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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.