CHEMICAL SAFETY - Injury Response Facilities at Work

INJURY RESPONSE FACILITIES AT WORK

By Faudzil Harun



Emergency Shower and Eye Wash

Fisr 10 to 15 seconds after exposure to a hazardous substance, especially a corrosive substance are critical. 

Delaying treatment, even for a few seconds may cause serious injury.
Emergency showers and eye wash should be installed nearest to the person at risk (within 50 ft and 10 ft for strong acids and caustics).

Flushing Fluid

In the absence of emergency showers or emergency eye wash station, use  portable container containing :

●  Preserved buffered saline solution; or●  Other medically acceptable solution; or
●  Preserved water; or

    

Antidotes

The purpose of antidotes is to prevent or to slow down the absorption of chemical through the stomach. Universal antidote is a mixture of tannic acid, magnesium oxide and activated charcoal.

Recommended antidotes are :

●  Activated charcoal.

●  Milk

Swallow up to 10 times the weight of the ingested chemical.

First Aid

Employee working with chemical must be given approriate first-aid training.
Refer to MSDS and draw out the emergency response procedures.
Drill the emergency response procedures from time to time.

Recommended Flushing or Rinsing Duration
(after contact with hazardous materials)

5 minutes for mild irritants
20 minutes for moderate to severe irritants
20 minutes for non-penetrating corrosive
60 minutes for penetrating corrosive

If accidental ingestion occurs : 

●  Do not induce vomiting.
●  Dilution of ingested chemical with a small amount of water (240-300ml) 
    followed by dilution with milk is recommended.
●  Refer to medical attention immediately.