Safety Checklist for TPL Chemicals

Transcription

1 Recmmendatins fr Preventing Pl Chemical Assciated Injuries Chemicals are added t pl * water t kill disease-causing germs, maximize the efficacy f the disinfectin prcess (e.g., ph cntrl), imprve water quality, stp crrsin and scaling f equipment, and prtect against algal grwth. Hwever, pl chemicals can als lead t injury when mixed tgether r apprpriate persnal prtective equipment is nt used during handling. The fllwing recmmendatins are based n a review f reprts f pl chemical assciated injuries. Design f Chemical Strage Area and Pump Rm Cnstructin Include spill cntainment features, als knwn as secndary cntainment, in chemical strage areas t prevent pl chemical leaks r spills frm mixing with any ther substances. Prvide aquatics staff and patrns with easily accessible safety shwers, eye wash statins, and ther apprpriate chemical safety equipment. Install apprpriate fire suppressin equipment. Cnsult with lcal fire department r cde enfrcement agency fr guidance. Prvide adequate lighting fr reading labels n cntainers thrughut the chemical strage area and pump rm. Air handling (fr indr pls) Fllw lcal building cdes and/r American Sciety f Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Cnditining Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards. Separate the air handling systems fr the chemical strage area and pump rm frm the rest f the building. Separate the air handling system fr the pl area frm the rest f the building. If an lder aquatic facility des nt have separate air handling systems fr the chemical strage area and pump rm as well as the pl area, cnsider installing emergency heating, ventilating, and air cnditining (HVAC) cutffs in these areas. Ensure that the chemical strage area and pump rm as well as the pl area are wellventilated. Ventilate the chemical strage area, pump rm, and pl area t the utside. Engineering Install an alarm t alert the aquatics staff if the recirculatin pump shuts dwn. Install a device that autmatically deactivates the chlrine/ph feed pumps when there is n flw in the recirculatin system. Install check valves in chemical feed lines. These valves allw chemicals (liquid r gas) t flw thrugh nly in ne directin and stp suctin events frm causing an verfeeding f chemicals. * T limit the length f this dcument, the wrd pl will be used t refer t all treated recreatinal water venues. Treated recreatinal water venues include but are nt limited t pls, water parks, spas, and interactive funtains. Yder JS, Hlavsa MC, Craun GF et al. Surveillance f Waterbrne Disease and Outbreaks Assciated with Recreatinal Water Use and Other Aquatic Facility Assciated Health Events United States MMWR 2008; 57(SS-9):1 38. Fr additinal infrmatin pl chemical assciated health events, visit 1

2 Security Secure the chemical strage area and pump rm t limit access, especially t children and animals. Prvide lcking mechanisms fr the chemical cntrller t prevent unauthrized tampering. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) Ensure availability f and easy access t up-t-date MSDSs near (e.g., in the hallway just utside f) the chemical strage area, pump rm, pl area, and any ther lcatin pl chemicals are stred r used. Ensure availability f and easy access t up-t-date MSDSs at a lcatin ther than thse listed abve in case f chemical spill r accident that wuld prevent access. Persnal prtective equipment (PPE) (e.g., safety glasses r glves) Ensure availability f and easy access t PPE near (e.g., in the hallway just utside f) the chemical strage area, pump rm, pl area, and any ther lcatin pl chemicals are stred r used. Chemical Strage Stre pl chemicals in cmpliance with lcal r state building and fire cdes. Stre pl chemicals belw 95 F/35 C and in cnditins recmmended by the manufacturer (e.g., lw humidity and ut f direct sunlight). Prtect stred pl chemicals frm getting wet. D nt stre cntainers f any pl chemical directly n the flr. Stre pl chemicals away frm drs and windws. Cver pened cntainers with waterprf material. Check the chemical strage area regularly fr any evidence f water entry and fix any identified prblems immediately. Ptential rutes f water entry include rfs, ceilings, windws (particularly if they are pen r brken), drs, walls, wall/flr jints, water pipes/hses, sprinkler systems, drains (particularly if they are faulty r clgged). Prtect individual stred chemicals frm mixing tgether r with ther substances. Stre each pl chemical separately. Separate all chlrine prducts frm ne anther (e.g., liquid chlrine, calcium hypchlrite, and stabilized chlrine prducts such as dichlr r trichlr). Stre nly identical chemicals abve r belw each ther (e.g., d nt stack incmpatible chemicals tgether). This is particularly imprtant fr liquid chemicals, which can leak and then mix with ther pl chemicals r substances stred belw. Dedicate a strage lcatin t each pl chemical (e.g., chlrine and acid). Changing chemical strage lcatins can lead t chemical-mixing errrs. D NOT stre pl chemicals with incmpatible r flammable materials, which include but are nt limited t gasline, il, grease, fertilizer, herbicides, paint, slvents (e.g., turpentine), ily rags, and alchl. Clean the strage area, pump rm, pl deck, chemical safety equipment and adjacent envirnmental surfaces nly with chemicals that are cmpatible with pl chemicals. Stre chemicals in riginal manufacturer s labeled cntainers. Cnsult with the chemical manufacturer if the cntainer is damaged. Dispse f deterirating r unwanted pl chemicals r chemicals in unlabeled cntainers. Cntact the prduct s manufacturer r the lcal r state hazardus materials grup fr prper dispsal prcedures fr deterirating r unwanted pl chemicals. 2

