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When it comes to using chemicals what you dont know
can hurt you... badly! After all its not
only your livelihood but your life. So you need to know about
the potential chemical hazards that can affect you and your coworkers health and safety
That's why OSHA
developed the hazards communication standard
you may have heard it referred to as the right to know act which is a regulation
of the EPA
This program will help you learn about the hazardous chemicals you may be exposed to on the job.
And the steps you and your employer can take for your safety and
protection.
There are
two ways a chemical can be hazardous.
It can be a physical hazard if it has the potential to cause a dangerous situtation.
Like a fire or explosion and it
can be a health hazard if it has the potential to damage your health.
Or it can be both. A chemical can damage your
health when you inhale it, ingest it, or absorb it through your skin or eyes.
Acute health hazards like poisoning and chemical burns
due their damage rapidity as the result of short term exposure.
Chronic health hazards affect the body slowly through long
term exposure. Chronic health problems such as
cancer and heart damage have been linked to particular chemicals
Almost everyone in a hospital has the possibility of working with hazardous
chemicals. Let's start with the nursing unit here
certain drugs can be very hazardous. Like the powerful chemotherapy
drugs given to fight cancer. Accidental exposure to these
drugs can actually cause cancer and other serious health problems. To
nurses and pharmacist that mix them. And to the house keeping staff who
clean up spills and remove waste. Accidental exposure is even
possible in busy ER where treating industrial workers involved
in accidents. And don't think chemicals are only liquids in containers.
Your hazard communication program covers chemicals in all
physical forms. Liquids solids gasses
vapors, fumes and mists.
If it is a hazard and you could be exposed to it, its covered.
Take anesthetic gases exposure
may cause headaches, nausea, decreased mental alertness and
reduced motor coordination. And may contribute to
birth defects, miscarriages, and cancer in operating
and recovery room staff. Or
ethylene oxidize. A very hazardous gas used to sterilize
hospital equipment. If not used properly it can damage
the skin, respiratory system and the nervous system.
And it may cause sterility, birth defects and cancer.
And plain old oxygen
used in operating and recovery rooms and contained in pipes through out
some hospitals is dangerous because it makes other materials because it makes other materials
highly flammable. And what
about this cleansing agent? Is it Hazardous? You bet!
Products like disinfectants and grease cutters seem harmless enough but
they are solvents that means they dissolve other substances.
And if you are not careful your skin and eyes can be damaged.
As we have already seen
some chemicals commonly used in health care today may cause
possible reproduction damage these chemicals include
ethylene oxide, hydrocarbons
anti-cancer drugs, mercury,
nitrous oxide, formaldehyde and various
ingerdients in cleaning solutions . Also
PCB's which may be present in
the transformers of some older facilities have been linked with reproductive damage.
Knowing the hazards your working with
is an important first step in protecting yourself.
That's why you should get to know your employers written communication program
It's your guide to working safely with chemicals
The program lists all the hazardous chemicals
present in your facility including those in unlabeled pipes
it also contains information on how your employer will
provide warning labels. Material safety data sheets and information
and training who work with chemicals on a routine bases
It also tells you who is responsible for seeing
that the program is carried out in your facility.
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By law
every chemical that is shipped into you facility must have a warning label attached to it by it's manufacture
A warning label is your first line of information
it lists a variety of vital information and must
include the products chemical name any hazardous ingredients
hazard warning and the chemical manufacture name and address
The hazard warning must include target organ effects
so if when inhaled the chemical causes lung damage
then that is the appropriate warning.
Lung damage is the hazard not inhalation.
If you notice any hazardous chemicals with warning labels that are
damage incomplete or missing. Reort it to your supervisor
your employer is responsible for seeing that they are replace.
And if a chemical is
transferred to another container your employer must make sure that the
new container is labeled. However there are few exceptions
for example if a number of stationary containers
in an area with similar hazards your employer
can post warning signs instead of labeling each container
and since pipes are not considered containers they do not have
to be labeled. Another exception
when you transfer a container to a portable one
the portable container does not have to be labeled if you plan to use
the chemical immediately, but be sure you
never leave an unmarked chemical unattended.
And if you do find an unlabeled container don't assume
that the contents are harmless because there is no label
in fact some health care facilities require all containers to be labeled
even if they contain water.
Other labeling information you may find is the the National
Fire protection Association symbol and numbering system.
This symbol shows the chemicals various hazards
The yellow diamond tells you the chemical's reactivity.
Blue indicates if it is a serious
health hazard. And red shows
the chemicals flammability. The higher the number from 0-4
the grater the hazard.
Also look in the white diamond for the chemicals specific hazard
for example OX means it is an oxidizer
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For more
detailed information than the warning label gives you can turn to the chemicals
material's MSDS
chemical suppliers must provide an MSDS on every hazardous chemical
they ship into your workplace. Your employer then makes sure
that the MSDS is available for every chemical you work with is available to you.
