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Preventing Exposure to Chemicals (Internal Links)

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Chapter 4 explained how to prevent exposure to hazards. As with all types of dangers, the best approach is to remove the hazard. Chemical hazards can be removed or controlled in different ways.

Substitution

Use less dangerous chemicals. Employers should consider the health effects as well as price and other factors when buying chemicals. Whenever possible, employers should avoid buying or using chemicals that cause cancer. Another way to remove toxic chemicals is to do jobs without chemicals. For example, grass can be mowed rather than spraying toxic pesticides.

 

Enclosure for brake repairs
Figure 3

Engineering controls

Enclose (isolate) the job

Asphalt mixers have now been designed to prevent workers from breathing in fumes when the asphalt is mixed. Another example of enclosing a job is shown in Figure 3. In this case, mechanics can do brake repairs and prevent exposure to asbestos.

Ventilation

Ventilation keeps harmful chemicals out of the air that workers breathe. For example, Figure 4 shows how negative air machines are used to get rid of asbestos in a work area.

 

 

 

Ventilation
Figure 4

 

 

 

 Local ventilation is very effective because it catches the chemical before it can get into the air that workers breathe. A laboratory hood, as shown in Figure 5, is an example of local exhaust.

Adminstrative controls

Hazards can be reduced by keeping work areas neat and clean. Part of the workday should be spent keeping the workplace orderly by doing routine tasks such as:

  • putting rags soaked with chemicals in closed containers; 

  • storing chemicals properly in clearly labeled containers; 

  • keeping only the amount of chemical on hand that is needed; and 

  • cleaning chemical spills right away

 

Local Exhaust
Figure 5

 

Workers need the supplies, time, and procedures to keep chemicals off their clothes and bodies. Employers should provide:

  • a separate room away from work areas for eating and storing food; 

  • soap and water for washing; 

  • time to wash before breaks, before eating, and at the end of the shift; 

  • a place to change and store street clothes; and 

  • a facility to wash work clothes.

 

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Masks, gloves, and other personal safety gear are the least effective way to protect workers. The protective gear does not remove the chemical hazard from the area. If the gear does not work, then the worker gets no protection. PPE is needed if there is no other solution, or until a better control is installed. Often, PPE is used along with other protections.

As explained in Chapter 4, the type of respirator, glove, or other type of PPE that workers need depends on the chemical in the area. Respirator cartridges that are used with air-purifying respirators are color coded according to hazard. The chart below shows which respirator cartridge to use when working around certain chemicals. 

Respirator Cartridge Selection
Color of Cartridge Toxic Chemicals
Black organic vapors such as acetone, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone
White chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen sulfide (escape only)- these are acid gases.
Yellow organic vapors and acid gases including chlorine, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, or hydrogen fluoride
Green ammonia, methylamine
Pink or Purple (HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Air) asbestos, lead, toxic dusts, fumes, mists
Brown varies—see manufacturer’s product information on package or side of the cartridge. Usually for formaldehyde.
Gray varies—see manufacturer’s product information on package or side of the cartridge.

 

See the following publications and websites for more information

AFSCME fact sheets:

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Guidelines for the Selection of Chemical Protective Clothing, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1983

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices

Environmental Protection Agency, Protect Yourself from Pesticides — Guide for Pesticide Handlers, 1993

Fosberg, K. and Mansdorf, S.Z., Quick Selection Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing, 2nd Edition

MSDSs on the Internet (Cornell)

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Engineering Controls for Hot Mix Asphalt Pavers,Publication #97-105

NIOSH, NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Publication #97-140

New Jersey Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Fact Sheets:

OSHA Technical Links: Hazardous and Toxic Substances, (formerly "Chemical Substances")

Where to Find MSDS on the Internet