neoprene.

10) DISPOSAL OF WASTE PCB CHEMICALS

10.1 Leakage is always a danger when equipment is to be removed or transported. Where possible PCB fluid is to be removed before these operations. And if equipment is to be dismantled or broken up, it is essential that the fluid is removed first.

10.2 Waste PCB fluid must be disposed of at a registered properly designed high temperature incinerator licensed by a Waste Disposal Authority (see appendix "A") these are approved under the Alkali Works Regulations 1906 and the Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) Regulations 1983.

10.3 Under no circumstances are waste fluids to be disposed of other than by an approved waste carrier. It is a criminal offence to dispose of PCB's into a drain.

11) NOTIFICATION OF THE DISPOSAL OF WASTE PCB's

11.1 The disposal of waste containing 1% or more of PCB is subject to legal controls made under The Control of Pollution Act 1990. Among other things, this requires anyone disposing of such waste to notify the appropriate Waste Disposal Authority in advance and to ensure that a consignment note (see appendix "B") describing the material goes with the load when it is taken away for disposal.

11.2 PCB fluid is not always completely drained from equipment during "retrofilling". Any fluid used as a replacement will almost certainly be contaminated with small amounts of the chemicals. If the contamination levels are 1% or greater they too will eventually have to legally be disposed of as waste PCB.

APPENDIX C

Specialist firms offering a PCB removal, disposal and retrofilling service.

NOTE:

By providing this list of possible contractors, The Greencore Group do not guarantee the quality, type, value or ability of the companies mentioned.

Greencore Group are not suggesting that other companies not mentioned are less competent and the decision to use a company or not, is entirely at the discretion of the reader.

Further details relating to the type of service available should be obtained from the contractor.

COMPANY TEL No.

1) Grovenor Power Services 0161 776 1955
2) Triton Transformer Services 01636 706 678
3) Alex Services Limited 01384 270714
4) R F Winder Electrical Services 01532 555666
5) Burnell-Molecc 01474 359811
6) Cleanaway Limited 01602 817183
7) Re-Chem International 01703 898915