Health and Safety at Water Treatment Facilities June 17, 2015 David P. Horowitz, P.E., CSP (@dphorowitz)
Jul 29, 2015
Health and Safety at Water Treatment Facilities
June 17, 2015
David P. Horowitz, P.E., CSP (@dphorowitz)
■ Health & Safety– OSHA Top 10
■ Globally Harmonized System– Changes
– Implementation Dates
■ General Water Treatment Plant Hazards
Safety Takeaways
■ Watch for common issues!
■ Watch your staff & contractors
■ Management of change
– Safety Data Sheets
■ The most frequent injuries in water treatment facilities are:
a. Cuts and bruises
b. Explosive and toxic gases
c. Slips and falls
d. Strains and Sprains
e. None of the above
I’m from OSHA. I’m here to help.
#10 Electrical – Systems Design
■ Electrical design■ Arc Flash (NFPA 70E)
System specific evaluations
■ Proposed equipment■ Existing equipment
■ PPE
#9 Machine Guarding
■ Engineered or structural fixes
■ Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)
#8 Electrical - Wiring■ Permanent■ Temporary
#7 Ladders - CONSTRUCTION
■ Design considerations■ Milestone Observation
#6 Lockout / Tagout
■ System specific evaluation
■ Comprehensive energy source understanding
#5 Powered Industrial Trucks
■ PIVs■ Hoisting requirements
#4 Respiratory Protection
■ Engineer out, if possible■ Written Plan
■ Baseline physical■ Medical surveillance■ Fit testing
#3 Scaffolding - CONSTRUCTION
■ Design considerations■ Milestone Observation
#2 Hazard Communication
■ Globally Harmonized System
■ Risk Management Planning– Chlorine Gas = >2,500 Lbs
#1 Fall Protection - CONSTRUCTION
■ Design considerations■ Milestone Observation
■ The most frequent safety hazard from the use of polymers is:
A. Attack on many types of stainless steel
B. Cause of severe burns and blindness
C. Evolution of a toxic gas
D. Extreme slipping hazard when spilled on surfaces
E. The boss scrutinizing chemical costs
Global Harmonized SystemMajor Changes
■ Training and implementation■ Hazard classification■ Labels and warnings■ Standard Safety Data Sheets
OSHA Video - GHS
■ The goal of GHS■ Label elements and GHS pictograms■ Labeling components■ Possible sources of confusion
Major ChangesThe Basics
■ Hazard classification■ Labels and warnings■ Standard Safety Data Sheets■ Training and implementation
Effective Completion Date Requirement(s) Who
December 1, 2013 Training•New Label Elements•Safety Data Sheets
Employers
June 1, 2015 Manufacturer full complianceHAZCOM plans updated
Chemical ManufacturersEmployers
December 1, 2015 Distribution Prohibitions for non GHS labels
Chemical Manufacturers, Importers and Distributors
June 1, 2016 Updates to program and training based on new hazard classifications
Employers
Physical Hazard Health Hazard
HAZARD TYPES
■ Physical– Unstable Chemicals (Water Reactive)
– Flammables or Combustibles
– Explosives
– Stored at High Pressures
– Thermal Effects
■ Health– Acute– Chronic– Latency Period
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
■ May Cause Injury by Physical Action
■ Burns: Flammables, Combustibles
■ Pressure: Compressed Gasses
■ Explosions: Explosives, Reactives
Hazard Classifications
Physical Hazards
Hazard Classifications
Physical Hazards
EXAMPLES: PHYSICAL HAZARDS
■ Flammable
■ Explosive
■ Oxidizer
■ Pyrophoric
■ Unstable (Reactive)
■ Water Reactive
EXPLOSIVE
■ Sudden Release Of:– Pressure– Gas– Heat
■ When Exposed To:– Sudden Shock– Pressure– High Temperature
■ BLEVE: Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion
OXIDIZER■ Reacts With Organic Material
■ Releases Oxygen
■ Promotes Combustion
Sodium Hypochlorite
Oxygen
UNSTABLE (REACTIVE)
■ Unwanted Chemical Change During Normal Handling
■ May Generate– Heat– Pressure– Polymerization
■ Can Create– Fires– Explosions
WATER REACTIVE
■ Presence of Water
■ Forms a Gas That Is:– Flammable
– Toxic
Flash point 140°F - 200°F4
Flash point 73°F - 140°F3
Flash point < 73°F Boiling point > 95°F
2
Flash point < 73°F Boiling point 95°F
1
CriteriaCategory
Flammable Liquid Categories
Possibility for Confusion?Flashpoint
