28
Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan ([email protected] , 1-2509) Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan ([email protected], 1-2509)[email protected] Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Health hazards in the ME labs

Anca Bejan ([email protected], 1-2509)

Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Page 2: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Outline

Routes of exposure Exposure control Limits of exposure Epoxy resins/systems Fiberglass Personal Protective Equipment selection Respirator use at VT

Page 3: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Routes of exposure

Inhalation Ingestion Skin/eye contact

Page 4: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Exposure controls

Engineering controls (ventilation, enclosures, substitution of material)

Administrative controls (work practices)

Personal Protective Equipment (eye protection, gloves, foot protection, respirators)

Page 5: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Exposure limits

Are there any “safe” limits of exposure? YES Susceptibility to effects also depends on: pre-existing medical

conditions, age, gender, lifestyle choices, genetic factors, medications, physical exertion, etc.

OSHA – enforcement (most limits are from early 1970s) ACGIH, AIHA, NIOSH – recommended limits based on most

recent studies on animal or human health effects Limits are set as 8 h TWA, 15 min TWA, Ceiling (ppm, mg/m3) Excursion limits Limits are intended to protect “nearly all workers” from adverse

health effects while working 40 h weeks for about 40 years

Page 6: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Health effects

Adverse health effects Acute (immediate or delayed reaction) Chronic

Nature and intensity of effects depends on: Intensity of exposure Duration of exposure Type of exposure Health condition Additive effect, chemical mixtures, etc

Page 7: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Determining contaminant concentration in air

Personal sampling Pumps Specific filters Sampling tubes Clorimetric tubes Portable instruments

Page 8: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Determining contaminant concentration in air

Your nose is NOT a reliable instrument Olfactory fatigue Odor treshold vs PEL, STEL, Ceiling

Acetone: 16-600 ppm (OSHA PEL: 1000 ppm ACGIH TLV: 500 ppm)

Styrene: 0.04-0.32 ppm (PEL: 100 ppm, TLV: 20 ppm)

Methylene Chloride: 25-320 ppm (PEL: 25 ppm, STEL: 125 ppm, TLV: 50 ppm)

Fiberglass: no OT; TLV: 0.1 f/cc

Page 9: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Epoxy systems

Used in composite materials Cure at room temperature Have two parts: epoxy resin and curing agent Epoxy resin: epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A Curing agent: a combination of amine

compounds

Page 10: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Epoxy systems

Page 11: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Epoxy systems- Health effects of the components

Epichlorohydrin- skin sensitizer, URT irritant, affects male reproductive system; known animal carcinogen

Bisphenol A- endocrine disruptor

Amines- may induce asthma and URT sensitization; some are carcinogens

Solvents- 2 ethoxyethanol (EGEE) and 2- methoxyethanol (EGME) affect the male reproductive system and may produce embrio/fetal damage

Solvents- affect CNS and PNS

Page 12: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Epoxy use in the WARE lab

MAS Epoxies

www.masepoxies.com, look for MSDS info

Page 13: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Contains information about chemical composition of the product,

hazard information, first aid measures, storage, handling and PPE requirements, fire fighting measures, accidental release measures, etc.

Every product used in the WARE lab must have an MSDS on file

YOU MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THE MSDSs OF THE PRODUCTS YOU ARE USING!!!

KNOW WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE LAB AND HAVE A COPY WITH YOU IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL

Page 14: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

MAS- Low viscosity epoxy resin

Page 15: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

MAS -resin

So what is the chemical composition of this resin?

- DGE-BPA (diglycidyl ether of bis-phenol A)

- Novolak - Two-step resins made by reacting epichlorohydrin with phenol formaldehyde condensates (has more than just 2 groups of epoxy per molecule) (http://composite.about.com/library/glossary/e/bldef-e2003.htm)

- epoxy diluents (solvents)

Page 16: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

MAS- medium hardener

Page 17: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

More info

Page 18: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Working safely with epoxy resins

A. Avoid all direct skin contact with resin, hardeners and mixed epoxy by wearing gloves and other clothing. Clean any uncured epoxy off the skin with waterless soap immediately after contact. NEVER use solvents to remove epoxy from the skin. Always wash thoroughly with soap and water immediately after contact.

B. Protect your eyes by wearing protective eye wear. If contact should occur, flush eyes immediately with running water for 15 minutes. If discomfort continues, seek medical attention.

C. Avoid breathing vapors. Use epoxy only in areas with good ventilation. In small areas, be careful have a supply of fresh air and to exhaust any fumes. Wear a respirator with an organic vapor cartridge. Wear a dust mask when you sand the epoxy. If it has cured for less than a week, use a respirator with the organic vapor in combination with a dust pre-filter.

D. Avoid ingestion. Wash thoroughly after each use and especially before eating or drinking.

http://masepoxies.com/mas8.htm

Page 19: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Fiberglass

Used as filler (fibers of different sizes and composition)

Used as woven material

Page 20: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Fiberglass exposure

Occurs when the fibers become airborne: Sanding Polishing Shearing/cutting Mixing

Routes of exposure: inhalation, skin/eye contact, ingestion

Page 21: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Fiberglass-health effects

Depend on the physical dimensions and composition of the fiber (in addition to the factors mentioned previously)

Irritation and infection of nasal mucuous membrane Lung fibrosis Skin irritation

Page 22: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Exposure control

Use appropriate ventilation!

Do NOT dry sweep. Vacuum or wet the dust before cleaning!

Page 23: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Exposure control

Always use gloves Wear long sleeves shirts, long pants and

shoes (NO sandals) Do NOT take contamination home!!

Always wash hands and face before leaving Change in “work clothes” when you are in the lab When taking them home use a closed bag Launder them separately

Page 24: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

What kind of gloves?

Very few gloves are suitable for use with all the chemicals you might encounter in the lab

Know where to find info about the right kind of glove (MSDS, glove manufacturer charts, etc)

Epoxy – manufacturer recommends neoprene glove Acetone – butyl glove ONLY Disposable latex gloves are NOT intended for

protection against chemicals and may induce sensitization to the latex protein

Page 25: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Glove selection chart

Page 26: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Respirators

Recommended ONLY when engineering and administrative controls are not sufficient to minimize exposure

Last line of defense Can be a health hazard to the user Have several limitations that must be understood BEFORE

you decide to wear them Do NOT fit everybody, don’t work with beards, and don’t

work at all if you are using an inappropriate filter ALWAYS consult with EHSS before you purchase ANY dust

mask or cartridge respirator

Page 27: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Respirators

Page 28: Health hazards in the ME labs Anca Bejan (ab4@vt.edu, 1-2509)ab4@vt.edu Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Where can I find more info?

- Manufacturer websites- www.osha.gov- http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/- http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html- http://www.iarc.fr/- http://www.bestglove.com/- http://www.ansell.com- VT EHSS : www.ehss.vt.edu