One of the remarkable characteristics of the human species is that we don’t just stop at discovering new methods and processes, but as time goes by and generations turn, we try to enhance the discovered processes and methods to make them better and more efficient. Since the advantages of woven textiles over animal hides were discovered in the Neolithic age, mankind has been discovering ways to make the textile production easier and textile processing more fruitful to make the end products more valuable and likeable.
Even during antiquity, different organic chemicals were used to enhance the appearance of textiles. For example, oils were used to improve the smoothness of the yarn during spinning and weaving, starch to stiffen the textile and inorganic mordants to fix the colourants. However, it was during the rise of industrialization that chemical auxiliarieschemical auxiliaries for Textiles gained ground.
Chemical auxiliaries for textiles are essential additives during Textile Processing and are highly significant when it comes to improving their functional and commercial value. Chemical Auxiliaries enable certain stages in Textile Processing to be effectively carried out in order to obtain the desired result. The market for textile chemical auxiliaries boomed when the requirements for the processability of raw materials and the appearance and feel of textiles became more demanding. Over time, highly defined textile processes evolved and so did various chemical auxiliaries that must be used in every stage of the process to obtain the desired result.
To make a woollen product, for example, wool has to be soap-washed and treated with appropriate lubricants prior to spinning, warps had to be sized and finally, the product must be treated with finishing agents to obtain the final commercial product. Thus chemical auxiliaries such as washing agents, lubricating agents, sizing agents and finishes were required to process the material and obtain the desired output from the final product.
The development of modern chemical auxiliaries for textiles dates back to the 1830s when Mercer Runge observed that oils and fats can be made water-soluble by treating them with sulphuric acid. The period from the 1850s to 1950s is marked by various significant historical developments in textile chemical auxiliaries including the invention of the first versions of high-activity wetting agents, synthetic sizing agents, permanent finishes, synthetic softeners and levelling agents. In the 1950s and 1960s, a number of processes for the manufacture of easy-care garments were introduced.
Along with this development, the growth of synthetic fibre production also led to the booming of textile chemical auxiliaries. Now that we know what chemical auxiliaries are and got a gist about their history, the next natural question is if we really need chemical auxiliaries at all? As with any consumables, textiles too, have a commercial angle. The value of textiles, for the most part, is calculated in terms of their final look and feel. Textile chemical auxiliaries play an undisputably significant role when it comes to enhancing the textiles’ look and feel. Starting from the Pretreatment stage until Finishing, there are innumerable chemical auxiliaries available for each stage that add value to the textile at every step of the process.
Textile chemical auxiliaries are classified based on many types. Fundamentally, chemical auxiliaries for textiles are divided into two depending on whether they are permanent or temporary. Permanent chemical auxiliaries are usually applied in the finishing stage in order to retain the auxiliaries’ properties throughout the lifecycle of textiles. Temporary chemical auxiliaries such as soaping agents, levelling agents, desizing agents are used during the textile processing stages and their functionality is limited to the time period during which a processing stage lasts.
Another way of classifying chemical auxiliaries is based on interfacial tension as surface-active, non-surface active and water-insoluble solids. Based on their composition, chemical auxiliaries are also classified as enzymatic, organic and inorganic. Out of the innumerable chemical auxiliaries available, surface-active chemical auxiliaries comprise the majority. They are very dominant that chemical auxiliaries are often considered synonymous to the surface-active ones. Based on their electrolytic property, surface-active chemical auxiliaries are classified as ionic - cationic, anionic, amphoteric and non-ionic.
The functions of a few commonly used chemical auxiliaries are listed below.
1. Scouring Agents are used for removing natural impurities from the yarn.
2. Bleaching Agents are used for removing the natural colour of the yarn or fibre and usually used before dyeing or printing.
3. Antifoaming Agentsare used for decreasing the foaming effect which can reduce the dye-uptake in the fabrics.
4. Dispersing Agents are used along with Disperse dyes to make them water-soluble.
5. Soaping Agents are used for removing the unfixed dyes from the fabric.
6. Neutralizing Agents are used for neutralizing the pH of the dye bath.
7. Sequestering Agents reduce the hardness of the water.
8. Fixing Agents fixes the dye on the fabric.
9. Levelling Agents are used to enable uniform dye uptake by the fabrics.
10. Bindersare used to lock the pigment particles on the fabric surface.
11. Thickeners are used to impart stickiness and plasticity to the printing paste so that they can be easily applied to the fabric surface.
