Acid
PREVENTION Aviod contact with skin and eyes, aviod exposure to fumes. Wear face protection and protective gloves and clothing. When diluting, always add Acid to water, Never add water to acid. Some acids when dissolving other substances produce enormous amounts of heat that can cause boiling and splattering. Acids can be neutralized with Soduim Bicarbonate, NaHCO3, beware of possible violent chemical reaction. Mixing strong acids and alkalis especially can cause violent chemical reactions. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE Acid Fumes Remove source of contamination or move victim to fresh air. Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. Acid On The Skin Avoid direct contact with acid. Wear chemical resistant protective gloves, if necessary. As quickly as possible, flush contaminated area with lukewarm, gently running water for at least 20-30 minutes, by the clock. If irritation persists, repeat flushing. DO NOT INTERRUPT FLUSHING. If necessary, keep emergency vehicle waiting. Under running water, remove contaminated clothing, shoes, and leather goods (e.g., watchbands, belts). Transport victim to an emergency care facility immediately. Completely decontaminate clothing, shoes and leather goods before re-use or discard. Acid In The Eyes Immediately flush the contaminated eye(s) with lukewarm, gently flowing water for at least 20-30 minutes, by the clock, while holding the eyelid(s) open. Neutral saline solution may be used as soon as it is available. DO NOT INTERRUPT FLUSHING. If necessary, keep emergency vehicle waiting. Take care not to rinse contaminated water into the non-affected eye or onto the face. If irritation persists repeat flushing. Quickly transport victim to an emergency care facility. Acid Swallowed NEVER give anything by mouth if victim is rapidly losing consciousness, or is unconscious or convulsing. Have victim rinse mouth thoroughly with water. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Have victim drink 240 to 300 mL (8 to 10 oz.) of water to dilute material in stomach. If milk is available, it may be administered AFTER the water has been given. If vomiting occurs naturally, repeat administration of water. Quickly transport victim to an emergency facility. Other First Aid Provide general supportive measures (comfort, warmth, rest). Consult a doctor and/or the nearest Poison Control Center for all exposures except minor instances of inhalation or skin contact.

	Alkali
PREVENTION Aviod contact with skin and eyes, aviod exposure to fumes. Wear face protection and protective gloves and clothing. When diluting, always add Alkali to water, Never add water to alkali. Some caustic alkalis like Lye (Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH) when dissolving produce enormous amounts of heat that can cause boiling and splattering. Alkalis can be neutralized with Vinegar (weak Acetic Acid), beware of possible violent chemical reaction. Mixing strong acids and alkalis especially can cause violent chemical reactions. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE Alkali Fumes Remove source of contamination or move victim to fresh air. Begin rescue breathing if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. Alkali In The Eyes Instantly flush with large amounts of water. Continue without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. Alkali On The Skin Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash area with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention immediately. Alkali Swallowed NEVER give anything by mouth if victim is rapidly losing consciousness, or is unconscious or convulsing. Have victim rinse mouth thoroughly with water. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Have victim drink 240 to 300 mL (8 to 10 oz.) of water to dilute material in stomach. If vomiting occurs naturally, repeat administration of water. Quickly transport victim to an emergency facility. Other First Aid Provide general supportive measures (comfort, warmth, rest). Consult a doctor and/or the nearest Poison Control Center for all exposures except minor instances of inhalation or skin contact.

	Biohazard
PREVENTION Wear face protection and protective gloves and clothing. Flush spills with a 1:10 solution of household bleach or Betadine. Dispose of contaminated material as biohazardous waste. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE Biohazard In The Eyes Instantly flush with large amounts of water. Continue without stopping for at least 5 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Biohazard In The Mouth Instantly flush with large amounts of water. Continue without stopping for at least 5 minutes. Biohazard Puncture Of The Skin Immediately MILK THE WOUND to induce bleeding. Wash area with soap and hot water for at least 5 minutes. Biohazard On The Skin Immediately remove contaminated clothing. Wash area with soap and hot water for at least 5 minutes.

