On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, the annual siren test will take place throughout Switzerland. 5000 stationary and 2200 mobile sirens will be tested. The alerting capabilities of the Alertswiss app will also be tested by sending notifications.

The test will take place at 13:30 in the afternoon. From then on, the sirens will wail regularly for one minute and emit an ascending and descending wail. This is the so-called general alarm. In the areas near the dams, a water alarm will also sound between 2:15 and 3 pm. According to the federal government, this signal consists of twelve low continuous tones of 20 seconds each at intervals of 10 seconds.

In addition, the mobile application Alertswiss is also being tested through notifications, which 1.2 million users have now installed on their cell phones. With Alertswiss, it is possible to send the population a message with behavioral recommendations even in the case of small-scale events such as an imminent debris flow or contaminated drinking water.

What applies in the event of a real siren alarm?

In the event of a general alarm outside an announced siren test, the population is asked to listen to the radio or get information via the Alertswiss channels, follow the instructions of the authorities and inform neighbors, the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) writes. In the event of a water alarm, the population should leave the endangered area immediately.

Useful links:

• Alertswiss 
• Siren test 
• Alerting the population 
• App Store Apple 
• Google Play Store 

 

Source: FOCP

The construction of the new prison, the Cazis Tignez Correctional Facility, between Reichenau and Thusis in Graubünden had several reasons; on the one hand, the existing Sennhof Correctional Facility in Chur was no longer secure enough, and on the other hand, a capacity gap had to be closed in the entire Eastern Switzerland Prison Concordat from Zurich eastward. Furthermore, according to a statement from Securiton Switzerland, the existing prisons no longer met the requirements of a secure penal system.

Comprehensive security system for fire protection and video surveillance

The new Cazis Tignez correctional facility offers employment to around 110 employees, of which around 80 positions were filled completely and around 30 existing jobs were transferred from the Sennhof correctional facility. Securiton acted for the security technology and was responsible for the installation of the fire alarm system as well as the security areas for the intrusion/breakout alarm system, the video surveillance and the installation of the security control system.

450 cameras and 1200 fire detectors

In the area of intrusion and breakout detection, Securiton Switzerland says that eleven IP-based intrusion detection systems and monitored window grilles, among others, now ensure secure conditions. The video surveillance system consists of 450 cameras. The Securiton AG fire alarm system comprises 1200 fire detectors and aspirating smoke detectors. The latter are used where deliberate damage is to be expected.

In addition to a video intercom system for entrances and corridors and the security guidance system in the corridors with 8,000 connected data points, the visitor identification system ensures comprehensive security. Among other things, a biometric solution ensures that visitors and suppliers are recorded on entry and the data is compared on exit.

Source: Securiton AG

The challenges for an installer of gas detection systems in practice are manifold and not always easy to master, even with a lot of experience. The constant technical progress brings also always new challenges and makes thus a constant further training of the installers, companies, technical planners and safety representatives necessary.

As the industry evolves, so does our understanding of how to achieve a safe working environment for people. Nevertheless, there are various points that will remain the same in the future. When planning a gas detection system, the first question is always: Why do I need to detect these gases? This question is essential.

The second question that arises:

Is it explosion protection or personal protection? Or perhaps a combination of both - which is becoming increasingly common in practice. If these basic questions are properly analyzed and worked out, a solid basis is created on which to build. Further, it must be clarified how the gas behaves: is it heavier or lighter than air? Does it tend to outgas? How does it behave in terms of temperature and humidity? This is a very important question, because it has a direct influence on the choice of sensor.

Other criteria to consider from the planner's perspective:

• Do the gas detectors have to be installed in an Ex zone?
• Are gas drop controls present? What is meant by a gas drop control: for example, ventilations/switch-ons, closing gas valves, de-energizing circuits or a production process stop, etc.?