12. Finishing Agents encompass a wide range of finishes such as softeners, flame retardants, oil repellents etc., to enhance the final look and feel of the textiles.
In addition to the above, there are plenty of other chemical auxiliaries used in Pretreatment, Dyeing, Printing and Finishing. Chemical auxiliaries usually vary in their functional properties based on the industry they are employed in.
As the market for textile chemical auxiliaries keeps growing, making them more efficient and environmentally friendly has become the need of the hour. At the turn of this decade, the rising water crises and the increase in the cost of utilities for production have led to the need for efficient, intelligent and responsible chemical auxiliaries. In order to ensure that the products and processes are safe for the environment, textile processing and manufacturing units can opt for GOTS and ZDHC certified chemical auxiliaries which cause less harm to the environment.
There are a number of vendors who offer GOTS and ZDHC certified products. BR Specialities offers a range of high-performance chemical auxiliaries for Home Textiles, Activewear, Workwear, Automotive Textiles and Garment Industries. With 40 years of experience in the industry, BR aims to provide the highest value to customers through it’s thoughtfully engineered products. To know more about our offerings in detail, contact us.
Almost all workplaces use chemicals which mean employees can be routinely exposed to paints, sprays, inks, toners and adhesives not to mention a wide range of materials used in cleaning and maintenance such as detergents and oils. Chemicals can be solids (e.g. dusts, fibres), liquids or mists (e.g. bleach) or gases / vapours (e.g. carbon monoxide, chlorine or ammonia). They can be individual substances like petrol or mixtures / products (e.g. paints, degreasers, ink and toners). Any chemical, in either gas, liquid or solid form, that has the potential to cause harm is referred to as a hazardous chemical. Chemicals include those that are brought into the workplace and used for processing (e.g. solvents and cleaning agents) and those that are generated by a process or work activity (such as fumes from welding / soldering) or generated as waste or residue (such as carbon monoxide from engine or exhausts).
Chemicals can cause harm to health ranging from mild skin irritation to cancer when they come in contact with the human body. The effects of hazardous chemicals may be seen immediately after contact e.g. chemical burn, or many years after contact e.g. lung cancer following exposure to asbestos. Harm can also occur following a single short exposure such as the use of a chemical for a couple of hours or longer-term exposures from the daily use of a chemical. Chemicals can come in contact with or enter the human body through inhalation (breathing in contaminated air), skin contact (splash, absorption through the skin), ingestion (swallowed accidentally e.g. not washing hands before eating) or injection (from sharp objects such as needles).
Examples of the effects of hazardous chemicals include:
Some chemicals also present physical hazards such as the potential to ignite or support combustion of other chemical substances (an oxidiser).
The Chemical Agent Regulations 2001 to 2021 point out the specific requirements necessary to complete a Chemical Agents risk assessment of the chemical agents used in the workplace. A generic assessment is unlikely to meet the requirements of the legislation. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations are UK Regulations and do not apply in Ireland. COSHH assessments are UK requirements and do not meet the Irish legal requirements for risk assessments.
In the case of a new activity involving hazardous chemical agents, work shall not commence until after an assessment of the risk of that activity has been made and the preventive measures identified in the risk assessment have been implemented.
The risk assessments should be based on activities involving chemicals - the risk depends not only on the chemical or chemicals (many activities involve more than one) but also on how it is being stored, transported, used, generated or disposed of.
1. Make a list (inventory)
Walk around your workplace, check your purchase orders and make a list of all the chemicals you bring in and those generated by work activities or waste (welding fume, dust, residues).
Organise the list by job roles / activities. Many jobs involve more than one chemical so employees can be exposed to several hazards. Where there is exposure to several chemical agents, the risk shall be assessed on the basis of the risk presented by all such chemical agents in combination.
2. Identify chemical hazards
The most important sources of information on the hazards of the chemicals brought into your workplace are the label and safety data sheet (SDS). Chemical containers should be supplied with a label which clearly identifies the chemical and its hazards. Where a chemical is hazardous, the label should contain a signal word (danger or warning) and may include an associated pictogram and a hazard statement giving more detailed information on the hazard (e.g. causes serious eye irritation, causes skin irritation). It should also contain precautionary statements giving advice on safety precautions to be taken (e.g. keep out of reach of children, wear protective gloves / protective clothing / eye protection / face protection). The safety data sheet is a document that should be provided by the supplier. The safety data sheet is a key tool for risk assessment as it includes detailed hazard information, advice on safe handling, use and storage, and the emergency measures to be followed in case of an accident.
