SAFETY ALERT – ALCOHOL BASED HAND SANITIZER

A Safety Alert has been issued by Highways England following an incident involving alcohol based hand sanitizer.

A gas transport employee used alcohol based hand sanitizer as recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The person then touched a metal surface before the liquid evaporated. Due to static electricity, the vapour from the hand sanitizer ignited with an almost invisible flame on both hands. The person quickly managed to get to a sink to extinguish the flames but suffered first and second degree burns.

As a result, the employer has posted warning signs indicating flammable liquids on all hand sanitizing dispensers and everyone is being advised to wash their hands with soap and water if possible or, if only alcohol based hand sanitizers are available, to make sure all liquid has evaporated before touching any surfaces

See the full safety alert here: https://70282178-cd5d-4749-bc93-4d44c9795736.filesusr.com/ugd/dfdeaa_0c026ff7b6734d6692c4d0bcdc2f0112.pdf