Hand hazards

While it is important to take proper precautions (see Appendix 2), properly built equipment offers few hazards if relatively small quantities of liquids are used under pressure. The energy stored in a compressed liquid is of the order of 0.2-0.5 kJ mor kbar" this is much less than in a gas. In the event of the catastrophic failure of a vessel, only around 10 per cent of the liquid would need to escape to reduce the pressure to the atmospheric value, and double-walled vessels are unlikely to suffer a failure of both cylinders. The author has experienced the failure of a piston-cylinder apparatus which led to nothing more than a sudden depressurization. On the other hand, hazards may arise from the low-pressure side, which is likely to be carrying oil at 500 bar or more a pin-hole jet at this pressure can penetrate the human body. The valve threads may become worn and the stems may then be forcibly ejected. So hose connections should be inspected and renewed regularly and, where possible, they should be shielded from personnel, the valves should be mounted with the stems pointing away from the operator, and the guidelines set out in the code of practice (see Appendix 2) should be followed. 

It is necessary to consider certain general guidelines for assessing the foot, head, eye and face, and hand hazard situations that exist in an occupational or educational operation or process, and to match the protective devices to the particular hazard. It should be the responsibility of the safety officer to exercise common sense and appropriate expertise to accomplish these tasks. 

In addition signs must warn of hand hazards, not to climb over a conveyor, and lockout/tagout hazards. A means of shutting off the power to a conveyor is needed, and the switch, button, or pull cord must be accessible to workers. 

An assessment of the workplace and processes can help to identify potential health hazards. The survey, or assessment, is a requirement of OSHA and the program will be detailed in the latter part of this chapter. In the development of the PPE standard, OSHA stated that it is unaware of any gloves that provide protection against all potential hand hazards. Many commonly available gloves provide only limited protection against many chemicals. 

On the other hand, if the hazard is toxicity, process alternatives can be compared by assessing the mass of toxic material that would enter the vapor phase on release from containment, weighting the components according to their lethal concentration. 

Most of the techniques for determining risk or identifying hazards that are discussed herein require analysis by committee. The committee must be formed from individuals having specific and relevent experience to the chemical process under consideration. Furthermore, the management of this committee is paramount to the success of the project. Members must focus on the problem at hand and continue to make satisfactory progress. 

Nonwoven wipe categories include products for babies and adults, the food service and electronics industries, medical and clean room appHcations, industrial cleaning, computer diskettes, and household products such as dusters, tea towels, shoe cleaning cloths, towelettes, and hand towels. Nonwoven fabrics are used to filter air, water, petroleum (qv), food, and beverages. Nonwovens loaded with abrasives, cleansers, or finishes can be found in a variety of products used by many industries and in many homes to scour or poHsh. Also, a majority of garments designed to protect industrial workers and consumers from hazardous environments are made from nonwoven fabrics. 

Hazards of Tantalum Compounds. The toxicity of tantalum compounds depends on then solubihty. Tantalum pentoxide is poorly absorbed and nontoxic perorahy. The pentachloride, on the other hand, shows an LD q of 985 mg/Kg adrninistered peroraHy. 

Beryllium, beryllium-containing aUoys, and beryUium oxide ceramic in soHd or massive form present no hazard whatsoever (31). SoHd shapes may be safely handled with bare hands (32) however, care must be taken in the fabrication and processing of beryUium products to avoid inhalation of airborne beryUium particulate matter such as dusts, mists, or fumes in excess of the prescribed workplace exposure limits. Inhalation of fine airborne beryUium may cause chronic beryUium disease, a serious lung disease in certain sensitive individuals. However, the vast majority of people, perhaps as many as 99%, do not react to beryUium exposure at any level (33). The biomedical and environmental aspects of beryUium have been summarized (34). 

Organic compounds of bromine usually resemble their chlorine analogues but have higher densities and lower vapor pressures. The bromo compounds are more reactive toward alkaUes and metals brominated solvents should generally be kept from contact with active metals such as aluminum. On the other hand, they present less fire hazard one bromine atom per molecule reduces flammabiUty about as much as two chlorine atoms. 