I would like to explain this in more detail using a practical example. Let's assume that a new refrigeration plant is installed at customer X, which is operated with NH3 (ammonia). The machine room of this plant is now to be monitored with a gas warning system (GWA).

In this specific case, Suva's leaflet "Operating refrigeration systems and heat pumps safely" an. Since NH3 corresponds to a refrigerant of safety class B2, the following requirements apply to the GWA according to Suva.

If the refrigeration system does not fall within the area of a permanently manned workplace, the alarm thresholds are set to the following values in practice according to Suva; otherwise the MAK value applies: The pre-alarm threshold is 10 percent LEL and a visual and audible alarm must be triggered on site. The main alarm threshold is max. 20 percent LEL. When this threshold is reached, the following additional measures must be taken: The entire plant and the machine room must be de-energized, except for the operating equipment with Ex zone conformity.

In practice, however, the following values with their associated measures have become established:

• at 50 ppm: ventilation ON
• at 200 ppm personal alarm ON
• at 900 ppm machine OFF
• at 30 000 ppm (20 percent LEL) load shedding and ventilation OFF.

Furthermore, when the main alarm is reached, there is a need to forward it to the responsible office.

If the machine room is additionally equipped with fire detectors, prioritization of the alarms must be defined. What is meant by this? With regard to ventilation, the following can be said: In the event of a fire, one does not want to carry the resulting smoke gases via the ventilation ducts into fire compartments without fire protection insulation.

In the case of an ammonia leak, on the other hand, the goal is to remove the gas as quickly as possible via the ventilation. This means that you have to decide what should be prioritized in view of the control of the ventilation should both incidents occur at the same time: the fire or the NH3 accident. The measures must be recorded in writing. In practice, the fire is usually treated as the first priority. Especially in this special area of application, it is not always so easy to make a blanket statement in advance about what is right or wrong now. However, if certain principles are observed, one is on the right track.

New SES guideline on gas detection systems

The new SES guideline "Gas detection systems" for the detection of gases and vapors is another documentwhich can assist you in the planning and installation of a gas detection system. The new guideline will be published in January 2022 and has been adapted according to the current technical innovations. Furthermore, the former two guidelines "Explosive Gases" and "Toxic Gases and Oxygen" have been combined in one document.

You will find in the guideline explanations of terms, the requirements for a GWA, for the gas detector, as well as the operation of various measurement principles of gas sensors and corresponding suggestions to which you must pay attention.

In the past, including recently, there have been repeated incidents in which, in addition to immense property damage, people have unfortunately been injured or killed. The following is a chronicle of what has happened recently:

There are incidents like this all the time, and they are by no means all incidents: I don't want to go so far as to say that all of these events could have been prevented with a GWA, but a gas warning system could definitely have had a positive impact on certain events and perhaps prevented worse. Nevertheless, one must realistically admit that not everything can be prevented with a GWA. Because there is still one essential point that must not be forgotten, and that is the human risk factor. We humans make mistakes. That is human and should be. You can learn from mistakes. Since this is a fact, it must be taken into account by repeatedly making people aware of the dangers and training them accordingly on how to properly handle GWA in their operations.

Some points to look out for are:

• What do I have to pay attention to?
• What does this flashing light or alarm horn mean?
• Where is the assembly point?
• However, this hazard analysis does not only refer to an industrial plant, but also to residential buildings that are equipped with gas warning systems. The people who live there must be trained and informed about how to behave in the event of a gas alarm, because untrained people often behave incorrectly and not infrequently make the situation even worse - for example, by activating a light switch in a cellar that contains an explosive gas mixture, which can cause it to ignite.

I think we all want to prevent that.

According to a new market study by Siemens Smart Infrastructure called "A New Space Race," infrastructure players worldwide are aware that the challenges for energy systems and building infrastructures could not be met without digitization. According to the report, the number of companies that have set CO reduction targets has increased significantly. Most respondents are optimistic about these goals: at 94 percent, almost all expect their organization to be carbon neutral by 2030. Sixty-seven percent of energy infrastructure stakeholders say carbon neutrality is not possible without digitization, and that AI-powered forecasting and automation will have the greatest impact on infrastructure assets, projects and investments over the next five years.

