• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제40권5호
• /
• pp.331-345
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The exponential growth of chemicals, an area of high concern in developed countries like the US (i.e., the Gore Initiative) and in the EU (i.e., REACH), as well as recent chemical accidents in Korea, have provoked nationwide concerns and resultant legal enforcement. This study aims to compare the laws of the Ministry of Environment (the Chemical Substances Control Act (CSCA), Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances (ARECS)) with those of the Ministry of the Employment and Labor (Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)). Methods: Each law pertaining to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of the Employment and Labor was downloaded from the official legal information system (www.law.go.kr). The objectives of each law and the major contents related to chemical management were compared and summarized. Results: The CSCA and the ARECS are focused on the protection of people and the environment, while the OSHA relates to the protection of workers. The right to know of people and workers has been reinforced. The former two laws emphasize prevention, but the OSHA contains both preventive and post-accident measures. The role of the Ministry of Employment was reinforced with the promulgation of the CSCA and ARECS, which contain regulations such as adjacent area impact evaluation, risk control planning, chemical statistical survey and construction and operation of information, provision of risk control plans, response to chemical accidents and registration of chemical substances. Conclusion: We found that the three laws discussed here have several similar clauses designed to protect people and the environment from risks that may be caused by the use of chemicals, even though there are some differences among them in terms of objectives and contents. This review concluded that several clauses that can be regarded as double regulation should be unified in order to minimize the waste of government administrative resources and socio-economic losses.

• 한국산업융합학회 논문집
• /
• 제24권5호
• /
• pp.609-615
• /
• 2021

Chemical accidents can happen anywhere in the world. To prevent chemical accidents, Korea introduced the Chemicals Control Act. However, Small and medium-sized businesses do not meet these regulations. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment is providing a chemical safety management support project for Small and medium-sized businesses. However, there are many small and medium-sized businesses, and businesses that need support need priority. In this study, the risk of the plants was classified into hig h, medium, and low risk based on four methods. As a result, out of 90 plants subject to the study, high risk was 30% and medium risk was 70%. The industries with the high risk were chemical products manufacturing and paint manufacturing. The plating and printing industries showed relatively medium risk. This risk classification has the advantage that it can obtain intuitive and quick results. These studies can be used as basic data for chemical safety management of local governments and Ministry of Environment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• 제30권sup호
• /
• pp.7.1-7.10
• /
• 2015

Objectives For successful adoption of legislation controlling registration and assessment of chemical substances, it is important to obtain sufficient toxicological experimental evidence and other related information. It is also essential to obtain a sufficient number of predicted risk and toxicity results. Particularly, methods used in predicting toxicities of chemical substances during acquisition of required data, ultimately become an economic method for future dealings with new substances. Although the need for such methods is gradually increasing, the-required information about reliability and applicability range has not been systematically provided. Methods There are various representative environmental and human toxicity models based on quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR). Here, we secured the 10 representative QSAR-based prediction models and its information that can make predictions about substances that are expected to be regulated. We used models that predict and confirm usability of the information expected to be collected and submitted according to the legislation. After collecting and evaluating each predictive model and relevant data, we prepared methods quantifying the scientific validity and reliability, which are essential conditions for using predictive models. Results We calculated predicted values for the models. Furthermore, we deduced and compared adequacies of the models using the Alternative non-testing method assessed for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals Substances scoring system, and deduced the applicability domains for each model. Additionally, we calculated and compared inclusion rates of substances expected to be regulated, to confirm the applicability. Conclusions We evaluated and compared the data, adequacy, and applicability of our selected QSAR-based toxicity prediction models, and included them in a database. Based on this data, we aimed to construct a system that can be used with predicted toxicity results. Furthermore, by presenting the suitability of individual predicted results, we aimed to provide a foundation that could be used in actual assessments and regulations.

