Spotlight on Safety
Quarterly Newsletter for Safety and Loss Prevention
Summer 2003, Vol. 5; No. 2
Summer...
In this issue of Spotlight on Safety, you will find articles pertaining
to MSDS's, bloodborne pathogens, and tips for flying.
Whether you work in construction, a kitchen, or in an office, you likely work with many hazardous chemicals each day. All chemicals have their own unique risks and all persons should be familiar about the chemicals with which they work. Understanding the hazards of chemicals helps you take the proper actions to protect against sickness and injury.
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is designed to provide both workers and emergency personnel with the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular chemical. MSDS's include information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill/leak procedures.
There are several places you can get MSDS's
• The chemical manufacturer provides MSDS's every time a new chemical is purchased. They may not be provided on subsequent orders, unless the company changes the material, or the information on the MSDS.
• Your laboratory or workplace should have a collection
of MSDS's that came with the hazardous chemicals you have ordered.
Store them in a place accessible to all personnel.
• Most universities and businesses have a collection somewhere
on site. The Safety and Environmental Health Office maintains
a complete list of MSDS's for the University. Some organizations
use commercial services to obtain printed, fax, or on-line copies
of MSDS's.
• The Internet has a wide range of free resources
Bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and bodily fluids and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – the virus that causes AIDS.
To protect yourself, always assume that any blood or bodily fluid you come across is infected. Do not handle any material which is visibly contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials, unless you have been properly trained and are using appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves.
Many bloodborne pathogen exposures are the result of injuries involving sharps. Sharps are any object capable of penetrating the skin, including, but not limited to: needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, razor blades, saw blades, and exposed ends of dental wires. In addition to the obvious physical injuries that can result from sharps, other hazardous exposures include:
• Percutaneous innoculation/puncture with blood or body
fluid by a sharp instrument or sharp needle.
• Contact with blood or body fluid through fresh (less than
24 hours) cut or mucous membrane contact (e.g. splash to the eye
or mouth, or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation).
• Skin exposure involving large amounts of blood or prolonged
contact with blood, especially when the exposed skin is chapped,
abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis.
Dispose of sharps in impervious, puncture resistant, rigid containers to eliminate the potential of physical injury. Label all sharps containers that are disposed of in building waste receptacles (e.g., broken glass, sharps, etc.). It is each department's responsibility to assure that sharps are not put into the regular garbage, or other regular waste receptacles in a loose or unprotected state.
When the disposal of sharps is complicated by the presence of radioactive, hazardous chemical, or biohazardous contamination, the proper disposal steps for each must be taken once the sharps have been placed in the proper container and labeled. Sharps containers contaminated with radioactive, hazardous, chemical, or biohazardous materials must be labeled with the appropriate hazard symbol (e.g., radioactive, biohazardous, corrosive, etc.).
After regulated infectious wastes have been separated from
other wastes, they must be either incinerated or disinfected before
disposal. Residue remaining after disinfection can be discarded
in the regular trash once hazard labels have been defaced or removed.
If you or one of your employees is exposed to bloodborne or other
infectious pathogens, by a needle stick or other exposure, it
is necessary to seek medical attention within one-two hours so
that treatment is instituted within a time frame that increases
effectiveness. Report the incident to your supervisor as soon
as it is possible, and fill out the appropriate paperwork.
For further information on the disposal of sharps, please contact the Safety and Environmental Health Office at 777-3341.
Air travel in commercial aircraft is fast, convenient, and safe with the vast majority of passengers reaching near and distant destinations safely and without harmful health effects. However, the aircraft environment and travel related factors can cause certain stresses on the traveler, and here are several tips that can make travel more enjoyable.
• Stay adequately hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids such as water and juice, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Try to avoid heavy carry on baggage. This can lead to excess fatigue by the time you finally reach your destination point.
• Use both arms when retrieving items from overhead storage areas. This will help avoid muscle strains and sprains.
• Take care of your skin. Applying moisturizers to the face and hands will prevent skin dehydration.
• To relieve pressure in the ears do one of the following: chew gum, hold a piece of candy in your mouth, repeatedly yawn, or swallow.
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes while traveling. Avoid high heels and tight clothing. To promote good circulation, avoid sitting with legs crossed.
• After takeoff, reset your watch to reflect the time zone of your destination. To help prevent problems with jet lag, try to adjust eating and sleeping patterns according to the new time zone.
• Breathe in slowly and deeply throughout your trip. Slowly breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. This will help with relaxation.
• Even if the seat belt sign is off, keep your belt fastened
at all times when you are seated.
Safety and Environmental Health Office
Box 9031
Grand Forks, ND 58202
Phone: (701)777-3341
Fax: (701)777-4132