too strong for safe use. Workers must be
impressed with the importance of not mixing
cleaning ingredients once they are com-
pounded. They should be warned not to
place small amounts of dry chemicals back in
a barrel or to blend them with unknown
chemicals.
Storage and Transport
Cleaning ingredients and batches of com-
pounded cleaners must be kept in locked
storage and dispensed only with supervision.
A system of inventory control should be
maintained to aid in supervision and to dis-
cover deficiencies in dispensing.
Bulk storage of cleaning ingredients should
be in areas designated for whatever hazard
might be characteristic of that material. Reac-
tive, basic, and acidic materials should be seg-
regated. All bulk materials should be stored in
fire-safe areas. Lids should be tightly in place,
especially if the containers are stored under
automatic sprinklers. Special chemicals
should bear their own particular warnings
that should be observed.
Containers of alkaline material should be
kept tightly sealed because these materials
generally take up water from the air. They
should be closed as soon as possible after
opening to protect the material from atmos-
pheric moisture.
First Aid for Chemical Burns
Whenever an employee is splashed with
cleaning chemicals,flush the individual with a
large amount of water immediately. Keep
flushing for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not use
materials of opposing pH to neutralize con-
taminated skin or clothing. Such material
may merely aggravate the condition through
effects of its own properties.
Workers can carry a buffered solution for
the eyes, which is sold in sealed containers. If
water is unavailable, this liquid can be used to
dilute and wash away chemicals from the eye.
This emergency measure must be followed at
once by washing the eyes for approximately
15 to 20 minutes as soon as the worker can be
reached. After injury, the worker’s eyes
should be examined by a physician. Instead
of, or in addition to, the buffered solution, a
plastic squeeze bottle of sterile water may be
carried. Although these emergency measures
are available, workers should not be allowed
to regard eye contact accidents lightly.The
use of eye protection devices should be firmly
enforced, especially where flushing water is not
readily available.
An injured employee should not be released
from first aid or medical treatment until the
chemical is removed. Speed is the most impor-
tant factor in first aid for chemical exposures.
An employee who is severely burned may act
confused and need help.Prompt flushing of
chemicals from the skin, including the removal
of contaminated clothing, is the most important
factor in the handling of such chemical burns.
Insufficient flushing with water is only slightly
better than none at all. Sources of water such
as chemical burn showers or eye wash stations
are best. However, any other source of water,
regardless of its cleanliness, should be used
for speed. An ample supply of water must be
available near all locations where workmen
may be exposed to corrosive chemicals. An
ordinary shower head or garden hose spray
nozzle does not supply water at a fast enough
rate to flush a chemical. A flood of water is
required. A satisfactory type of shower bath
is one with a quick-opening valve that oper-
ates as soon as a person steps on a platform or
works some other type of readily accessible
control.
Everyone concerned with the chemical
exposure problem should be thoroughly
familiar with the following steps:- A worker that is exposed to a concen-
trated chemical should be assisted
through others.