For chemicals generated by work activities and chemicals which do not require a Safety Data Sheet (e.g. medicines, cosmetics), you can get information from:
3. Assess exposure
Once you have identified your chemical hazards you then need to assess what the potential exposure is to your employees. This involves looking at each chemical which you have identified as hazardous and considering the following questions:
4. Control your chemical risks
Once you have assessed the risk associated with your chemicals, control measures must be put in place in order to keep your employees, your workplace, and the environment safe.
You should first consider if you can eliminate the hazard by changing the process or removing the hazardous chemical.
If you cannot eliminate the chemical(s), can you substitute the hazardous chemical with another, non-hazardous or less hazardous chemical? For example, you could replace isocyanate based paints with water based paints or you could use a less hazardous form of the same chemical (e.g. using a pellet rather than a powder form of the chemical could have a significant effect on reducing inhalable dust levels).
Where the above options are not possible, exposure to hazardous chemicals should be minimised and additional control measures must be put in place to remove or reduce the risks to employees:
5. Record and review
Write down your findings (this can be part of a work instructions) and discuss them with your employees. Consultation with your employees is necessary at every step and especially when implementing the findings of your chemicals risk assessment.
You may need to draw up an action plan, detailing who is responsible, for what action and when will it be carried out.
As no workplace remains the same, review your risk assessment at least once per year, and update if necessary. When changes such as new employees, machinery, equipment or materials occur in the workplace it is necessary to review the risk assessment. Change in work patterns such as overtime or shift work, the needs of pregnant/nursing employees and those with special needs must also be included.
The following are examples of assessments that Inspectors have seen during inspections and investigations. They are in different formats because different formats suit different types of activities involving chemicals. The examples are varied as chemicals are varied. An approach/template/format that works in one situation will not work in another.
The formats presented below have been reviewed and comments included on how they should be improved. They illustrate how you can improve the compliance of your risk assessments. These are for interactive use and not for printing. If you print these then the pop-up directions disappear and the documents are invalid.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Find and reduce the safety and health hazards associated with dangerous substances and chemical products in workplaces within your company - See EU OSHA Dangerous Substances e-tool (available in several languages).
This information sheet gives employers and employees practical advice on how to assess the risks from the chemicals in their workplace and how to manage chemicals safely.
One of the remarkable characteristics of the human species is that we don’t just stop at discovering new methods and processes, but as time goes by and generations turn, we try to enhance the discovered processes and methods to make them better and more efficient. Since the advantages of woven textiles over animal hides were discovered in the Neolithic age, mankind has been discovering ways to make the textile production easier and textile processing more fruitful to make the end products more valuable and likeable.
Even during antiquity, different organic chemicals were used to enhance the appearance of textiles. For example, oils were used to improve the smoothness of the yarn during spinning and weaving, starch to stiffen the textile and inorganic mordants to fix the colourants. However, it was during the rise of industrialization that chemical auxiliaries for Textiles gained ground.
Chemical auxiliaries for textiles are essential additives during Textile Processing and are highly significant when it comes to improving their functional and commercial value. Chemical Auxiliaries enable certain stages in Textile Processing to be effectively carried out in order to obtain the desired result. The market for textile chemical auxiliaries boomed when the requirements for the processability of raw materials and the appearance and feel of textiles became more demanding. Over time, highly defined textile processes evolved and so did various chemical auxiliaries that must be used in every stage of the process to obtain the desired result.
To make a woollen product, for example, wool has to be soap-washed and treated with appropriate lubricants prior to spinning, warps had to be sized and finally, the product must be treated with finishing agents to obtain the final commercial product. Thus chemical auxiliaries such as washing agents, lubricating agents, sizing agents and finishes were required to process the material and obtain the desired output from the final product.
The development of modern chemical auxiliaries for textiles dates back to the 1830s when Mercer Runge observed that oils and fats can be made water-soluble by treating them with sulphuric acid. The period from the 1850s to 1950s is marked by various significant historical developments in textile chemical auxiliaries including the invention of the first versions of high-activity wetting agents, synthetic sizing agents, permanent finishes, synthetic softeners and levelling agents. In the 1950s and 1960s, a number of processes for the manufacture of easy-care garments were introduced.
Along with this development, the growth of synthetic fibre production also led to the booming of textile chemical auxiliaries. Now that we know what chemical auxiliaries are and got a gist about their history, the next natural question is if we really need chemical auxiliaries at all? As with any consumables, textiles too, have a commercial angle. The value of textiles, for the most part, is calculated in terms of their final look and feel. Textile chemical auxiliaries play an undisputably significant role when it comes to enhancing the textiles’ look and feel. Starting from the Pretreatment stage until Finishing, there are innumerable chemical auxiliaries available for each stage that add value to the textile at every step of the process.