However, the majority of infrastructure managers surveyed (63 percent) believe that the digitization of buildings and power grids lags behind digital progress in other industries. Only 31 percent of respondents said they are making full use of the data available to them. Almost half have so far left the data potential completely untapped. For many of those surveyed, adaptability is the most important factor when planning new buildings or facilities.

The full report, "A New Space Race," based on 500 executive interviews, can be found at here (in English).

Source: Siemens

On 01.04.1991, the Ordinance on Protection against Major Accidents, abbreviated to Major Accidents Ordinance (StFV), came into force. The purpose of the ordinance is to protect the population and the environment from serious damage caused by incidents. With the revision of the StFV on 01.06.2015, nothing has changed in the purpose, but very much the provisions have changed, which companies are affected by the StFV: With the adaptation to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), many things became clearer. However, one should be prepared for some pitfalls, as the following two examples show. In the following, we will focus on companies that handle chemical substances.

Determine quantity thresholds

If the maximum storage quantity of a hazardous substance or a hazardous waste is above the quantity threshold according to the StFV, the company is obliged to prepare a brief report for the attention of the authorities. If necessary, risk-reducing measures of a structural or technical nature may subsequently be required. Companies have an interest in remaining below the quantity threshold in order to save themselves this additional expense and, at the same time, to minimize the risk from an incident by using smaller quantities of hazardous substances at the site. The population also has the same interest.

Quantity thresholds are determined in different ways: For a selection of substances and mixtures, the quantity thresholds (MS) are given in Annex 1.1 of the StFV. Explicitly mentioned are everyday products such as gasoline (MS: 200 t), diesel (MS: 500 t) or the welding gas acetylene (MS: 5 t), but also particularly hazardous industrial chemicals such as chlorine gas (MS: 200 kg). For hazardous waste, Annex 3 of the Uvek Ordinance on Lists for the Movement of Waste lists the quantity thresholds by LVA code.

For substances and preparations, which are not listed, the quantity threshold is derived from the substance properties. Here, the revision of the StFV of 2015 has changed a few things: Originally, various criteria from different classification systems were used. Thus, for fire and explosion properties, the fire hazard level according to SI (F1-F4, O1-O3, etc.), the European chemical law classification (E, F+, F, O, R10) and the flash point (above or below 50 °C) were considered, among others. In the revised "New" regulation, the classification of a substance or mixture according to the EU CLP regulation is decisive. This is expressed in the assigned H-phrases and EUH-phrases. The corresponding criteria can also be found in Annex 1.1 of the StFV. This simplifies the determination of the quantity thresholds, since companies with large quantities of hazardous substances usually already have hazardous substance storage concepts and substance lists in which the H-phrases and EUH-phrases are recorded.

A special regulation concerns highly active substances that can have a harmful effect on humans in very small doses. The decisive criteria are particularly low occupational exposure limits and effect doses. In addition to highly carcinogenic substances, active pharmaceutical ingredients may also be affected. The quantity threshold for highly active substances is correspondingly low, at 20 kg.

As an aid to determining the quantity threshold, the Bafu has developed a Manual on the Hazardous Incident Ordinance has been published. This implementation guide contains a list of quantity thresholds according to the Major Accidents Ordinance for frequently used substances. In addition, the Bafu provides a quantity threshold calculator in Excel format on its website, which indicates the correct quantity threshold based on the H-phrases of a product. Where are the potential problems?

