Choosing Chemicals Can Be a Deadly
Decision
On August
21, 2015, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reported that
“exposure to hydrofluoric acid (HF) causes corrosive chemical burns and
potentially fatal systemic toxicity.” They referred to examples in Washington
State where “during 2001-2013 there was a fatality associated with a truck wash
worker who ingested the substance, along with 48 occupational cases. Among
those injured, seven were hospitalized, two required surgery.”
Is this
information really significant for car washers? Here are some of the headlines
that were circulating a few days after the report was released:
· The NY Times - Car wash chemical
dangerous to workers
· The Spokesman-Review - Car wash
chemical a danger to workers
· Kurt Niland - CDC finds High Rate Of
Chemical burns Among Carwash Workers
· Business Examiner Media Group -
Workers burned by car wash chemicals
There is a
common theme in all of these headlines; they all refer to car washes! However,
if you read the report, it also names truck drivers, auto detailers and truck
washes. But what industry did the media pick up on? Car washes.
Most of us
know this is not a new topic. Much has been written over the years about HF and
ABF (Ammonium bifluoride). Both of these chemicals are very dangerous, causing many
car wash owners to discontinue using these products. Unfortunately these chemicals still exists in the industry for cleaning wheels and tunnel
walls.
Here are a
few reminders of what to be aware of when handling these products:
· Skin contact is often undetected
until after the injury has occurred, since the chemicals tend to penetrate the
skin quickly and attacks the bones. This delays any sense of pain, giving the
effected worker the illusion that nothing is wrong. By the time they feel the consequences of
being exposed to the chemical, the damage has already occurred.
· If HF is used in a spray form, it can
be accidently ingested and can cause internal burns.
· An alert circulated by the Oregon
OSHA division in May of 2013 stated that “an HF burn covering less than two
percent of your body can kill you.”
There are a
few precautions you can take if you are using HF or similar chemicals:
· Train all employees regarding the
hazards associated with these chemicals
· Wear goggles and face shields (not
glasses)
· Wear an apron approved for use with
corrosive chemicals
· Wear neoprene and nitrile gloves
· Wear appropriate shoes (no sneakers)
· Use engineering and administrative
controls to limit exposure
· Consider using equally effective alternative products for HF
and ABF
Some first
aid ideas if someone comes in contact with these chemicals:
·
In
the event an employee’s skin is exposed, immediately apply 15 minutes of
continuous water flow to the affected area.
·
As
soon as possible, transport the exposed employee to a medical facility. Be sure
to take a copy of the MSDS/SDS document with you.
·
If
you have a trained first aid person available, they should apply calcium
gluconate gel for skin burns. This should help limit the tissue damage. If the
injury is eye related, they can also apply sterile one percent calcium
gluconate in saline drops.
After
reading this blog, many may believe that they don’t have this exposure. I
implore you to be sure you read every chemical label to be sure you know
exactly what you’re up against. Some years ago, I did a survey at a car wash
and found an unmarked pail sitting in the car wash tunnel. The manager
explained that they used this cleaner for the wash tunnel walls. We found the
original pail that the chemical came from and it was labeled simply, wall
cleaner. After reading the label more carefully we learned it had HF as an
ingredient. The manager was shocked!
There is no
doubt that these chemicals are great cleaning products at the wash. They’re
also the most deadly! Don’t sacrifice your employees’ safety; make the smart
decision and look for alternatives. Finally, be sure to read all chemical
labels and avoid unwelcomed surprises. Your chemical suppliers are a great
reference, make sure you use them!
For
reference, these are the new pictograms you should be looking out for:
Remember, A Safe Wash Protects People and Profits!
