Working safely with chemicals

1. UNIVERSITY of NORTHERN COLORADO Working safely with chemicals

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3. 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)

4. 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”)

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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!

11. ISthere 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?

12. Sources of Information • Product Suppliers • Labels (emergency information & contact numbers) • MSDS • Supervisors • Environmental Health and Safety Department • Reference Literature

13. 3 Kinds of Labels • Supplier labels • Workplace Labels • Consumer labels • Pesticides • Cosmetics • Drugs • Department of Transportation • Etc.

15. LABELS National Fire Protection Association

16. Hazard Ratings 0 = Minimum Hazard 1 = Slight Hazard 2 = Moderate Hazard 3 = Serious Hazard 4 = Severe Hazard

17. Hazardous Materials Warning Labels

22. 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!

23. MSDS: What on earth is THAT!?! • Material • Safety • Data • Sheet

24. 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

25. Information About the Material Health Effects, Routes of Entry & Protective Measures Health Hazard of Substance & First Aid Emergency Response Procedures Environmental Release Data MSDS

26. Chemical Product & Company Information Composition, Information on Ingredients Hazards Identification First Aid Measures Fire Fighting Measures Accidental Release Handling & Storage Exposure Controls, Personal Protection Physical & Chemical Properties 10 Stability & Reactivity MSDS SECTIONS

27. MSDS SECTIONS cont.. 11 Toxicological Information 12 Ecological Information 13 Disposal Consideration 14 Transport Information 15 Regulatory Information 16 Other Information

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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!!!

31. 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)

32. 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.

33. 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

34. 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.

35. Emergency Response • Toxins and Poison • Read the label and MSDS information • First aid • Symptoms • Call the poison control hotline or 911

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. If you come across a spill… • 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

40. 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.

41. University of Northern Colorado Environmental Health & Safety 351-1963 or 351-1149 Call for questions or concerns! “Protect Yourself”