Example furfuryl alcohol

Let's look at furfuryl alcohol as an example. The substance is used in the production of furan resins. It is not highly active and is not listed by name in the StFV. The quantity threshold is therefore assigned via the CLP classification. According to the "List of Harmonized Classification and Labelling of Dangerous Substances" (Annex VI of the EU CLP Regulation), furfuryl alcohol is assigned, among other things, to the hazard statement H331 "Toxic by inhalation". This results in the quantity threshold of 2000 kg. The same value can be found in the manual on the Ordinance on Major Accidents of the Bafu.

Contradictions may occurif you refer to another source of information, for example, the safety data sheet, supports. Some manufacturers classify furfuryl alcohol more strictly: Based on animal tests, which showed an LC50 value (rat, inhalation, 4 h) of 0.9 mg/L, the substance is classified as H330 "Danger to life by inhalation." This classification is also found in the GESTIS substance database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance IFA and in various registration dossiers for furfuryl alcohol at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

This means that the quantity threshold, which is determined on the basis of the information in the safety data sheet, may not correspond to the enforcement aid of the Bafu. In the case of furfuryl alcohol, this is due to a stricter assessment by some manufacturers. However, it is also conceivable that there is an error in a safety data sheet. It may therefore be worthwhile to do a little more research when determining quantity thresholds on a case-by-case basis, and in particular to consult the Bafu's enforcement guide. Perhaps a higher quantity threshold results for a product than the information in the safety data sheet would suggest.

Example sodium chloride

As a second example, a cleaning product is considered which contains sodium chlorite. Sodium chlorite reacts with acids to form chlorine dioxide, a gas that is very harmful to the lungs. Numerous ECHA registrants classify the substance as EUH032 "Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas." The substance is listed in the Bafu enforcement guidance, with a quantity threshold of 200 kg.

For pure sodium chlorite this quantity threshold makes sense. But what if only a few percent of the substance is contained in a mixture? Such products are often also classified with EUH032, which means that their quantity threshold is also 200 kg - based on the entire product! There is a problem here, not in the Major Accidents Ordinance, but in the European CLP Regulation. For most classification criteria, it is regulated how to proceed with mixtures, i.e. diluted substances.

But such a dilution principle is missing for the criterion EUH032 "Develops very toxic gases in contact with acid". It is up to manufacturers to decide how to classify their product. Thus, by protecting itself and choosing a cautious classification for its chlorite-containing product, a manufacturer may be causing its clientele to become accidental.

A solution to this unsatisfactory situation is not yet available at the moment, but may be in sight. An inquiry with the Bafu revealed that the inclusion of mixtures containing sodium chlorite in the Bafu's enforcement aid and the definition of a corresponding concentration limit is being examined.

We see: The volume thresholds are not set in stonebut may change if new findings are available. In view of the complexity of chemicals legislation and the variety of hazardous substances, updates and clarifications will always be necessary. It is therefore worthwhile to recheck the quantity thresholds in the company from time to time and to check for changes - even if the hazardous substance inventory has remained unchanged.

Manual on the Hazardous Incident Ordinance
The Manual on the Ordinance on Major Accidents of the Bafu is an enforcement aid with a modular structure. The present "General Section" explains the general duties and tasks of the owners of plants, traffic routes and pipeline facilities as well as those of the federal government and the cantons. At the end of each chapter, it refers to the plant-specific modules if these contain further plant-specific explanations and notes.

This technical article originally appeared in the printed edition SAFETY-PLUS 4-2021.

You want to read the complete technical article in this issue? Then close right now here a subscription.

Source: Neosys

According to the eleventh barometer of the insurance company "Allianz", most dangers are still lurking on the Internet in 2022 worldwide and in Switzerland. Particular threats include ransomware attacks in particular. Data breaches and IT failures worry companies even more than business and supply chain disruptions, natural disasters or the Covid 19 pandemic, according to Allianz.

More cyber disruptions

Cyber incidents were cited (globally) by 44 percent of respondents. Business interruptions were close behind with 42 percent of mentions. Natural disasters were rated as the third most significant risk by 25 percent of respondents. The importance of climate change has now fallen from ninth to sixth place, but it is still rated as lower than the threat situation in the cyber environment.

