Safety

Emergency eyewash stations provide on-the-spot decontamination by allowing you to flush away hazardous substances that can cause injury. Hopefully, you never need to use emergency eyewash equipment. However, you want to make sure emergency eyewash stations are both clean and accessible in case you find yourself needing one. If you get foreign particles or chemicals in your eyes, an emergency eyewash station is the most important initial step in first-aid treatment. Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds, may cause serious injury.

Location

Eyewash stations are needed if you handle corrosive materials. Review your Material Safety

Data Sheets (MSDSs) and chemical labels. If you see warnings such as “causes chemical burns” or “causes permanent eye damage” you need an eyewash station in your area. In general, eyewash units must:

• Have highly visible markings and signs;
• Be on the same floor as the hazard. An injured worker should not have to use stairs to travel between the workstation and the emergency equipment;
• Not come into contact with any electrical equipment that may become a hazard when wet;
• Be protected from freezing when installed outdoors;
• Have pure clean water;
• Have hands free operation;
• Maintain a constant water flow rate for a full 15 minutes;
• Have unobstructed access. Workers should not have to pass through doorways or weave through machinery or other obstacles to reach eyewash units.

Accessibility

To be effective, the equipment has to be accessible. The single most important treatment for chemically-

burned eyes is copious irrigation within seconds of injury. This means injured workers should not have to climb over or around obstacles to find the eyewash station. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recommends that a person be able to reach the equipment in no more than 10 seconds. In practical terms, consider that the person who needs the equipment will be injured and may not have use of their vision.

Maintenance Requirement

If eyewash equipment is located in your shop, mechanical room, or custodial closet, it must be inspected to ensure it functions properly with adequate water flow and is clean and sanitary. The following should be performed:

• The person conducting the inspection must date and initial that the inspection was performed;
• Plumbed units must be activated monthly to verify operation;
  • Allow the water to run for 2-3 minutes to ensure adequate flushing of the equipment;
  • Place the protective caps back on the eyewash outlets to prevent dust and debris from collecting;
  • Portable eyewash units are an option in areas where plumbed water is not accessible. These units also need an anti-bacterial additive to ensure proper water sanitation. The manufacturer’s change-out schedule must be followed. Also, the unit should be activated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Training in Proper Use

Employees who are exposed to possible chemical splashes must know in advance how to use an eyewash station properly:

1. Immediately after the accident, flood the eye with water, using your fingers to keep the eye open as wide as possible. Water may be colder than body temperature, which can be uncomfortable, but it is imperative to irrigate for at least 15 minutes.
2. If you wear contact lenses, remove the lenses as soon as possible to ensure the chemical is not trapped behind the lenses. Continue to flush the eyes to ensure the chemical has been rinsed away.

Seek medical attention after irrigating for the required time. It’s easy to forget about eyewash stations until they are needed in an emergency, but this is not the time you want to find out that yours is covered with dust or not working at all. Test your eyewash equipment monthly and learn how to use it. It could possibly save your sight!

 
REMEMBER: HINDSIGHT EXPLAINS THE INJURY THAT FORESIGHT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED!
 

Although summer heat is the largest cause of heat distress disorder, it may also occur when workers are exposed to confined areas such as pipelines, shipboard spaces with limited ventilation, and any confined area involving welding or cutting.

Symptoms

The symptoms of heat stress disorders are very slow to start, but increase in intensity if precautions are not taken. The onset of the initial symptoms are mild and usually involve headaches, thirst, and tiredness.

Heat stress can move to heat stroke, a life-threatening medical emergency, quickly when the body’s natural cooling system breaks down and causes the body core temperature to rise and overheat the brain. Some of the symptoms of heat stroke are immense thirst, severe headaches, disorientation, dry/hot skin (no sweating) and possibly collapse.

Treatment/Prevention

The following ideas may aid in combating heat stress disorders:

1. Employees accustomed to working in the heat are better candidates for job assignments where heat stress disorders may occur.

2. Until employees acclimate to the high temperatures, allow them to take frequent breaks to cool down.

3. Employees should be rotated from the exposure area to a non-exposure area on a regular basis to help in avoiding heat stress symptoms.

4. Employees should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids (water, Gatorade, Powerade, etc.) to replace electrolytes. Employees should not drink any carbonated beverages (Coke, Pepsi, etc.) as these only increase dehydration and give a false sense of being properly hydrated. Also, the use of alcohol the evening before the work shift, can lead to dehydration even before heat exposure.

If an employee appears to be suffering from heat stress disorder, remove him or her from the heat and provide a cool, shaded place to rest. If the employee is disoriented or non-responsive, call for medical attention immediately.

The goal is to recognize the hazards and symptoms of heat stress disorders and stop them before they occur. Remember, there is no better cure than prevention, and heat stress disorders can occur in winter as well as summer.

