Chemicals management
Svenska kraftnät aims to phase out the use of the most hazardous chemicals and reduce the risks to human health and the environment when using chemicals.
A proper and safe handling of chemicals are of high importance. It is also important that selected products are as good as possible from an environmental and health perspective. An active product selection must precede all use of chemicals.
The requirements apply to all suppliers with agreements established with Svenska kraftnät from October 2014 onwards. They apply to construction, operations and maintenance.
Log into Chemsoft Opens in a new windowAreas within chemicals management
Process description: 1. a need for use of a chemical has arisen. 2. Active Product Selection (search for classification, if needed search for a review in Chemsoft, make a list of chemicals, make your choice of a certain chemical in order of priority A-D). 3. Special Conditions being fulfilled (risk analysis, product selection analysis). 4. Start to use the chemical.
How to choose chemical?
As a supplier, you must choose your chemical based on information about its classification according to Svenska kraftnät. All chemicals must have a class A to D, except for exempt chemicals, such as products not classified as hazardous under GHS. A is least hazardous and D is most hazardous, A = First choice, B = Risk reduction, C = Phasing-out, D = Prohibited.
- Class A or exempt products are first choice from an environmental and work environment perspective according to the criteria.
- Class B products may be used if specific conditions are met.
- Class C are worse from an environmental and work environment perspective than products classified in groups A and B and contain phase-out substances. The use of products in class C should be phased-out and the chemicals must only be used when there is no alternative. Class C entails conditional use, see Special conditions.
- Class D products are prohibited or only permitted for specific use. Products in class D contain chemical substances on Svenska kraftnät’s List of Prohibited substances.
More about classification and criteria
The classification of the chemicals must appear in the chemical list. As a contractor, you must be able to show your chemical list and fulfillment of special conditions at inspections.
What to do when classification A-D is missing?
First check if the chemical is classified in BASTA, Svenska kraftnät’s Chemsoft or the Swedish Transport Administration’s Chemsoft. If the chemical has a classification, you need to check that the version date on the safety data sheet corresponds to what has been reviewed.
For chemicals not having a classification, an application must be made in Svenska kraftnät’s chemical handling system Chemsoft. Class C and D chemicals require an application for each new application of use. All chemicals require an application when the Safety data sheet has been reviewed.
Keep in mind that some products are exemted, including not classified as hazardous under GHS.
The substitution principle
"Persons who pursue an activity or take a measure, or intend to do so, shall avoid using or selling chemical products or biotechnical organisms that may involve risks to human health or the environment, if products or organisms that are assumed to be less dangerous can be used instead. The same requirement shall apply to goods that contain or are treated with a chemical product or a biotechnical organism."
Chapter 2 Section 6, the Swedish Environmental Code