Hazardous Chemical Awareness Flashcards
Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)
OSH Act addresses the protection of workers from chemicals in the workplace. HCS CFR 29 - 1910.1200 in 1983 and expanded it to overall workers in 1987. The HCS necessitates employers to evaluate chemical hazards in their facilities and to communicate the hazard information to their employees.
HCS Program
Steps for the HCSP HCP in writing perform a chemical inventory File Must have SDS for each chemical Label all containers and storage areas containing chemicals train employees make the HCP available in writing
Safety Data Sheet
A written document for SDS written doc specific info on defined hazardoouse chemicals and effects the united nations global harmonization standard GHS 16 sections 1. identification 2. Hazard identifications 3.Composition and ingredients 4 First aid measures 5 fire fighting measures 6. accidental release measures 7 handling and storage 8. Exposure controls 9 physical and chemical properties 10. stability and reactivity 11. Toxicological information 12 ecological information 13 disposal information 14 transport information 15 Regulatory information 16 Other information
Additonal information
in addition the MSDS the HCS requires that every container of hazardous materials is labeled by the manurfacturer - the DOT places plackers on bulk packages alerting handlers of the contents. hazard warnings and the name and address of the manufacturer
labels must provide the chemical identiry of the hazardous material hazard warnings
the data helps employees
to ensure the safety of themselves and others in the workplace.
Labeling
Labeling and plackarding is often considered the quickest source of information
HCS requires to be labeled by the manufacturer
must contain chemical identity and or trade name of the hazardous material, Hazard warnings or warnings
name and address of the chemical manufacturer
Plackarding
is a system of hazard warning required by the DOT
are placed on bulk packages such as portable tanks and transportating vehicles carrying hazardous materials durieng transit
labels are smaller in size and are required on non bulk packages such as boxes and cannisters
many employers find the labels to be convenient for marking materials within their facilities
National Fire Protection System NFPA 704 singing system
Is designed to provide possible chemical risks to emergeny and first responders
Rating
1. health
2. Flammability
3. Reactivity
4th - Special Hazard
an area of the sign - any special hazard
Local fire codes require facilities to post on doors warning that dangerous chemicals are within.. In addition to package lables To post the signs on buildings and doors to warn that dangerous chemicals are within.
many employers add small adhesive labels using the NFPA design. these provide addition ways of warning employees
It is important to remember that the Hazard Communication Standard applies to hazardous chemicals that are being used in a facility, not to hazardous waste. Therefore, waste site workers use labels, placards, and signs as a source of information, not identification.
Chemical Names w/ Potential Hazards
terms can be very confusing and misleading.
Toxic or non-toxic compound. Spill response workers cannot assume the hazard of any chemical - verify all information
Name
Hazard must be verified
Verification
Verification can come from . . . Label SDS Refereence books Technical Specialists
Chemist should be available to assist in spill Clean up if the hazards cannot be confirmed staff must us maximum protective equipment and caution.
name is looked at before the label or sds
the presence of certain elements in the chemical name suggests the presence of possible hazards.
Potentially Hazardous elements
Potential hazardous elements list - filed.
Names of Elements
The presence of certain words and word fragments can show possible hazards. Not every chemical compound that containg name or framents are that end
ite
ate
ade
ide
Not every word that contains that fragment is hazardous chemical.
Corrosive Health Hazards
sulfuric acid is the most common eg. - 2nd used transported hazardous materials. Only flamable liquids are more common. corrosives are used in everything from batteriuas to disinfectants. Must be able to identify corrosive class chemicals. Any liquid that can have severe a corrosive rate on steel. Because it can corrode steel it is possible to corrode other substances including human tissue.
2 types of corrosive materials that can corrode steel and human tissue.
acids of corrosives
bases or caustics
PH’s
PH is used when discussing acids or bases. PH is the negative log of the concentration of hydrogen in solution. When the concentration of hydrogen increase the PH #decreases. A PH of 11 is hydrogen ion concentration is very low.
Bases have very low hydrogen concentrations and high hydroxide concentrations. A liquid with a PH of 11 is a base.
PH can range from 0 to 14. Acids on the low end 0 to 7 and the Bases on the high end of 7 to 14.
Solutions with a PH of 7 are neutral.
Acid Base Neutralization
when dealing with corrosive or caustic spills the usual response with a neuralization reaction. If an acid is spilled it will be neutralized with a base - caustic. If a caustic - base is spilled, it will be neutralized with an acid.