• 한국위험물학회지
• /
• 제2권1호
• /
• pp.12-17
• /
• 2014

With a rapid growth of domestic industry in korea, now about 25,000 kinds of chemicals are being distributed, and it has been known that just about 15% of them has toxic substances. Recently, South Koreans have an anxiety about the stability and accidents of chemicals because chemical accidents like Gumi hydrofluoric acid accident have occurred. The U.S. has adopted the systems like EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act), TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) and TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act), and is also managing the hazardous chemicals by providing the information about them to its people and site workers. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also has adopted J-CHECK system and is implementing it to let Japanese people know the information of safety of chemicals about REACH. However, the Korean government has a difficult situation to mediate the different idea with the Korean industry to make lower statute of Pre-legislation registration & evaluation of chemicals that will be implemented and Chemical Material Control Association that is being implemented. Especially city and country areas located in the industrial areas need political improvement focusing on vulnerable area through the check about current situation of hazardous chemicals of jurisdiction and management method, but the information about the management situation of small scale work places is insufficient. Therefore this study set up the urgent management area in Ansan Smart Hub through NFPA code according to the types of accident and dander characteristics of each chemical being used in the companies that have less than 50 workers and deal with chemicals located in Ansan Smart Hub in Gyeonggi-do.

• 한국안전학회지
• /
• 제39권3호
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2024

The Chemical Substances Control Act of South Korea mandates submission of transportation plans containing information on the transportation of hazardous chemicals, with over 600,000 submissions recorded annually. In this study, big data analysis was performed on 2,506,985 transportation plans to identify trends and assess their correlation with chemical transportation accidents. The analysis confirmed that despite NaOH accounting for 20.7% of transportation plans, HCl constitutes 40% of chemical transportation accidents, which indicates a correlation of these accidents with the chemical properties of hazardous substances rather than with the number of submitted transportation plans. Furthermore, chemical transportation accidents show a higher probability of occurrence in the 6-8 am and 6-8 pm windows, which is in agreement with higher incidence and fatality rates. The departure points of transportation plans are closely related to the characteristics of local chemical industrial complexes such as Ulsan, Yeosu, and Gunsan, whereas the arrival points are closely related to Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, and Icheon, which are the locations of semiconductor industries. Ultimately, achievement of safety by consideration of characteristics of transported chemicals, enhancement of driver concentration during specific times, and implementation of preventive measures tailored to local government characteristics are strategies anticipated to contribute to a reduction in chemical transportation accidents.

• 한국화재소방학회논문지
• /
• 제33권3호
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2019

국내 화학물질 안전관리는 환경부의 화학물질관리법이 기본이 되어 관리되고 있다. 그 중에서도 취급시설의 설치 및 관리기준을 강화하여 관리하고 있는데, 타 법과의 상충, 시설 규모 및 물질 특성 미반영 등으로 인한 문제점들이 노출되었다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 취급시설 기준 중 건축물 내화기준에 대해 보다 현실적이면서 합리적인 개선 방안을 마련하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 국내 유사 화학물질 취급시설 안전관리 법령의 건축물 내화기준을 비교하였으며, 환경부 화학물질안전원 국민신문고를 통해 접수된 취급시설 기준 관련 민원 2220건 중 대표 민원 사례를 통해 주요 문제점을 파악하였다. 마지막으로 화학물질관리법상 취급시설의 규모와 물질의 종류를 구체화하여 건축물 내화기준을 적용하는 개선 방안을 제시하였다. 향후, 본 연구 결과는 환경 유해성을 고려한 화학물질관리법의 기본 취지에 부합하고, 산업계에도 현실적으로 적용될 수 있는 합리적인 기준마련에 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• 제60권4호
• /
• pp.506-511
• /
• 2022

화학물질관리법에서 장외영향평가서 및 위해관리계획서를 화학사고예방관리계획서로 일원화하는 제도가 시행되었다. 화학사고예방관리계획서에서 다루는 유해화학물질 중 사고대비물질은 화학사고의 발생 가능성이 높거나 화학사고가 발생한 경우에 그 피해 규모가 클 것으로 우려되는 화학물질로서 지정하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 사고대비물질별 규정수량 기준에 따른 위험도를 비교하고자 상위/하위 규정수량이 비슷한 화학물질을 특정하여 동일한 사고 시나리오를 선정하고 위험도 평가를 실시하였다. 연구대상물질은 암모니아, 염화수소, 이황화탄소, 벤젠 등 총 4종의 물질을 선정하였으며, DNV 사의 정량적 위험성 평가 프로그램인 Safeti 8.0을 활용하여 위험도를 비교 분석하였다. 그 결과, 비슷한 상위/하위규정수량임에도 불구하고 상대적으로 높은 위험도를 가지고 있는 물질을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• 제30권sup호
• /
• pp.1.1-1.5
• /
• 2015