Business continuity management more in demand than ever

The survey results for Switzerland even show a significantly higher weighting of the cyber threat situation at the top. In this country, 61 percent of the companies surveyed describe cyber incidents as a risk. Business interruptions follow at 57 percent. Although the Covid 19 pandemic continues to overshadow the economic outlook in many industries, many companies believe they are well prepared, Allianz writes.

Improving business continuity management is considered the most important measure that companies should take in view of future waves.

For most companies, the greatest fear is not being able to manufacture their products or provide their services due to a data loss. In 2021, disruptions occurred on an unprecedented scale, the study continues.

Devastating consequences occurred due to a wide variety of crippling cyberattacks, which had an impact on supply chains and pandemic-related production problems, for example. The current year promises only a gradual easing of the situation, according to the insurance company.

Source: Allianz Suisse 

Robin Setz joined the corporate group in November 2021 and has assumed responsibility for all QM matters for both SVTI Swiss Association for Technical Inspections and Swiss Safety Center AG. He succeeds Dr. Elisabetta Ramsperger-Prati. SVTI is one of the most important Swiss institutions in the field of technical safety inspection. The purpose of the SVTI is the prevention of accidents, malfunctions and damage and the elimination of hazards in the manufacture and operation of technical equipment of all kinds.

Robin Setz is an expert in quality management, project and process management. He brings many years of experience and has worked in a wide variety of project and quality management functions at internationally active companies. Most recently, as Head of Process Management and Quality at an industrial company, he was responsible for setting up and implementing the process and quality management system. His goal is to ensure that the SVTI Group has a modern quality management system that is appreciated and lived by employees, managers, customers and auditors alike.

His part-time job as a lecturer in project and process management at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden enables him to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Source: Media release

Robin Setz joined the corporate group in November 2021 and has assumed responsibility for all QM matters for both SVTI Swiss Association for Technical Inspections and Swiss Safety Center AG. He succeeds Dr. Elisabetta Ramsperger-Prati. SVTI is one of the most important Swiss institutions in the field of technical safety inspection. The purpose of the SVTI is the prevention of accidents, malfunctions and damage and the elimination of hazards in the manufacture and operation of technical equipment of all kinds.

Robin Setz is an expert in quality management, project and process management. He brings many years of experience and has worked in a wide variety of project and quality management functions at internationally active companies. Most recently, as Head of Process Management and Quality at an industrial company, he was responsible for setting up and implementing the process and quality management system. His goal is to ensure that the SVTI Group has a modern quality management system that is appreciated and lived by employees, managers, customers and auditors alike.

His part-time job as a lecturer in project and process management at the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden enables him to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Source: Media release

Mr. Graber, what are currently the biggest challenges in the PSA sector in Switzerland with regard to the manufacturers or suppliers?

On the part of manufacturers, supply bottlenecks of various materials are currently still an issue. Recertification in accordance with the new EU Regulation 2016/425 is also still in progress. Questions keep coming up here, especially since many Notified Bodies (bodies designated by the EU) sometimes produce different interpretations of the regulation. Ultimately, the additional requirements that are imposed on us by law - regardless of whether they make sense or not - must also be taken into account in the calculation. For smaller manufacturers in particular, the cost implications of recertification are not insignificant.

What are the consequences for users?

Similar to the manufacturers, the employers/users are also coming under pressure due to adapted regulations and laws. Here, too, it is sometimes difficult to maintain an overview, let alone to constantly train and instruct employees so that they are "up to date" on the crucial topics in the area of PPE. Often, the importance of personal protective equipment is not understood at the executive level - the consequence of this is that savings are made on PPE. Products are purchased that are only accepted to a limited extent and are therefore not worn consistently. It is therefore worth involving employees in the selection of the right PPE, because only PPE that is worn is good PPE. After all, every franc invested in occupational safety has a return on investment of a factor of 2.2.

