Working safely with chemicals

UNIVERSITY of

NORTHERN COLORADO

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Some examples of Hazardous

characteristics

– Toxins ( poisons )– Corrosives (eat skin and metal and wood)– Explosive/Reactive ( burns)– Flammable (liquids, solids and gas)– Oxygen Deprivation ( gases, confined

space)– Cryogenic (intense cold)– Radioactive – Biological Hazards (living things, plants &

animals)

Hazardous Materials

• Corrosives (have the ability to corrode metal or skin)

– pH (Acids or Bases)• Neutral pH 7 (less acidic, more basic)• Low pH (0-4) = Strong Acid• High pH (11-14) = Strong Alkaline or Base

(“Caustic”)

Hazardous Materials• Toxins (or poisons)

– Evidence of an acute or chronic health hazard• Reactive Materials

– Chemical substance that will vigorously polymerize, decompose, condense, or become self-reactive due to shock, pressure, or temperature. Includes explosive materials, organic peroxides, pressure-generating materials, and water-reactive materials. (Violent Reaction alone, from shock/physical factors, or with air or water)

• Oxidizers– Substance that yields oxygen readily to stimulate the

combustion of organic matter

Hazardous Materials• Flammables

– a liquid with a flash point below 100 degrees F • Flammable Gas:

– Gas that at ambient temperature and pressure forms a flammable mixture with air

• Flammable Limits: – Minimum and maximum concentrations of flammable

gas or vapor between which ignition occurs.

Hazardous Materials

• FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS: – Liquid that gives off vapors that can be ignited at

room temperature; liquid with flash point below 100F. • FLAMMABLE SOLID:

– Solid that will ignite readily and continue to burn or is liable to cause fires under ordinary conditions or during transportation through friction or retained heat from manufacturing or processing and that burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious transportation hazard.

Chemical Hazards

• Physical - Fire & Explosive• Health - Effects on the body.

– Acute - Rapid on-set of symptom.• Effect experienced soon after exposure. • A “lethal acute dose” can cause immediate death.

– Chronic – Adverse effect that develops slowly over a long period of time or that recurs frequently.• Gradual on set of effect or symptoms, a latency

period, or cumulative effects of small doses.• Cancer is an example of a chronic effect

How hazardous materials can harm you:

Exposure Pathways

• Inhalation (lungs)• Absorption / Contact (e.g.

skin/eyes)• Swallowing (more than one means)• Injection (sub dermal - needles,

slivers, under nails, puncture wounds)

• Radiant penetration

Work smart• Do your job in a way that protects

yourself – Minimize your risk of exposure– Minimize the risk of a hazardous spill

Be Aware!

Be Alert!

Be Alive!

IS there a hazard? How do you know?

• Get as much information as you can:

• What is the substance?• How does it harm?• Where do I use it? • How much do I use and in what

strength? • When is it dangerous?

Sources of Information

• Product Suppliers• Labels (emergency information &

contact numbers)• MSDS• Supervisors• Environmental Health and Safety

Department• Reference Literature

3 Kinds of Labels

• Supplier labels• Workplace Labels • Consumer labels

– Pesticides– Cosmetics– Drugs– Department of Transportation– Etc.

LABELS

National

Fire Protection

Association

Hazard Ratings

0 = Minimum Hazard

1 = Slight Hazard

2 = Moderate Hazard

3 = Serious Hazard

4 = Severe Hazard

Hazardous Materials Warning Labels

Workplace Labels

• When transferring product or chemicals from bulk to smaller containers, always include a label on the smaller container with the chemical or product name and hazard.

• Never use a chemical if it is unlabeled and you are unsure of what it is!

MSDS: What on earth is THAT!?!

• Material • Safety • Data• Sheet

MSDS

• Material Safety Data Sheets– Provided by the product manufacturer

as required by law.– Should come with new shipments of

materials.– Copies should be located in your work

area.• Review these for the products you work

with

MSDS

Information About the Material

Health Effects, Routes of Entry & Protective Measures

Health Hazard of Substance & First Aid

Emergency Response Procedures

Environmental Release Data

MSDS SECTIONS1 Chemical Product & Company Information

2 Composition, Information on Ingredients

3 Hazards Identification

4 First Aid Measures

5 Fire Fighting Measures

6 Accidental Release

7 Handling & Storage

8 Exposure Controls, Personal Protection

9 Physical & Chemical Properties

10 Stability & Reactivity

MSDS SECTIONS cont..

11 Toxicological Information

12 Ecological Information

13 Disposal Consideration

14 Transport Information

15 Regulatory Information

16 Other Information

So how do you know if it is hazardous if there

are no labels?

You don’t!

But…….If you know what it is… consider the chemical

properties

What if you are still not sure…

If you need to err where life and safety are concerned how do you err…?

On the side of safety

Ask your supervisor or your safety trainer

Chemicals are risky unless…

• You decide now to do the right thing by YOURSELF

• Find and read your MSDS

• Label and only use labeled containers

• Know what to do to prevent and take care of splashes and spills

• AND DO IT!!!

If there is a Hazard• How do you work

with the stuff safely

• When do you get help (see your supervisor)

• What do you do if you are exposed (get it on you)

Safe Chemical Handling

• Never mix chemical products• Note the storage requirements,

precautions and any temperature restrictions

• Store non-compatible products separately

• Ensure you have proper ventilation and be aware of what others are using

• Wear the proper PPE for the chemical being used.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Gloves– Proper size and type for job function.– Made of material impermeable to the

chemical used.– Latex sensitivity – non-latex gloves

available.– Dermatitis

• Must wear goggles or safety glasses (see MSDS)

• Appropriate apparel (aprons, proper shoes)• Hair restraints

Emergency Response

• Chemical Burns– Flush eyes and/or affected skin with running

water for at least 15-20 minutes• Eyes – open upper and lower lids with fingers

while flushing.– Remove all affected clothing during

flushing.– Skin – After flushing, cover affected area

with CLEAN wet dressing.– Do not use ointments or other substances

on skin or eyes.

Emergency Response

• Toxins and Poison– Read the label and MSDS information

• First aid• Symptoms

– Call the poison control hotline or 911

Emergency Response

• If related to a chemical exposure, provide a copy of the MSDS for the product to emergency personnel or health care provider. If not available, take along product or product label.

Emergency Response Procedures

• Call 9-1-1 from any campus phone• Transport of emergency care

victims should be done by ambulance or police.

• Non-emergency injured employees should report to HR for instructions and to fill out an accident report.

On the Job Injuries

• You must report the incident within 4 working days of the incident occurrence.

• Fill out an incident report with HR.• HR will provide you with

appointment information for the current worker’s compensation care provider.

• First Responders Responsibility– Identify if hazard exists– Call for Assistance

• Supervisor, Environmental Health and Safety, Police

– Provide good information on hazard– Contain spill if you can without risk,– Provide first aid if you can without risk – Secure site and evacuate area as needed– Call dispatch for help

If you come across a spill…

Proper Disposal of Chemical Hazardous

waste• Chemical containers – including spray

cans – should be empty prior to proper disposal.

• Never discard unwanted chemicals in the sink or floor drain (unless you are certain they are not hazardous).

• EHS will pick up un-wanted hazardous materials from your work site. – Call 1-1149 or 1-1963 for information and to

arrange a pick-up.

University of Northern Colorado

Environmental Health & Safety

351-1963 or 351-1149

Call for questions or concerns!

“Protect Yourself”