Workers who handle chemicals are at risk for hazards such as splashes, fumes, vapors and irritating mists

4 Tips for Workers to Protect Yourself from Chemical Splashes by Clare Condon Topic: Chemicals

Just the thought of something coming at your face can make most people wince. Imagine the anxiety of employees who work around and with hazardous chemicals and don’t have the proper protection—or know the proper emergency procedures. Yesterday we offered three tips for environmental health and safety (EHS) managers to protect their workers from chemical splashes. Today we will discuss ways workers can help protect themselves from chemical splashes in the workplace.

If your facility uses chemicals, the task of training and implementing a chemical safety program most likely falls to you as the EHS manager. Here are some safety tips you can provide to your workers so that they can help in protecting themselves from chemical splashes. Tips for workers Tip 1: Prevent accidents Make sure you know the hazards of any chemicals you handle at work. This should be provided to you in training sessions. Also, read the safety data sheet (SDS) for any chemical you use. The SDS will provide information that will be critical in the event of a chemical accident. Tip 2: Use and maintain PPE. Your supervisor will provide the protector appropriate for the particular job you will be doing. When you receive your personal protective equipment (PPE), check it to make certain it has a “D3” marking along with the manufacturer mark on it. It may also have a “+” sign to indicate it is impact-rated, which protects you in the event of an accidental chemical explosion. Make sure the PPE fits right and is maintained. Eye protection needs to fit right or it can't do the job it is intended to do. Loosely fitting goggles, for example, could let in harmful chemical vapors that could burn the eyes. Gaps between the face and the side shields on safety glasses could allow a tiny particle to hit the eye. And eye protection that's damaged or worn out can't do the job either. Scratched or pitted lenses make seeing hard and could lead to an accident. Stretched straps or bent frames mean the eyewear won't fit right and could expose the eyes to hazards. Also, you need to understand that the atmospheric conditions of your work area and the restricted ventilation of the PPE may cause the lenses to fog. In addition, you may splash the protector, so it could require frequent cleaning. Tip 3: Know where your eyewash stations are and how to use them. Your response to a chemical splash can determine whether your injury will be permanent. In the event of a chemical splash, ways you can help prevent permanent damage include: Pay careful attention when your trainer shows you how to operate the eyewash—in case of an accident, there is no time to learn its use. Use an emergency eyewash is immediately after a splash. DON’T WAIT! Not even a few seconds! Wash your hands. Do not rub your eyes. Flush your eyes with water immediately while forcing the eyelids open. Roll your eyes so water can flow all around the eye. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes. If you are wearing contact lenses, you can gently take them out while you are flushing. Don’t delay the flushing to take out your lenses but make sure that you take them out because they could trap the chemical in your eyes. Seek emergency medical help quickly. Tip 4: Help a colleague You can help a fellow worker in case of a splash—the natural reaction for anyone is to close their eyes. Here’s how you can help: Lead them to the eyewash station at once. Help hold the eyelids open and have them roll their eyes so water can flow all around the eye. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance. Don’t stop flushing for at least 15 minutes.

3 Tips for EHS Managers to Protect Against Chemical Splashes by Clare Condon

Just the thought of something coming at your face can make most people wince. Imagine the anxiety of employees who work around and with hazardous chemicals and don’t have the proper protection—or know the proper emergency procedures. Today and tomorrow we will discuss ways environmental health and safety (EHS) managers and employees can protect against chemical splashes in the workplace.

Tips for EHS managers Workers who handle chemicals are at risk for hazards such as splashes, fumes, vapors and irritating mists. Common tasks related to chemical hazards include: Acid and chemical handling Degreasing Plating, and Working with blood Tip 1: Choose the right PPE. Employers are required to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers who handle chemicals. The task of choosing the appropriate PPE will likely fall to the EHS manager. PPE for chemical splashes includes: Goggles with indirect ventilation (both the eyecup and the cover type); A face shield to be worn over spectacles or goggles; or A full-face piece respirator. Note. The chemical splash and droplet PPE must have the D3 marking with the manufacturer’s mark. Eye and face protection must comply with consensus standards found in 29 CFR 1910.133(b). OSHA recently updated 29 CFR 1910.133 to reflect the most recent edition of the ANSI/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) eye and face protection standard.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) recently launched a PPE-INFO database that allows you to search for appropriate PPE based on federal regulations and consensus standards. Make sure the PPE fits right and is maintained. Eye protection needs to fit right or it can't do the job it is intended to do. Loosely fitting goggles, for example, could let in harmful chemical vapors that could burn the eyes. Gaps between the face and the side shields on safety glasses could allow a tiny particle to hit the eye. And eye protection that's damaged or worn out can't do the job either.  Scratched or pitted lenses make seeing hard and could lead to an accident. Stretched straps or bent frames mean the eyewear won't fit right and could expose the eyes to hazards. Tip 2: Train and implement. It’s critical that workers who handle chemicals are trained in the proper use of the PPE selected for their tasks. It is also critical that they use the PPE. Ways to get your training across include: Point out OSHA requirements. Explain how the particular PPE will protect against the specific chemical hazard. Use shock and gore. Show some horror pictures and stories of the effects of chemical splashes on eyes and faces. Lead by example. Always use required eye protection yourself in the work area and require visitors to use it, too—even if you're just passing through an "Eye Protection Required" work area. Tip 3: Provide and maintain eyewash stations. OSHA’s first-aid standard at 29 CFR 1910.151 requires suitable facilities for immediate use for quick drenching of the eyes and body where any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive chemicals. 29 CFR 1910.151 does not set any specifications for emergency eyewash and shower equipment, but OSHA suggests that equipment that complies with ANSI Z358.1, "American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment" consensus standard would usually meet the intent of the OSHA rule.  Federal OSHA does not enforce the ANSI standard as it is not incorporated into federal OSHA standards, but OSHA inspectors use it as a reference when conducting inspections. Note: ANSI Z358.1 was most recently updated in 2014 in collaboration with the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). It is now known as ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014. Practical tips for eyewash stations include: Make sure workers can reach them in 10 seconds. Inspect eyewash stations weekly and activate plumbed units to prevent contamination. Change flushing fluids according to manufacturers’ recommendations. Factory-sealed cartridges of eyewash solutions have the longest shelf life.