Calcium metal and most calcium compounds are nontoxic. In massive pieces the metal does not spontaneously bum in air. Calcium can be touched with dry bare hands without harm. Care must be taken, however, to avoid contact with water owing to the exothermic Hberation of hydrogen and the resulting explosion hazard. Calcium must always be kept dry and preferably sealed in the shipping containers. 

Activated carbon generally presents no particular health hazard as defined by NIOSH (62). However, it is a nuisance and mild irritant with respect to inhalation, skin contact, eye exposure, and ingestion. On the other hand, special consideration must be given to the handling of spent carbon that may contain a concentration of toxic compounds. 

Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Wastes for deliveiy to a treatment or disposal facility normally are collected by the waste producer or a licensed, speciahzed hauler. Typically, the loading of collection vehicles is completed in one of two ways (1) wastes stored in large-capacity tanks are either drained or pumped into collection vehicles, and (2) wastes stored in sealed drums or other sealed containers are loaded by hand or by mechanical equipment onto flatbed trucks. To avoid accidents and possible loss of life, two collectors shoiild always be assigned when hazardous wastes are to be collected. 

A material that has a high toxicity does not necessarily present a severe toxic hazard. For example, a ton of lead arsenate spilled in a busy street is unhkely to poison members of the public just a short distance from the spiU, because it is not mobile. It could be carefully recovered and removed and would present a low risk to the gener pubhc, even though it is extremely toxic. On the other hand, a ton of liquefied chlorine spilled on the same street could become about 11,000 fF of pure gas. The IDLH for chlorine is 25 ppm. This is a concentration such that immediate action is required. Thus, the one ton of chlorine, if mixed uniformly with air, could create a cloud of considerable concern, having a volume of about 4.4 X 10 fF or a sphere 770 ft in diameter. This could quickly spread over downwind areas and... 

Combustible Dusts Dusts are particularly hazardous they have a very high surface area-to-volume ratio. When finely divided as powders or (dusts, solids burn quite differently from the original material in the bulk. Dust and fiber deposits can spread fire across a room or along a ledge or roof beam very quickly. On the other hand, accumulations of dust can smolder slowly for long periods, giving little indication that combustion has started until the fire suddenly flares up, possibly when no one suspects a problem. 

Laboratoiy procedures may need to be evaluated against the sampling techniques and materials involved in the toll. There may be new laboratoiy chemicals and hazards to be considered. This work may have been identified in the evaluation of special analytical techniques required for the process. A good practice is to ensure that the lab technicians have the necessaiy guidance and types of equipment on hand to monitor the process and waste streams accurately and safely. 

Other hand, a major study to identify the hazards associated with a large process unit (e.g., a unit with an associated capital investment of 50 million) may require 2 to 6 person-months of effort, and a complete QRA of that same unit may require 1 to 3 person-years of effort. 

For the above scales, eye protection should be worn and work should be undertaken in a standard fume-cupboard behind a well-anchored polycarbonate screen. It is advisable to wear a protective apron and hand protection whether leather gauntlets or tongs should be used will be dictated by circumstances. Such measures are recommended but it should be ensured that they do not precipitate a hazard as a result of loss of tactile sensitivity (e.g. dropping a flask, overtightening clamps, exerting excessive pressure when assembling apparatus). The material of gloves needs consideration. (PVC but not rubber is suitable for tert-butyl peroxide.)... 

Often, the immobilized product has a structural strength sufficient to prevent fracturing over time. Solidification accomplishes the objective by changing a non-solid waste material into a solid, monolithic structure that ideally will not permit liquids to percolate into or leach materials out of the mass. Stabilization, on the other hand, binds the hazardous constituents into an insoluble matrix or changes the hazardous constituent to an insoluble form. Other objectives of solidiflcation/stabilization processes are to improve handling of the waste and pri uce a stable solid (no free liquid) for subsequent use as a construction material or for landfilling. 

---