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200
NFPA / OSHA Flammable Combustible
NFPA 704 Diamond 4 3 2
EPA / DOT Flammable Combustible
GHS 1 or 2 3 4
Signal Word Danger Danger Warning
Hazard Statement
Extremely flammable liquid and vapor
Highly flammable liquid and vapor
Flammable liquid and vapor Combustible liquid
Pictogram Nothing
HEALTH HAZARDS
■ Acute– Immediate Effects
■ Chronic– Effects May Build Over Time– May Be Latency Before Recognized Effects
■ Latency Period– Period Between Exposure and Exposure Effects
Hazard Classifications
HealthHazards
Hazard Classifications
HealthHazards
ACUTE EXPOSURE / EFFECTS
■ Example: Acids
■ Body Recognizes on Immediate Exposure■ Can Get Prompt Medical Attention
CORROSIVE■ A Hazardous Material That
Causes Visible Destruction Of, or Irreversible Alteration in Living Tissue at the Site of Contact
Sodium Hypochlorite
Peracetic Acid
Acutely Toxic – Low Hazard■ Acutely
– Effects are “immediate”■ Toxic
– Chemical that causes harmful effects
– To target organ(s)– Effects are different
depending on target organ
■ May be Systemic– Affects almost all target
organs
Acutely Toxic - Irritant■ A Hazardous Material That Causes a Reversible
Inflammatory Effect on Living Tissue by Chemical Action at the Site of Contact
Isopropyl alcohol
Acutely Toxic – Sensitizer
■ A Hazardous Material That Causes a Percentage of the Exposed Group to Develop an Allergic Reaction After Repeated Exposure
Methyl methacrylate
Acutely Toxic – High Hazard
■ Acutely– Effects are “immediate”
■ Toxic– Chemical that causes
harmful effects– To target organ(s)– Effects are different
depending on target organ
■ High Hazards– Effects are significant– May be immediately life
threatening Ammonia
Chronic Toxic Effects■ Examples
– Carcinogens– Teratogens– Reproductive toxins
■ Health effects– Vary with chemical– Affect target organ– May not show up for
years after overexposure
How to really confuse people
Turn this
Into this
Safety Data Sheets
■ Prescriptive requirements■ Sections must be consistent■ Information dictated by GHS guidance
Conclusion
■ HAZCOM is adopting GHS■ Broad applicability – everybody is “in”■ Lots to do
– Training on GHS elements– Plans and programs need to be revised– SDS need to be developed– New labels need to be designed and implemented
Safety Issues for Water Operators■ Confined Space
– Monitoring– Definition– PRCS– Procedures
■ Lockout/Tagout– Energy Control procedures– Locks & tags– Electrical exposure
■ Fire Safety/Extinguishers– A-comb; B-electrical; C-chemical– Safe storage of flammables
■ Safe Lifting– Sizing up the lift– Back braces– Two person lifts– Lifting aids (hoists)
■ Hazard Communication– Hazard types: physical/health– Health hazards: acute/chronic– NFPA 704/HMIS– MSDS
■ Chemical Safety Information– Caustics: corrosivity– Always add acid to water– Good ventilation
Safety Issues for Water Operators■ Machine Guarding
– Power transmission– Guards & blocks
■ Walking/Working Surfaces– Housekeeping– Oils– Caustics– Ice– Ladders– Fall safety
■ Chemical Monitoring– Instruments– O2 deficiency– Combustible gas indicator– H2S
■ PPE– Safety glasses: a must!– Gloves: compatible material– Respirators– Hearing protection– Eyewashes/Showers
Safety Issues for Water Operators■ Emergency Preparedness
– Emergency action plan– Take care of yourself first– Call postings– Evacuation procedures– Buddy system
■ Accident Prevention– Signs: caution, warning, danger– Labeling containers & tanks– Pipe colors
Safety Takeaways
■ Watch for common issues!
■ Watch your staff & contractors
■ Management of change
– Safety Data Sheets
Questions
David P. Horowitz, P.E., CSP
Tighe & Bond53 Southampton Rd.Westfield, MA 01085
Tighe & Bond
177 Corporate DrivePortsmouth, NH 03801
603-433-8818 l
446 Main StreetWorcester, MA 01605
508-754-2201 l
4 Barlows Landing Road, Unit #18Pocasset, MA 02559
508-564-7285 l
213 Court Street, Suite 900Middletown, CT 06457
860-704-4760 l
1000 Bridgeport AvenueShelton, CT 06484
203-712-1100