MC Magazine

hazcom matters
Employees have the right to know about Hazardous Materials Communication.

By Gustavo A. Gonzalez

OSHA Hazardous Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires that every employer train its workers on the hazardous materials and products to which they may be exposed in the workplace. The HAZCOM Regulation, or Right to Know as it is called, requires the following:

• A written program
• Identification of all hazardous chemicals and substances to which employees are or may be exposed
• Labeling for the containers
• Training to work with and handle these products

Employees should not attempt to use any chemical or product for which they have not been properly trained. Before using any hazardous or potentially hazardous product, the employee must be informed by the employer about the proper handling of such a product and must review the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product. It is the employee’s responsibility to follow all instructions provided him and to wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) when requested.

While most precast plants do not usually have life-threatening, highly dangerous hazardous materials in the workplace, they do have some substances that may cause discomfort or possible harm if they are not used as intended. In some cases, fires and explosions could occur if the materials are not handled properly.

Employee training must include:

• The methods to be used to detect the presence of a hazardous chemical in the plant.
• The physical and health hazards of chemicals found in the plant.
• How the hazard communication program is implemented in the plant; how to read and interpret information on labels and MSDSs; and how to obtain and use the available information.
• Measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards.

Material Safety Data Sheets
MSDSs are provided by suppliers, manufacturers or distributors for its products. The MSDS will list the chemical composition, flammability, health risks, proper protection equipment to be used and precautions to be followed when handling these products. It will also list special hazards that may be present with the use of the product and other pertinent information.

All MSDSs must be kept in a location accessible to all employees during working hours, and all employees need to know where that location is. Under the regulation, if at any time you have a question concerning the chemicals or substances you work with, you may request to see the MSDS for that product. If you do not understand the MSDS or if you do not understand English, the employer will have to explain it to you.

Labeling
Any hazardous material or product at the workplace must be properly labeled. This label must identify the product, and must have the name of the manufacturer and any appropriate warnings. All labels must be legible, in English, and prominently displayed on each container. Employees cannot remove or alter any labels.

Besides manufacturers’ labels, other labels may be attached to hazardous materials containers when appropriate. One of these labels is the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) diamond. This label shows the following information:

Numbers from 0 to 4 are entered into each colored diamond; the greater the number in each diamond, the greater the hazard for that product.

Use caution when transferring hazardous substances. Notice all warning labels affixed to the container, wear the appropriate personal protective equipment and follow all safety procedures as outlined on the MSDS. Transfer the materials only to containers approved for those products. Mixing chemicals can be very dangerous and can introduce new unknown hazards. Hazardous chemicals and substances can be a liquid, a solid, a gas or any combination.

All flammables and combustibles can burn and/or explode when subjected to heat. Kerosene, gasoline, diesel and alcohol are examples. The use of welding machines, torches, heaters and spark-producing tools is prohibited in any area where flammables are contained, stored or in use, as are open flames and smoking. Flammable products require proper ventilation. Spills should be cleaned up immediately and disposed of properly. Flammable and combustible liquids can ignite when their vapors reach a certain temperature, which is the product’s flash point.

Compressed gases are usually packed in cylinders and sometimes contained at high pressures. Examples are LPG, oxygen and acetylene. The dangers in handling these products include physical damage to the cylinders and exposure to high temperatures. Compressed gases also present a fire or explosion danger when valves, hoses or fittings leak. They should be stored properly following manufacturers’ recommendations.

Toxins are substances that may harm the body, such as poisons, corrosives, irritants, dust and fumes. Exposure to these is usually through inhalation, ingestion or contact with the skin. Some are in the form of gases and vapors, which can be inhaled and passed to the lungs and into the bloodstream. Others may attack the nervous system. When using these products, the use of PPE is recommended.

Corrosives are any chemicals that cause visible destruction of or irreversible alterations in living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. Examples are muriatic acid and phosphoric acid, which can burn the skin upon contact. A reactive is a substance that can change violently when combined with certain other materials or conditions. Read the MSDS when handling and working with these materials.

Examples of irritants and dust are sawdust, sand, cement, concrete dust or any other particulate that can accumulate in the lungs, nasal passages and eyes and irritate them. Prolonged or high exposures to sand, cement or concrete dust can produce a disease called silicosis, for which there is no cure. Cement, when mixed with water, can cause an alkali burn. Some people are allergic to cement and break into a rash upon contact. Exposure to cement and sand dust must be controlled by proper ventilation or the use of respirators if required. You must wear eye protection if you are exposed to these dusts.

Among some of the most common hazardous materials that may be found in a precast plant are diesel fuel, propane gas, oils, silicone, welding rods and concrete.

• Diesel fuel may cause irritation on contact and will dry the skin. Diesel should not be used for cleaning hands. Do not smoke or strike a flame while transferring diesel.
• Propane gas is used as a fuel in forklifts and sometimes in cutting torches. In liquid form it can cause severe “cold burns” to the skin, and it is highly flammable. Avoid contact with liquid when handling containers by wearing gloves and eye protection. Keep away from heat or flames.
• Oils are hydrocarbons, and prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause irritation. Exposure to fine mist should be avoided. You should wear gloves and eye protection and wash your hands after use. Most precast plants use concrete additives that may irritate the skin or present other hazards according to their chemical compositions. Use eye protection when handling these products. Some form oils may contain petroleum distillates, which may cause severe eye irritation and blurred vision. Repeated exposure may result in dryness of the skin. Wear eye protection and wash your hands after use. Do not breathe the spray. Grease is also a petroleum byproduct. Avoid contact with the mouth and eyes. Wash your hands after any application. Do not rub your eyes with greasy hands.
• Silicone is a high irritant when it comes into contact with lips, tongue, skin and eyes. Do not rub your eyes when using this product, and do not handle contact lenses. It should be used in a well-ventilated place. Gloves are recommended when handling this product.
• Cutting torches use two dangerous gases: oxygen and acetylene. Oxygen will ignite and explode in contact with oil. Never use grease in a regulator or torch, and keep away from oily rags. Oxygen will accelerate combustion on any material. Do not handle with greasy gloves. Acetylene is a highly flammable gas. It causes damage to the respiratory tract and the central nervous system if breathed in high concentrations. Use only with adequate ventilation. Keep containers away from heat and flames, and close the valves when not in use or when cylinders are empty.
• Welding rods produce harmful gases and fumes. Welding or cutting galvanized metals with a torch produces fumes that can produce flu-like symptoms and last for about 48 hours. Use adequate ventilation when welding, or wear a respirator under the hood.
• Concrete can dry the skin and cause irritation. It is an alkali and may cause peeling of the skin with continuous contact. Wear eye protection at all times while batching, mixing, pouring and vibrating concrete. Wear rubber gloves when working with concrete for long periods of time.

One last important point to keep in mind is that personal protective equipment (PPE) does not eliminate any hazard – it only helps protect you against those hazards. PPE should be used only as the last line of defense when other methods to control a hazard are not practical.

Gustavo Gonzalez has nearly 20 years of experience in the precast industry. He has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from Florida International University and has been employed as a plant manager for both Quikrete of Miami and Oldcastle Precast Inc. He currently serves as an instructor for the National Safety Council and the National Precast Concrete Association.

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