Textile chemical auxiliaries are classified based on many types. Fundamentally, chemical auxiliaries for textiles are divided into two depending on whether they are permanent or temporary. Permanent chemical auxiliaries are usually applied in the finishing stage in order to retain the auxiliaries’ properties throughout the lifecycle of textiles. Temporary chemical auxiliaries such as soaping agents, levelling agents, desizing agents are used during the textile processing stages and their functionality is limited to the time period during which a processing stage lasts.
Another way of classifying chemical auxiliaries is based on interfacial tension as surface-active, non-surface active and water-insoluble solids. Based on their composition, chemical auxiliaries are also classified as enzymatic, organic and inorganic. Out of the innumerable chemical auxiliaries available, surface-active chemical auxiliaries comprise the majority. They are very dominant that chemical auxiliaries are often considered synonymous to the surface-active ones. Based on their electrolytic property, surface-active chemical auxiliaries are classified as ionic - cationic, anionic, amphoteric and non-ionic.
The functions of a few commonly used chemical auxiliaries are listed below.
1. Scouring Agents are used for removing natural impurities from the yarn.
2. Bleaching Agents are used for removing the natural colour of the yarn or fibre and usually used before dyeing or printing.
3. Antifoaming Agentsare used for decreasing the foaming effect which can reduce the dye-uptake in the fabrics.
4. Dispersing Agents are used along with Disperse dyes to make them water-soluble.
5. Soaping Agents are used for removing the unfixed dyes from the fabric.
6. Neutralizing Agents are used for neutralizing the pH of the dye bath.
7. Sequestering Agents reduce the hardness of the water.
8. Fixing Agents fixes the dye on the fabric.
9. Levelling Agents are used to enable uniform dye uptake by the fabrics.
10. Bindersare used to lock the pigment particles on the fabric surface.
11. Thickeners are used to impart stickiness and plasticity to the printing paste so that they can be easily applied to the fabric surface.
12. Finishing Agents encompass a wide range of finishes such as softeners, flame retardants, oil repellents etc., to enhance the final look and feel of the textiles.
In addition to the above, there are plenty of other chemical auxiliaries used in Pretreatment, Dyeing, Printing and Finishing. Chemical auxiliaries usually vary in their functional properties based on the industry they are employed in.
As the market for textile chemical auxiliaries keeps growing, making them more efficient and environmentally friendly has become the need of the hour. At the turn of this decade, the rising water crises and the increase in the cost of utilities for production have led to the need for efficient, intelligent and responsible chemical auxiliaries. In order to ensure that the products and processes are safe for the environment, textile processing and manufacturing units can opt for GOTS and ZDHC certified chemical auxiliaries which cause less harm to the environment.
Want more information on lithium hydroxide companies? Feel free to contact us.
There are a number of vendors who offer GOTS and ZDHC certified products. BR Specialities offers a range of high-performance chemical auxiliaries for Home Textiles, Activewear, Workwear, Automotive Textiles and Garment Industries. With 40 years of experience in the industry, BR aims to provide the highest value to customers through it’s thoughtfully engineered products. To know more about our offerings in detail, contact us.
Almost all workplaces use chemicals which mean employees can be routinely exposed to paints, sprays, inks, toners and adhesives not to mention a wide range of materials used in cleaning and maintenance such as detergents and oils. Chemicals can be solids (e.g. dusts, fibres), liquids or mists (e.g. bleach) or gases / vapours (e.g. carbon monoxide, chlorine or ammonia). They can be individual substances like petrol or mixtures / products (e.g. paints, degreasers, ink and toners). Any chemical, in either gas, liquid or solid form, that has the potential to cause harm is referred to as a hazardous chemical. Chemicals include those that are brought into the workplace and used for processing (e.g. solvents and cleaning agents) and those that are generated by a process or work activity (such as fumes from welding / soldering) or generated as waste or residue (such as carbon monoxide from engine or exhausts).
Chemicals can cause harm to health ranging from mild skin irritation to cancer when they come in contact with the human body. The effects of hazardous chemicals may be seen immediately after contact e.g. chemical burn, or many years after contact e.g. lung cancer following exposure to asbestos. Harm can also occur following a single short exposure such as the use of a chemical for a couple of hours or longer-term exposures from the daily use of a chemical. Chemicals can come in contact with or enter the human body through inhalation (breathing in contaminated air), skin contact (splash, absorption through the skin), ingestion (swallowed accidentally e.g. not washing hands before eating) or injection (from sharp objects such as needles).
