3.39. Occupational Safety Regulatory Standards (NRs): NR 40 - Safety and Health at Work in Extraction, Production, Storage and Transfer of Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Regulatory Standard 40, known as NR 40, is one of the standards that regulate occupational safety and health in Brazil. This standard in particular deals with safety and health at work in extraction, production, storage and transfer of flammable and combustible liquids. This standard is extremely important for workplace safety, as it deals with substances that present a high risk of accidents, such as fires and explosions.

NR 40 is divided into several sections, each dealing with a specific aspect of safety and health at work with flammable and combustible liquids. The first section deals with the objectives and field of application of the standard. It establishes that the standard applies to all activities involving the extraction, production, storage, transfer, handling and manipulation of flammable and combustible liquids. This section also establishes that the standard aims to prevent accidents and damage to the health of workers.

The second section of NR 40 deals with the responsibilities of employers and workers. It establishes that employers must provide a safe and healthy work environment, provide individual and collective protection equipment, train workers on risks and protection measures, among other responsibilities. Workers, in turn, must correctly use protective equipment, follow safety instructions, inform the employer about risk conditions, among other responsibilities.

The third section of NR 40 deals with protective measures. It establishes that the installations and equipment must be designed and maintained in order to prevent the release of flammable and combustible liquids, prevent the ignition of flammable vapors, control the release of flammable vapors, among other measures. This section also states that workers must be trained on protective measures and how to act in an emergency.

The fourth section of NR 40 deals with work procedures. It establishes that work procedures must be planned and executed in order to prevent accidents, that workers must be trained on work procedures, that work procedures must be reviewed and updated regularly, among other measures.

The fifth section of NR 40 deals with the prevention of fires and explosions. It establishes that installations and equipment must be designed and maintained in order to prevent fires and explosions, that workers must be trained on how to prevent and combat fires and explosions, that fire detection and alarm systems must be implemented, among other measures. .

In summary, NR 40 is an extremely important standard for safety and health at work in extraction, production, storage and transfer of flammable and combustible liquids. It establishes a series of protection measures, responsibilities of employers and workers, work procedures, prevention of fires and explosions, among other measures. Knowledge and application of this standard are essential to prevent accidents and damage to workers' health.

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