Search This Blog

Showing posts with label Hazardous Materials Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hazardous Materials Training. Show all posts

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Chemical Lab Safety Refresher in IH News

The current issue of the Industrial Hygiene News has an excellent article on laboratory safety called "A Chemical Lab Safety Refresher" written by Mr. Phillip G. Retallick, who is the Senior Vice President Regulatory Affairs for Clean Harbors.  The article covers the typical information regarding lab safety - training, storage, disposal, labeling, and compliance audits.  One of the more interesting sections was the discussion on the requirements of a good industrial hygiene program.  This section discussed the need for a worksite analysis and a well-defined and monitored work practices.  The need for a Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registry software and routine monitoring of the air to ensure lab staff are protected is not typically discussed.  The assumption is that sufficient ventilation will handle any potential problems.  However, how do you know you have sufficient ventilation?  Monitoring is the best way to ensure that.  The article list important resources such as the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Environmental Management Guide for Small Laboratories" and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) hazardous materials portion (Section H) of 29 CFR 1910.  A short and to the point article on Lab Safety.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, September 09, 2011

Chemical Accidents Sickens 54 in Bohemia, NY

Chemicals in flasks (including Ammonium hydrox...Image via Wikipedia
Just before the Hurricane, the above headline was in Newsday, on August 19, 2011, regarding a chemical accident where two cleaning chemicals were accidently mixed causing 54 workers to become ill and requiring some of them to be hospitalized.  Workers were treated for symptoms including convulsions, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and vomiting.  Unfortunately, the report does not discuss the specific chemicals that were mixed.  It does mention that the company was using a new chemical for cleaning and did not fully purge the old cleaning chemical out of the system.
This incident highlights the importance of providing training to staff when a new chemical is added to the facility.  This will ensure the hazards of the new chemical will be understood and any problems that may occur with mixing chemicals are fully understood.  The most important part of this training is the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).  The MSDS is created by the manufacturer to warn the users of its chemicals about the dangers of the chemical, the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed, first aid necessary if exposed, the path of exposure, and other important information.  The training on the new chemical should be on the specifics of handling the chemical including any PPE needing to be used when using the chemical, the first aid procedures should an exposure occur, proper storing of the chemical, and any other chemicals that should be avoided or prevented from coming into contact with the new chemical.  Maybe if this training was done the individuals responsible for purging the system would have been more cautious.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video

Shown is an anthrax culture. The disease anthr...Image via WikipediaFuture Environment Designs is proud to sponsor a new informational video on Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax.  This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the topic of Anthrax which is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.  Future Environment Designs can provide hazard specific training on this subject, especially for office staff that may be concerned regarding suspicious packages or mail. 
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, April 14, 2011

NIOSH Study Designates Bisphenol A as a Skin Sensitizer


Chemical structure of bisphenol A.
Image via Wikipedia

On April 12, 2011, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a skin notation profile for Bisphenol A (BPA).  This profile found enough evidence to classify BPA as causing skin sensitization.  Sensitization is a specific immune-mediated response (responses mediated by the immune system, including allergic responses) that develops following exposure to a chemical, which, upon re-exposure, can lead to allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) or other immune-mediated diseases such as asthma, depending on the site and route of re-exposure.  BPA is a high-production-volume (HPV) chemical used in the manufacturing of epoxy resins, plastics, and flame retardants.  NIOSH evaluated several case reports and predictive animal studies that indicated BPA as being a skin sensitizer and can cause photoallergy.  Hence, NIOSH has assigned a SK:SEN notation (skin:sensitizer) for BPA.  With BPA used as a flame retardant avoiding coming into skin contact with it could be very difficult. 
Enhanced by Zemanta

That Time of Year! Conferences, Posting Requirements, and OSHA Violations Increased!

It's that time of year again. We're between conferences.  February 15-16, 2024 was the Professional Abatement Contractors of New Yor...