Examples of the effects of hazardous chemicals include:
Some chemicals also present physical hazards such as the potential to ignite or support combustion of other chemical substances (an oxidiser).
The Chemical Agent Regulations 2001 to 2021 point out the specific requirements necessary to complete a Chemical Agents risk assessment of the chemical agents used in the workplace. A generic assessment is unlikely to meet the requirements of the legislation. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations are UK Regulations and do not apply in Ireland. COSHH assessments are UK requirements and do not meet the Irish legal requirements for risk assessments.
In the case of a new activity involving hazardous chemical agents, work shall not commence until after an assessment of the risk of that activity has been made and the preventive measures identified in the risk assessment have been implemented.
The risk assessments should be based on activities involving chemicals - the risk depends not only on the chemical or chemicals (many activities involve more than one) but also on how it is being stored, transported, used, generated or disposed of.
1. Make a list (inventory)
Walk around your workplace, check your purchase orders and make a list of all the chemicals you bring in and those generated by work activities or waste (welding fume, dust, residues).
Organise the list by job roles / activities. Many jobs involve more than one chemical so employees can be exposed to several hazards. Where there is exposure to several chemical agents, the risk shall be assessed on the basis of the risk presented by all such chemical agents in combination.
2. Identify chemical hazards
The most important sources of information on the hazards of the chemicals brought into your workplace are the label and safety data sheet (SDS). Chemical containers should be supplied with a label which clearly identifies the chemical and its hazards. Where a chemical is hazardous, the label should contain a signal word (danger or warning) and may include an associated pictogram and a hazard statement giving more detailed information on the hazard (e.g. causes serious eye irritation, causes skin irritation). It should also contain precautionary statements giving advice on safety precautions to be taken (e.g. keep out of reach of children, wear protective gloves / protective clothing / eye protection / face protection). The safety data sheet is a document that should be provided by the supplier. The safety data sheet is a key tool for risk assessment as it includes detailed hazard information, advice on safe handling, use and storage, and the emergency measures to be followed in case of an accident.
For chemicals generated by work activities and chemicals which do not require a Safety Data Sheet (e.g. medicines, cosmetics), you can get information from:
3. Assess exposure
Once you have identified your chemical hazards you then need to assess what the potential exposure is to your employees. This involves looking at each chemical which you have identified as hazardous and considering the following questions:
4. Control your chemical risks
Once you have assessed the risk associated with your chemicals, control measures must be put in place in order to keep your employees, your workplace, and the environment safe.
You should first consider if you can eliminate the hazard by changing the process or removing the hazardous chemical.
If you cannot eliminate the chemical(s), can you substitute the hazardous chemical with another, non-hazardous or less hazardous chemical? For example, you could replace isocyanate based paints with water based paints or you could use a less hazardous form of the same chemical (e.g. using a pellet rather than a powder form of the chemical could have a significant effect on reducing inhalable dust levels).
Where the above options are not possible, exposure to hazardous chemicals should be minimised and additional control measures must be put in place to remove or reduce the risks to employees:
5. Record and review
Write down your findings (this can be part of a work instructions) and discuss them with your employees. Consultation with your employees is necessary at every step and especially when implementing the findings of your chemicals risk assessment.
You may need to draw up an action plan, detailing who is responsible, for what action and when will it be carried out.
As no workplace remains the same, review your risk assessment at least once per year, and update if necessary. When changes such as new employees, machinery, equipment or materials occur in the workplace it is necessary to review the risk assessment. Change in work patterns such as overtime or shift work, the needs of pregnant/nursing employees and those with special needs must also be included.
The following are examples of assessments that Inspectors have seen during inspections and investigations. They are in different formats because different formats suit different types of activities involving chemicals. The examples are varied as chemicals are varied. An approach/template/format that works in one situation will not work in another.
The formats presented below have been reviewed and comments included on how they should be improved. They illustrate how you can improve the compliance of your risk assessments. These are for interactive use and not for printing. If you print these then the pop-up directions disappear and the documents are invalid.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Find and reduce the safety and health hazards associated with dangerous substances and chemical products in workplaces within your company - See EU OSHA Dangerous Substances e-tool (available in several languages).
This information sheet gives employers and employees practical advice on how to assess the risks from the chemicals in their workplace and how to manage chemicals safely.
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