Objectives Despite the great contribution made by chemical substances to the development of modern civilization, their indiscriminate use has caused various kinds of damage to the global environment and human beings. Accordingly, the major developed countries and international society have tried to ensure the safe use of chemicals and a reduction in the use of hazardous chemicals through the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme and various international agreements. In this reason, we tried to introduce about Green Chemistry progress at the present in worldwide and Korea. Methods We checked and analyzed relative journals, reports using keyword as like Green Chemistry, alternative chemicals, eco-friendly etc. and major country's government homepage search. Results Green Chemistry theory, which argues for the reduction or removal of harmfulness in chemicals throughout their entire life-cycle, has been spreading, and major developed countries, such as the US and Denmark, have developed and operate programs to provide reliable chemical information to help replace hazardous chemicals. Korea has also been conducting studies as like eco-innovation project. Through this project the "Alternative Chemical Search program," has been developed, distributed, and operated since 2011 to provide reliable information to small and medium-sized businesses that have difficulties collecting information to ensure conformity to international regulations. The program provides information that includes the regulations of major countries and Korea, information on 340 alternative chemicals, 70 application cases, and 1:1 consulting. Conclusions The Alternative Chemical Search program is expected to contribute to the establishment of response systems for regulation of Korean small and medium-sized businesses, and it also will be used to provide basic data for Korean hazardous chemical regulation, together with the Act on the Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemical Substances and the Chemical Control act, making it possible to establish an infrastructure for Green Chemistry in Korea and to increase national competitiveness.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.257-268
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to review the Toxic UseReduction Act of Massachusetts, USA, which has been evaluated as a successfulcase of a chemical reduction policy, and to search for ways to introduce it inKorea. Methods: We analyzed the implementation of the TURA by attending TUR Planning Course of the Toxic Use Reduction Institute in Massachusetts and researching the related literature. Results: As TURA took effect, the use of chemicals in Massachusetts was reduced, and cost savings were achieved in workplaces. The success factors for the legislation are considered to be support form the federal and state governments and the active participation of business and civic group. Domestic efforts to reduce toxic substances have already begun, so if the process of TURA is appropriately applied to domestic legislation of chemicals control, it would be expected to produce visible results. Therefore, we reviewed the 'Act on Chemicals Registration and Assessment', 'Act on Chemical Control' and 'Act on the Integrated Control of Pollutant-Discharging Facilities' and sought solution for applying TURA to each piece of legislation. For the first case, 'Toxic or Hazardous Substance List' and 'Establishment of Toxic Use Fee' is applicable. For the second case, 'Annual Toxic or Hazardous Substance Reports' is applicable. For the third case, 'Toxic Reduction Plans' and 'Toxics Use Reduction Institute and 'Toxic Use Reduction Planners' is applicable. Conclusions: The government should take notice appropriateness for the reduction of toxic chemicals and provide financial support. Businesses should invest in technologies that build trust with local communities, improve productivity, and reduce costs. Finally, civic group should cooperate with government and businesses.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.384-392
• /
• 2013

Objective: This study inspected incident cases, legal control levels, and GHS(Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) classification results of strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid, which have been responsible for many recent chemical accidents. As a result, it is deemed necessary for legal control levels of these strong acids to be revised and GHS classification be managed nation-wide. Methods: This study inspected incident cases and legal control levels for strong acids such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid. The study analyzed and compared chemical information status and GHS classification results. Results: There were 76 domestic incidents involving strongly acidic hazardous materials over the five years between 2007 and 2011. They include 37 leakage incidents(46.7%) within a workplace, 30 leakage incidents(39.5%) during transportation, and nine leakage incidents(13.8%) following an explosion. The strongly acidic materials in question are defined and controlled as toxic chemicals according to the classes of Substances Requiring Preparation for Accidents, Managed Hazardous Substance, Hazardous Chemical(corrosive) as set forth under the Enforcement Decree of the Toxic Chemicals Control Act and Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards of Occupational Safety and Health Act. Among them, nitric acid is solely controlled as a class 6 hazardous material, oxidizing liquid, under the Hazardous Chemicals Control Act. The classification results of the EU ECHA(European Chemicals Agency) CLP(Commission Regulation(EC) No. 790/2009 of 10 August 2009, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation(EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures) and NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research) are almost identical for the three chemicals, with the exception of sulfuric acid. Much of the classification information of NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) and KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, KOSHA) is the same. NIER provides 12(41.4%) out of 29 classifications, as does KOSHA.