Friday, June 21, 2019

The Dangers And Safety Tips For Working With Solvent Vapors

By William Turner


Working with chemicals, even household ones, can be dangerous if you do not make sure you are following safety directions. Different products have properties that could cause them to be caustic if used or mixed improperly. The instructions that come with each product give specific details on how to best use them. Solvent vapors can occur when used and steps should be taken to be sure you are doing things in a safe manner.

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.

The longer-term risks to your health are more severe. If you are frequently exposed to unsafe environments you may develop lung and throat damage. Further exposure can risk damage to your liver or kidneys. In more severe cases, damage to the central nervous system or cancer can develop. It is really important to follow all safety protocols in order to avoid overexposure and the risks that are associated with it.

Ventilation is the first step to reducing risks to exposure. In many cases, you can open a window or door to allow more fresh air inside. If this is not possible or doesn't allow enough fresh air to circulate, you may be able to use a fan to pull in air from another room or outside. This can be dangerous if the product fumes are flammable, so be sure to check the instructions.

When ventilation is difficult to achieve, you should wear a mask. There are typical cheap masks that you can buy at any pharmacy. These are often seen by people wanting to avoid pollution. However, they are usually not strong enough to avoid vapors from solvents. Instead, you should opt for an industrial type of mask. These have filters that can be exchanged and are usually strong enough to filter stronger chemical fumes.

Do not mix chemicals unless you know what you are doing. There are some really dangerous results that happen when you mix two chemicals that should not be. Bases and acids mixed together can provide a violent reaction and create a deadly cloud of fumes. Read the product safety information and be sure you know exactly what you are doing before trying to mix two chemicals or products together.

Learn first aid steps before starting work. The first step is to move away from the work area and into a place with fresh air. If these means heading outside to get plenty of fresh air, then do so immediately upon feeling dizzy or having a headache. Have some sort of eye wash station available. There are bottle forms available that you can use if you splash something in your eyes. It comes with distilled water for cleaning your eyes. If you get chemicals on your skin, wash it off immediately. Anything that is swallowed requires immediate medical treatment. Even if first aid, you should call poison control to be sure what you need to do.

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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