Reaction of an acid and base it creates a toxic atmosphere. .
Lessen the possibilites of an uncontrolled reaction and avoid harmful situatiations. It is important to uderstand the neutralization process.
Mixing chemicals
when mixing acids and bases - 3 general products are formed
salt
water
heat
Energy is always produced Controlling the amount of heat energy produced is very important.
An understend in g of the terms is essential
Strength vs Concentration
Strong acids or bases - refering the concentration of the acidic or basic solution. Strength is defined as the % of dissociation that occurs when an acid or base is mixed with water.
how much the material solid or liquid come apart, dissociate in water to form electricly charged particles positive or negative ions. Acids diassociate to produce hydrogen ions and bases to produce hydroxide ions.
the greater disassociation increasing hydrogen or hydroxide the greateer the strength of the resulting or the base solution.
Concentration
Is defined as the amount of material acid or base mixed with a certain amount of water expressed in terms of %, weight or volume.
The more water by % the more dilute the solution. the less water added the more concentrated the solution.
if one has concentrated hydrodgen chloride = the liquid material has the maximum amount of hydrogen chloride dissolved in that amount of water.
To add more hydrogen chloride gas to the solution - no more would or could dissolve, It would just bubble through the liquid and escape
50% dilution
50% concentration of hydrogen chloride = given amount of the concentrated solution with equal amount of water. Comparing concentration of the pure solution to the 50% solution has only 1/2 of the # of hydrogen ions as the concentrated portion .
% and malarity are expressions that identify the concentration . Remember the larger the number before the term, the more concentrated the solution.
Corrosive Health Hazards
Corrosives can destroy living tissue. Chemical Burns. Some acids and bases can cause severe damage even with momentary exposure to the skin because they are so corrosive.
Vapor Hazards
The most dangerous hazard. Fuming liquids can spontaneously produce vapor.
if a vapor cloud is created large scale evacuation is required.
Injuries from vapors can be mucus membranes - Eyes , throat and airway, and Irritation is to the respiratiory system.
Vapor pressure is a liquid propertery At room temperature and sea level there is one atmosphere of pressurethat pushes down on a liquin in the container the as it boils it overcomes the pressure of the atmosphere and it escapes in gas form or vapor.. Materials with vapor pressure less than 1 will boil at room temperature. greater than 1 will remain liquid at room temperature.
a materials vapor pressure is crucial when responding to a materials release.
Liquid Hazards
Must be handled carefully to avoid splashing. Skin damage can be caused by contact with a liquid corrosive.
Solid Hazards
Dusts from solid corrosives can create produce severere damage to external and internal injuries organs. Massive Exposure to dusts from corrosives Can be fatal within a matter of minutes
Protective Measures
Safer to handle corrosive material if is preventative measures are taken first. PPE equipment. Glove for hands. Goggles for eyes. Face Shiled or work behind a splash shield. if working with acids or bases dont wear Contact lenses because they can become welded to the eye leading to blindness.
Treatment for exposure
Stopping the chemical action = flushing to flush out and neutralize the material. After flushing victim should be treated with standard first aid practices.
the extent of injury is dependant on the concentration of the acid or base, - the quantity, body area affected and the duration of contact.
Hazardous Mixtures
Mixing of chemicals. more so with corrosives. Used in everything from flash lights to car batteries.. Possiblle complications that could arise if corrosives are mixed with various types of materials.
Corrosives and poisons
cynide or sulfide salts the primary concern is the possible toxic vapors that can be produced by the decomposition of the poision.. The vapors can be more toxic than corrosives.
Corrosives and ignitable materials
flammable or combustible material. there are many possible reactions with the exact type dependent on the specific corrosive and flamable and or combustible material - egs of the hazards are when a strong base or acid is mixed with a polar or water soluable flamable or combustible liquid heat can be generated or this can be seen when water is added to an acid.
Increase in temperature
Because of the increase in temperature there will also be an increase in the amount of vapors generated by the liquid.
the liquid normally at the termp of the environment will be warmer than its environment.
eg. a liquid normally considered below its flashpoint. the temp at which enough vapor is produced for a fllash ignition to occur. May have been heated to a temperature above the flashpoint. THis means that if enought vapor is present and an ignition source is found a fire will result.