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Contact dermatitis is a localized rash or irritation of the skin caused by contact with an irritating or allergy-causing substance. This type of dermatitis is the most frequent cause of occupational skin disease; irritating or allergy-causing substances that cause contact dermatitis in many people include poisonous plants such as poison ivy and sumac, cleaning solutions, detergents, industrial chemicals, latex rubber gloves, and cosmetics. Contact dermatitis most often occurs on the hands, wrists, and forearms, although any area may be affected. Dust s, vapors, and mists can spread the irritants and expose other areas such as the eyelids, face, ears, and neck. Symptoms include itching, inflammation, swelling, burning, skin lesions, rashes, blisters, cracking, and peeling of the skin. The skin may also become raw, scaly, and thickened. These symptoms appear on the area of skin exposed and generally take anywhere from several days to weeks to heal. The reaction may vary from slight to severe, and the dermatitis fades only if the skin no longer comes into contact with the allergen or irritant.

Two Types of Contact Dermatitis: Allergic and Irritant

 Allergic Contact Dermatitis is inflammation caused by exposure to a substance to which the person has become hypersensitive or allergic. The reaction may vary depending on the irritant, body part, and sensitivity of the individual. Exposure may cause immediate reaction, or the allergy may develop over time. Common plant allergens are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Many other substances can cause allergic reactions such as soaps, latex gloves, jewelry, lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, and medications.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis is the most common type of contact dermatitis. It is inflammation resulting from direct contact with a substance that is caustic or corrosive to the skin. The reaction generally resembles a burn. The longer the substance remains on the skin, the more severe the reaction. Household cleaners, detergents, industrial cleaning products, drain clog removers, and solvents can also cause irritant contact dermatitis.

•  If you know what caused the dermatitis, avoid the substance. If you cannot avoid the substance altogether, take steps to protect your skin from the substance.
• Wear the proper protective equipment required for the job such as: long sleeves and pants, and/or gloves.
• Substitute chemicals that are less irritating or allergenic where possible.
• Inform workers about the substances they work with and their potential hazards.
• Inform workers about the substances they work with and their potential hazards.
• Apply barrier cream or lotions before wearing gloves.
• Dry hands thoroughly after washing.
• Don’t use abrasive pads to scrub hands.

Treatment

• Wash the area with soap and cool water immediately after exposure.
• Workers should immediately report all skin discomforts or disorders to their supervisor, Employee Health Services, and EHSO.
• In many instances, contact dermatitis can be treated through the use of calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, cold compresses, ointments, and antihistamines such as Benadryl.

If your symptoms do not respond to such nonprescription treatment, a trained medical professional might prescribe prescription strength antihistamines or corticosteroid creams.

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What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, tasteless, odorless gas. CO gas is generated as a waste product of the incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, and other petroleum based fuels (e.g. gasoline, propane, etc). CO gas, although odorless, usually occurs in a combination of combustion by-products that have distinctive odors. The primary source of CO gas is the internal combustion engine. CO gas is also generated in industrial operations such as auto repair, oil refining, steel and chemical manufacturing.

Hazards of Carbon Monoxide
Health Hazards:
CO is a chemical asphyxiant which means that it reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Asphyxiation, or suffocation, occurs when the blood does not deliver enough oxygen to the body.

CO gas is absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream. Inhalation of CO gas may cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, weakness, rapid breathing, unconsciousness and death. High concentrations of CO may be rapidly fatal without producing significant warning symptoms.

Exposure to this gas may aggravate preexisting heart and artery disease. As CO gas is odorless, there may be no odor warning if toxic concentrations are present.

If you suspect CO poisoning, move the person immediately to the fresh air away from the source of the CO. Call 911 or your emergency number for medical assistance. CO poisoning can be reversed if caught in time.

Safety Hazards:
CO gas mixes very well with air. CO gas penetrates easily through walls and ceilings. It is an extremely flammable gas. CO gas may react very strongly with oxygen, acetylene, chlorine, fluorine or nitrous oxide.

Who is at Risk?
Workers most likely to be exposed to carbon monoxide are welders, mechanics, firefighters, long shore workers, diesel engine operators, forklift drivers, toll booth or tunnel attendants, police, taxi drivers, shipping and receiving workers and warehouse personnel.

Methods of Control of Carbon Monoxide
To reduce the chances of CO poisoning in the workplace:

• Install a ventilation system that will effectively remove CO from the work area.
• Properly maintain equipment that may produce CO to enhance safe operation and to reduce CO generation.
• Consider switching from gasoline-powered equipment to battery or electric equipment.
• Prohibit the use of gasoline-powered equipment indoors or in poorly ventilated areas.
• Consider installing CO detectors with audible alarms.
• Educate workers about the sources, hazards, and controls of CO.

What Can You Do To Help?

• Report any situation to your employer that might cause CO to build up.
• Pay attention to ventilation problems, especially in enclosed areas.
• Avoid the use of gas-powered equipment in enclosed spaces.

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