What is on the association's agenda at the moment?

The umbrella of our strategy is Vision 2030 - with which we are pursuing the goal of being THE competence center for PPE in Switzerland by 2030. The following steps are already underway or in planning: a product-neutral, industry-specific training program consisting of a theoretical and a practical part. The first courses are currently underway and/or being advertised. Courses dealing with safety culture and possible cultural changes are also being considered - but these are still in the planning stage. The "opening up" of French-speaking Switzerland in the form of an office in French-speaking Switzerland is also part of our strategy.

Another member category called "Vitamin PSA" for safety officers from industry is also part of our strategy to generate a high-quality exchange here as well. In addition, we are currently in the final phase of digitizing the toolbox. We have already been able to get one of the largest employers in Switzerland on board for the implementation. This means that the e-toolbox will soon be available there on all end devices for retrieval and instruction for employees.

The Swiss Safety Association now also offers PPE training for various industries. How did this come about?

Imparting know-how is an important concern for Swiss Safety. We wanted to create a meaningful training program that would help participants to handle PPE properly in their everyday work. We discussed this idea internally for a long time, looked across national borders and discussed the possibilities primarily with our members. Two of them are active in the training sector and knew what the industry was still missing: practice-oriented training around PPE. We would like to address the use of PPE and train them in an absolutely product-neutral and practical way.

What is the response so far?

I can't say very much about that yet, because we've only just started. But interest is basically high, because we don't offer a sales event, but rather product-neutral formats.

This interview originally appeared in the print edition SAFETY-PLUS 4-2021.

Want to read the full interview in this issue? Then close right now here a subscription.

www.swiss-safety.ch

As "Kassensturz" reported yesterday, it is said to be possible at the National Organ Donation Registry of Swisstransplant to make a person an organ donor without his knowledge. As the television report showed, uploaded photos, for example, are not checked. To date, around 130,000 people willing to donate have been entered in the organ donation register.

Register already online again despite deficiencies

The Federal Data Protection Commissioner has now initiated a formal proceeding opens. Swisstransplant took the allegations very seriously, writes the organ donor registry on the website, which was initially taken offline.

On January 18, the foundation reopened the register on the grounds that the register would not otherwise be available to hospitals and that the will of a deceased person would not be known. However, the register is still currently being checked by Edöb. Anyone who has doubts about the register can delete their entry, Swisstransplant writes on its website.

Clarification of facts initiated

The Edöb explained in the TV program, there are alternatives to improve the proof of identification of a person from the register. The data in the register for documentation is particularly sensitive data, the sensitivity of which Edöb Adrian Lobsiger considers particularly worthy of protection.

In the view of Edöb, it was obvious that the disclosure of the reported deficiencies was "likely to affect" public confidence in the system of organ donation in Switzerland, according to a statement at the federal agency. Against this background, the initiated clarification of the facts should contribute to finding data protection-compliant solutions for the processing of the personal data in question.

Sources: Edöb/SRF

The government council of the Canton of Basel-Stadt has created the new position of Chief Digital Officer (CDO). The position will be filled by Patrick Frauchiger as of April 1, 2022. In his role, he will be responsible for the Digital Administration Office in order to expand the opportunities of digitization and synergies between the departments, according to a statement from the canton.

Frauchiger graduated from ETH Zurich with a degree in environmental sciences and then completed a number of further training courses in organizational development and digitalization processes. Professionally, he looks back on a management career with business responsibility at Migros and the Galenica Group.

Source: Canton Basel-Stadt

According to a statement from the Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau, the "ZG" brand N95/FFP2 respirator should no longer be used. Suva is recalling the respirator in question instead of Procurement Corp AG (formerly: "Die Beschaffer AG"). Due to a falsely declared protective effect, users are at risk of being insufficiently protected against irreversible damage, the federal agency continues. Procurement Corp AG is obliged by order to take back the products.

Source: Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau