Friday, July 12, 2019

The Dangers And Safety Tips For Working With Solvent Vapors

By William Turner


Household and industrial chemicals can be dangerous if handled incorrectly or you do not follow the safety instructions included with the product. There are different properties with each chemical that can make them caustic when used or mixed in the wrong way. There are important pieces of information that come with the bottles or containers that should be read before using them. One big issue that needs to be understood, is how to deal with solvent vapors.

Short term health risks can occur. These usually start with a headache or dizziness. As more exposure occurs, you may develop nausea and vomit. Other symptoms include irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. A skin rash or burning sensation may develop if some spilled on your skin.

Long term health risks are more severe. These can easily lead to permanent damage. Such issues include throat and lung damage. Others will damage the liver and kidneys. Severe exposure can also lead to issues with the central nervous system and possibly cancer. Following safety precautions is absolutely critical if you work in a field where you are often exposed to solvents and other chemicals.

The first step to reducing the fumes is to provide the workspace with ventilation. Start by opening a window or door to let in more fresh air. If you are in an area that does not have that option, seek other ways to get air into the room. Using a fan, if the product fumes are not flammable, can be a good way to pull in air from a different area. In a closed in area, the fumes are likely to build up and increase the risk as they are used.

Masks should be worn to avoid breathing in the toxic fumes. The paper masks that are found in pharmacies are not enough to do the job. You need to get an industrial or paint mask that is designed with replaceable filters. This will help prevent the fumes from entering your lungs. Wearing a cloth or cheap mask is not a valid solution and will only increase the risk by making you think you are being properly protected. The mask should be checked to make sure it provides the correct rating on filtration.

Mixing products can be dangerous. If you are not sure what you are doing, do not mix products. This includes spraying one product on top of another before the first is washed away. Bases and acids do not mix and very dangerous fumes will occur. Before you mix anything, read the directions and safety sheet to be sure you are doing it correctly and at the right levels. When in doubt, simply do not mix chemicals.

First aid procedures should be learned before you work with any chemicals. Make sure you can move away from the work area and get fresh air the moment you feel dizzy or have a headache. This is an early warning sign that you are inhaling too many fumes. If you do not have an eyewash station, you can buy a portable eyewash bottle that comes premade with distilled water. If you get anything on your skin, be sure to wash it as quickly as possible. If you swallow anything, you need to contact poison control immediately and be prepared to seek professional medical assistance. Ingesting chemicals is very dangerous, so move quickly.

Being safe around solvents and other chemicals is critical whether you are mopping your floors or performing an industrial level chemical cleaning process on large equipment. Regardless of the situation, these can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Products and chemicals are required to come with safety information. Be sure to read it before starting any work.




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