3 Cntact the lcal r state hazardus materials grup fr prper dispsal prcedures fr chemicals in unlabeled cntainers. Prtect pl chemicals frm heat surces and flames. D NOT stre pssible ignitin surces (e.g., welding equipment), especially gasline-, diesel-, r gas-pwered equipment (e.g., lawn mwers, mtrs, grills, r prtable stves) in the chemical strage area. D NOT smke in the chemical strage area. Priritize gd husekeeping in the chemical strage area. D NOT allw rags, trash, debris, etc. t cllect in the area. Limit stred supplies f chemicals by having frequent, regular deliveries. Rtate inventry n a first-in, first-ut basis. Stre and cnsume fd and beverages away frm chemical strage area. Chemical Handling Limit the authrity t handle pl chemicals t thse wh have been trained in safe chemical strage and handling practices. Give nly peple trained in chemical handling the respnsibilities f rdering, accepting delivery, and stcking f pl chemicals. Maintain gd cmmunicatin amng trained peple with the authrity t handle pl chemicals. Establish a chain f cmmand amng them. Dcument the use f pl chemicals (e.g., keep recrds n the name f chemical added, the reasn why it was added, the date and time it was added, and the amunt added). Pst instructins n safe chemical handling practices in the chemical strage area and pump rm. These messages shuld include: Read prduct labels r MSDSs. Cntact supplier r manufacturer if additinal infrmatin is needed. Use nly pl chemicals in riginal manufacturer s labeled cntainers. Never guess the identity f unlabeled chemicals. If a chemical is in an unlabeled cntainer, d NOT use it. Read the prduct name and directins befre each use. D NOT simply rely n the cntainer s shape, size, r clr t identify its cntents. Use apprpriate PPE when handling pl chemicals. Check the MSDSs t determine which PPE (e.g., safety glasses r glves) is needed. Keep children and animals away frm the area when handling pl chemicals. D NOT smke while handling pl chemicals. Use cautin when pening cntainers t avid splashing them and generating dust (e.g., minimize the amunt f dust generated when handling pwdered r granular prducts). D NOT mix individual pl chemicals tgether r with any ther substances. D NOT mix different types f chlrine prducts. D NOT mix ld and fresh chemicals, even if they are the same prduct. Dedicate equipment such as scps, buckets, crcks, and their lids t ne pl chemical. D NOT use this equipment fr any ther chemical. Label the equipment t indicate t which chemical it is dedicated. Use nly dry equipment (e.g., scps) when handling chemicals. D NOT pre-disslve slid pl chemicals r dilute liquid pl chemicals befre use. Add individual pl chemicals t water, never the reverse. Clse cntainers prperly after each use. Wash hands after wrking with pl chemicals. 3

