General Handling Guidelines
An essential requirement of personnel protection is good personal hygiene. Workers who handle Dequest products should wear clothing dedicated to the workplace. At the end of the working shift, the operators should shower and change to normal street clothes. Special attention should be paid to contaminated uniforms, coveralls and other clothing. Separate storage facilities and laundry arrangements should be in place to prevent dispersion of any chemical contamination. Launderers should be given special instructions on handling clothing contaminated with any process chemicals.
All chemicals should be stored in such a manner as to avoid spills and contact with personnel. The following general procedures should be observed in all areas where Dequest products are used:
- Industrial grade protective goggles, gloves and clothing should be worn to avoid contact of chemicals with skin and eyes. In some cases, acid-resistant fabrics (e.g. polypropylene) should be used.
- Inhalation of dust and vapor should be avoided. Respirators should be used where needed.
- No food or drink should be taken into or consumed in working areas.
- Hands should be washed before eating, drinking, smoking or using the toilet.
- To avoid possible accidental ingestion of chemicals or ignition of flammable materials, smoking should not be allowed in a chemical handling area.
- Everyone should be familiar with eye wash facility locations and know how to use them.
- Personnel should shower at the end of the shift or day, especially if working in atmospheres containing dusts or fumes.
- Good quality, chemical-resistant safety shoes or boots be worn to prevent spillages reaching the feet.
Special Procedures for Hazardous Materials
When products requiring special attention are handled, additional procedures to those noted above are recommended:
- Wear goggles when working with eye irritants. Although many liquids are not eye irritants, safety glasses with side shields should always be worn in areas where chemicals, liquid or solid, are handled.
- If there is even the slightest possibility of an amount of liquid or solid being directed toward the face (opening a pipeline, for example), a face shield should be worn.
- For skin irritants, vinyl coated or nitrile rubber gloves should be worn. They should extend over the shirt cuff. If the forearm is normally bare, the gauntlet type of glove should be worn.
- If entry into or working in a dusty area is required, a suitable dust mask or, preferably, a full, air purifying or self-contained respirator should be worn.
- If liquid products are being handled regularly, it is advisable to wear special, impermeable protective clothing. Impermeable aprons are not considered sufficient when handling volumes in excess of one liter.