Exposure Precautions

Exposure can occur in personnel handling patient linens and excreta from patients receiving hazardous drugs within the last 48 h. In some cases, take precautions for up to 7 days. Wear two pairs of appropriate gloves and a disposable gown. Wear face shields if a potential exists for splashing. Wash hands with soap and water after removal of gloves. 

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The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a detailed information bulletin prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a chemical tliat describes tlie physical and healtli hazards, routes of exposure, precautions for safe handling and use, emergency and first-aid procedures, and control measures. Infonnation on an MSDS aids in tlie selection of safe products and helps prepare employers and employees to respond effectively to daily exposure situations as well as to emergency situations. It is also a source of information for identifying chemical hazards. 

Health Act (OSHA), which regulates workplace safety. In particular, pharmacists who perform laboratory tests that require finger sticks are at risk from exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Pharmacies who perform these tests should have a blood-borne pathogen exposure control plan (BPEPC) that describes who should be trained about the hazards of blood-borne exposure, precautions that need to be taken to prevent exposure, and what to do when an exposure incident occurs (Rosenthal, 2000). More information regarding OSHA and an example BPEPC can be found at the OSHA Web site (www.osha.gov). 

Heaith hazards, exposure precautions, routes of entry, effects, work practices, protective equipment, and tools. 

Employees must monitor for hazardous atmospheres to prevent the possible exposure to harmful levels and atmospheric contaminants. If oxygen levels are less than 19.5 percent the atmosphere must be tested before employees can enter. Oxygen-deficiency exposure precautions should include proper ventilation, respiratory protection, and mandatory testing. If hazards arise while employees are present in the excavation, emergency rescue equipment such as a breathing apparatus, safety harnesses, and stretchers should be readily accessible. 

Becanse of the strain of wearing chemical protective clothing, employers shonld determine if the employees are sufficiently healthy to work in snch protective equipment. In addition, the employees should be monitored dnring stressful work situations, and provided with adequate pre- and post-exposure precautions such as hydration before entry and rehabilitation after use of the chemical protective clothing. 

Normal precautions for chemicals of mild toxicity are appHcable to the safe handling and storage of commercial tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Discoloration in storage rarely occurs if the proper precautions are observed prevention of exposure to air wiH prevent autoxidation. The Hst price of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (1997) is 1.15/lb. 

Determination of Water in DMAC. DMAC is hygroscopic and precautions must be taken to minimize exposure to the atmosphere. Trace amounts of water can be deterrnined by the Kad-Fischer method. 

Chemical safety data sheets for individual compounds should be consulted for detailed information. Precautions for the higher aldehydes are essentially those for most other reactive organic compounds, and should include adequate ventilation in areas where high exposures are expected fire and explosion precautions and proper instmction of employees in use of respiratory, eye, and skin protection. 

Most hafnium compounds requite no special safety precautions because hafnium is nontoxic under normal exposure. Acidic compounds such as hafnium tetrachloride hydroly2e easily to form strongly acidic solutions and to release hydrogen chloride fumes, and these compounds must be handled properly. Whereas laboratory tests in which soluble hafnium compounds were injected into animals did show toxicity, feeding test results indicated essentially no toxicity when hafnium compounds were taken orally (33,34). 

Maleic Anhydride. The ACGIH threshold limit value in air for maleic anhydride is 0.25 ppm and the OSHA permissible exposure level (PEL) is also 0.25 ppm (181). Maleic anhydride is a corrosive irritant to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Pulmonary edema (collection of fluid in the lungs) can result from airborne exposure. Skin contact should be avoided by the use of mbber gloves. Dust respirators should be used when maleic anhydride dust is present. Maleic anhydride is combustible when exposed to heat or flame and can react vigorously on contact with oxidizers. The material reacts exothermically with water or steam. Violent decompositions of maleic anhydride can be catalyzed at high temperature by strong bases (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, alkaU metals, and amines). Precaution should be taken during the manufacture and use of maleic anhydride to minimize the presence of basic materials. 

AH x-ray equipment must be periodically inspected and the output monitored and caUbrated to minimize the chance of accidental overexposure. Another concern involves radiation accumulation by medical personnel operating x-ray equipment. Although the dose to any one patient may be low, the accumulated dose to a clinician performing multiple exams each day over the course of a year is great. Therefore, personnel working with x-ray equipment must take precautions constandy to minimize and monitor exposure. Lead aprons and film badges are used to minimize exposure and to monitor accumulated dose, respectively. 

Workers in the metals treatment industry are exposed to fumes, dusts, and mists containing metals and metal compounds, as well as to various chemicals from sources such as grinding wheels and lubricants. Exposure can be by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Historically, metal toxicology was concerned with overt effects such as abdominal coHc from lead toxicity. Because of the occupational health and safety standards of the 1990s such effects are rare. Subtie, chronic, or long-term effects of metals treatment exposure are under study. An index to safety precautions for various metal treatment processes is available (6). As additional information is gained, standards are adjusted. 

Health and Safety. Both N-methylpyrrohdinone and dibasic esters have very low vapor pressure which limits worker exposure to vapors. Manufacturers recommend that the same safety precautions be taken as with other organic solvents. Ha2ardous location requirements must be considered if the formula is flammable. Ventilation that reduces vapors to manufacturer s recommended exposure levels should be used. 

Health and Safety Factors. Terephthahc acid has a low order of toxicity. Inhalation by rats for 6 h/d, 5 d/wk for 4 wk produced no fatahties at a dust exposure level of 25 mg/m. The mean acute oral toxicity for rats is over 18 g/kg (86), and for mice over 6 g/kg (87). When terephthahc acid was fed as 3% of the diet to rats, urinary calcuh formed in 90 d, some of which led to cancer. High doses of terephthahc acid lead to formation of calcium terephthalate at levels exceeding its solubihty in urine. This insoluble material leads to the calcuh and provides a threshold below which cancer is not observed (88). Normal precautions used in handling industrial chemicals should be observed with terephthahc acid. If ventilation is inadequate, a toxic-dust respirator should be used to avoid prolonged exposure. 

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