4 Respnd t pl chemical spills immediately. Fllw the emergency respnse plan. Never put spilled chemicals back in the riginal cntainer because they might be cntaminated with substances such as dirt r grease. Use separate, dedicated materials t clean up and apprpriately dispse f each spilled chemical. D NOT pur spilled chemicals dwn the drain r sewer. Maintenance and Repair Clse the pl t swimmers if the recirculatin system is nt running. D NOT allw swimmers back int the pl until AFTER the recirculatin system is restarted (if water quality meets required standards). Clse the pl t swimmers befre servicing the chlrine/ph cntrl feed r recirculatin system. D NOT allw swimmers back in the pl until AFTER the chlrine/ph cntrl feed r recirculatin system is restarted (if water quality meets required standards). Turn ff bth the chlrine/ph cntrl feed and recirculatin systems befre servicing either system. Ensure that nly prperly trained peple service chlrine/ph cntrl feed and recirculatin systems. Ensure adequate ventilatin in and arund the pump rm and pl area during maintenance and repair. Use apprpriate PPE when wrking n equipment that cntains r circulates pl chemicals. Develp and fllw prtcls fr the maintenance f the chlrine/ph cntrl feed system that will prevent mixing f different pl chemicals. Examples f prcedures include Clamp the chemical feed lines after turning the pumps ff and befre discnnecting lines t prevent spills. Flush water thrugh the chlrine feed tubing befre cleaning it with acid. Flush the chlrine tubing with water again after the cleaning is cmpleted and befre recnnecting it t the chlrine feed system. Fllw these steps in an area where pl chemicals ther than acid (e.g., chlrine prducts) are neither stred nr used. Mnitr the cleaning prcesses, especially if chemicals can ptentially mix. Never leave cleaning prcesses unattended. Ensure the same persn r peple cmplete maintenance prcedures, if pssible. Cmmunicate clearly t the replacement staff member(s) if this is nt pssible. Issues t be discussed with replacement staff include Why the prcedure(s) is/are being dne, the stage f maintenance r repair, anticipated prblems, and needed actins. Maintain the chlrine/ph cntrl feed and recirculatin systems accrding t manufacturer s guidelines. Set up a preventive maintenance prgram and regularly replace equipment r parts befre they fail (e.g., check fr leaks in feed pump tubing, replace tubing regularly, and check clamps and check valves). Pl Chemical Training fr Aquatic Facility Staff Train all staff in pl chemical safety basics (e.g., emergency respnse prcedures). Prvide additinal training t staff wrking with pl chemicals. Include at least the fllwing tpics in pl peratr training/certificatin t decrease the likelihd f pl chemical assciated injuries in aquatic facility staff and patrns: Impact f each pl chemical n the water s chemistry and the mnitring systems, 4

5 If the test kit s limit is exceeded, hw t measure higher chlrine levels (e.g., using dilutin r higher range test strips). Layut f a safe chemical strage area and pump rm, Calculatin f pl vlume, Calculatin f apprpriate amunt f pl chemicals needed, Safe chemical strage and handling practices, Fr example: 1) prtect individual pl chemicals frm mixing tgether r with ther substances and 2) use PPE while handling chemicals. Check ut Occupatinal Safety and Health Administratin (OSHA) resurces: Chemical Hazard Cmmunicatin (OSHA 3084) at Cmpliance with Hazard Cmmunicatin (OSHA 3111) at Basics f preventive and safe maintenance f equipment, Fr example: 1) clse pl t swimmers if recirculatin system nt running and 2) use PPE when wrking n equipment that cntains r circulates pl chemicals. First aid fr pl chemical expsures, and Emergency respnse basics. Emergency Respnse Plan Befre an incident Develp an emergency respnse plan which includes Spill-cleanup prcedure, Chemical accident and expsure respnse, Clear chain f cmmand and alternates with cntact infrmatin, Evacuatin plan, and Cmmunicatin plan fr alerting patrns, staff, and emergency respnders. Train the aquatics staff n the prcedures in the emergency respnse plan. Keep a cpy f the emergency respnse plan near (e.g., in the hallway just utside f) the chemical strage area, pump rm, and pl area and ensure that anther cpy is als available at a remte lcatin in case f an evacuatin. Ensure up-t-date MSDSs are easily accessible t first respnders in case f evacuatin. Have a phne with updated emergency numbers near (e.g., in the hallway just utside f) the chemical strage area, pump rm, and pl area and ensure that a phne is accessible in case f an evacuatin. Practice emergency respnse with first respnders. In case f an incident Activate emergency respnse plan. Fr indr pls: If chemical fumes are released in the chemical strage area, pump rm, r pl area and the crrespnding air handling system is separate frm ther areas f the building, leave HVAC system n t ventilate. If chemical fumes are released in the chemical strage area, pump rm, r pl area and the crrespnding air handling system is shared with ther areas f the building, turn ff the HVAC system immediately. 5

6 After an incident Dcument the incident and respnse and reprt the incident t lcal r state permitting fficials. Cnduct a pst-incident critique with all parties invlved in the respnse. Revise the emergency respnse plan as needed. Chemical Packaging and Labeling (fr manufacturers and suppliers) Package and label each pl chemical (e.g., chlrine and acid) s that they can be easily identified and distinguished frm each ther. Package and label each pl chemical cnsistently. Changing the shape, size, r clr f the cntainer r labeling can lead t chemical-mixing errrs. Ntify custmers f any changes in the packaging r labeling f pl chemicals. Cnsider identifying pl chemicals n the cntainer lids. Use labels resistant t bth crrsin and deteriratin. Additinal surces f guidance: U.S. Envirnmental Prtectin Agency (EPA): Safe Strage and Handling f Swimming Pl Chemicals (2001) at EPA: Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Preventin Advisry Swimming Pl Chemicals: Chlrine (1990) at Transprt Canada: Swimming Pl Chemicals at Lcal r state permitting fficials shuld cnsider revising public health regulatins in respnse t reprts f pl chemical assciated health events t reduce the future likelihd f such events. 6