MSDS's may be kept in a binder
a file cabinet or on a computer terminal
as long as you can gain access to them in your work area during working hours.
The MSDS you work with comes in a variety of lengths and formats
they all contain the same vital information
but it may be organized in various ways.
It is always a good practice to be familiar with the MSDS for any chemical you
work with before a problem arises. That way you
are prepared to react to an emergency.
First of all the MSDS gives you the name of the chemcial.
The same name that is on the products container. It also lists
the name address and phone number of the manufacturer in case you have questions
about the chemical. As well as an emergency number.
If you have two MSDS's
for the same chemical use the one with the most complete information.
Also check the date the MSDS was last revised
this tells you how up to date the MSDS is
the MSDS must identify the substance by it's chemical names
and any common name.
This is usually done in the first section of the form.
For instance formaldehyde which is used in hospital labs to preserve
surgical specimines
if the chemicals identity is a trade secret
the manufacture can with hold this information but
the manufacturer must still provide the inforamtion on the chemicals hazards
and how to control them.
A second section lists hazardous ingredients and how they can harm you.
It also gives the concentration of the chemical to which you can be safely exposed.
Look for keys terms like permissible exposure limits
Threshold limit value
The maximum concentration of the substance that most
are allowed to be exposed to over an 8 hour shift
a thrid section
describes physical data that can help you identify the chemical
such as its appearance and odor
as well as boiling point, melting point, vapor pressure, vapor density,
solubility and evaporation rate
for example formaldehyde is described as a clear
colorless liquid with a pungent odor. While chloroform
another lab chemical is described as a clear colorless volatile liquid
with a sweet pleasant odor.
A fourth section informs you of any server immediate hazards
such as when the chemical may ignite or explode
look for the flash point or temperature at which the
chemical ignites. For flammables this is belwo 100 degress
for combustables
the flash point is 100 degrees or above
here you will find out what to put on the fire to put it out safely
Another section lists health
hazards caused by the chemical. Including the symptoms of over exposure.
Medical conditions that may be aggravated by exposure.
For anti-cancer drugs the MSDS's states
that acute overexposure can cause eye, skin, and respiratory,
irritation. While chronic exposure can cause changes in skin pigmentation.
In addition the drug itself can cause
cancer and it may aggravate pre-existing medical conditions
such as cardiovascular, liver or kidney disease, and bone marrow impairment.
This section also gives
first aid and emergency procedures. For example
wash with soap and water immediately after
contact with your skin.
A section on reactivity informs you on whether the chemical is stable or
unstable, conditions to avoid as well as it's incompatibility
with other materials. Another
section tells how to clean up accidental spills or leaks and may tell
how to dispose of the chemical. For example
to clean a spill of ethylene oxide the MSDS says to wear a self contained
breathing apparatus and full protective clothing.
In many instances commercially packaged response kits are available to clean
up spills of blood and other hazardous substances including some chemcials
its always a good idea to notify
your supervisor of any chemical spill right away.
And make sure you are trained and wearing the appropriate gear
before you try to clean it up
the section on special protection lists any PPE you will need
to work safety with the chemical. Such as a flow hood respirator mask, splash goggles,
latex gloves and long sleeve impermeable disposible
gown if you work with anti cancer drugs
full protective gear as well as an air
supply positive respirator are also MSDS recommendation
when you must change bottles of ethylene oxide.
And even common cleaning products can require you to use PPE
For example this chemical cleans and disinfects
hospital shower stalls making the environment safe for patients
but when you follow the MSDS by wearing gloves and goggles
You help keep yourself safe as well.
A final section lists additional special precaustions
to follow when handling the chemical this may include
what you have on had to clean up a spill or extinguish a fire
as well as other health and safety information
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Another important source of information on hazardous chemical
is your employers trainings program this includes helping you understand
you facilities written hazard communication program.
And how to read and use the various labels and MSDS's
You will also learn about the specific hazards from chemical
you are exposed to on the job even if your exposure is accidental
To ensure a safe work environment you will be trained
before actually working with the chemicals and if the chemical
you currently work with is replaced by chemical with similar hazards you will not be
retrained. You will learn about the steps
your employer has take to protect you. and how you can protect yourself
through the use of PPE and safe work practices.
You will also learn to detect the presence of hazardous chemicals by their appearance
smell or other charateristics.
And finally should the unexpected happen. You will be trained in various emergency producers
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Now you understand that you need to know about the chemicals you work with.
And that the warning labels MSDS's and written hazard communication program
are important vital keys to safety.
All this information is your right to know. But it is no good unless you
exercise that right. Please be sure to read all warning labels
and check out the MSDS's. Then use that
information by wearing the necessary protective equipment and by following
and by following safety procedures carefully.
You need to know!
Because when it comes to working with chemicals it's what you know that
counts.
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