	Cryogenics
PREVENTION Cryogenics such as Dry Ice or Liquid Nitrogen are hazardous. If misused they may cause, frostbite, eye damage, torn flesh, or asphyxiation. SAFETY RULES FOR CRYOGENICS : Aviod contact with skin and eyes. Wear face protection and protective gloves and clothing. Wear insulating gloves when handling cryogenics or large, cold objects. Use cryogenics only in well ventilated places. Use tweezers to handle superconductors, magnets, or other small, cold objects. Plastic tweezers should be tested for embrittlement (see last caution) before use in lab or classroom. Do not allow liquid nitrogen or any cryogenic to touch any part of your body. Items in contact with liquid nitrogen becomes Extremely Cold. Do not touch any item that has been immersed in liquid nitrogen until it has warmed to room temperature. Do not store liquid nitrogen in any container with a tight fitting lid. A tightly sealed container will build up pressure as the liquid boils and may EXPLODE after a short time. Many substances become brittle and may shatter when cold, sending pieces of the material flying. Avoid common glass and large, solid plastics. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE Thaw affected area with running tap water. ( NEVER HOT WATER ! ) If frostbite has occurred get medical attention.

	ESD
Electrostatic Discharge can destroy circuits !

	Explosive
PREVENTION IN CASE OF EXPLOSION

	Flammable
Fire can hurt or kill you !

	Hot
Heat can hurt or kill you !

	High Voltage
PREVENTION Never work alone with high voltage. Have a partner who knows how to disconnect the power and who knows CPR. A healthy person can be easily restarted after electrocution. High voltages per se dont kill, but they cause dangerous currents to flow. Rule of thumb: 1 mA (milli Ampere, or 0.001 Amps) is startling, 10 mA is painful, 100 mA can cause the heart to go into fibrillation or stop. An old electricians trick to avoid accidental passage of electricity through the heart is to work with one hand and keep the other hand in a pocket. IN CASE OF ELECTROCUTION REMOVE THE POWER ! Dont become an additional victim. Turn off or disconnect power source. If unable to reach a switch or plug, use an insulated tool such as a wooden broom handle or rolled up paper to separate the victim from the power source. If extremely high voltages are present, use only the best insulators, like a clean, dry PVC pipe. Check if the victim is conscious. IF victim is unconscious, check for breathing and pulse. Administer Standard CPR if indicated. A healthy person can be easily restarted after electrocution. Once consciousness is restored, check for burns. Administer Standard First Aid for burns if indicated.

	Poison
PREVENTION Poisons must be stored in a safe location and in a labeled container. If you use poisons, keep this number handy. National Poison Center 1-800-222-1222. Visit your local pharmacy TODAY and get Ipecac syrup for your home. Before using any poisons, read and understand warning labels and first aid procedures for that substance. IN CASE OF POISONING Keep Calm Act quickly. Action is the most important factor in first aid if you suspect poisoning. BEFORE CALLING FOR HELP: Poisonous Fumes or Gases Immediately carry or drag the person to fresh air. Minimize your exposure to the fumes. If the victim is not breathing, start artificial respiration immediately and continue it until the victim is breathing or help arrives. Send someone for help as quickly as possible. Poisons on the skin Brush off any dry poisons and flood the involved parts with large amounts of plain water. Then wash the skin with bar soap and water and rinse. Remove and discard all affected clothing. Poisons in the Eye Pour water from a glass on the bridge of the patient's eye and allow water to flood the eye gently for 15 minutes. Use plain lukewarm water. Do not allow the victim to rub his/her eyes. Swallowed Poisons/Medications Look into the victim's mouth and remove all tablets, powder or any material that is present. Examine the mouth for cuts, burns, swelling, unusual coloring or odor. Rinse and wipe out the mouth with a cloth. CALLING FOR HELP: If you have a poison emergency or a question about poisons and you're in the United States, call 1-800-222-1222. This toll-free number will put you in touch with the poison control center in your state. If someone has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911. Identify yourself and give your phone number in case your call is disconnected. Describe the patient by name, age and weight. If Possible, have the container of poison in your hand and identify as best you can: What was taken? When was it taken? How much was taken? How is the patient acting? Be prepared to answer any questions and follow medical advice. HOW TO INDUCE VOMITING The most important item to have in your home when poisoning occurs is Ipecac syrup. Ipecac is a plant extract that when swallowed causes vomiting. Vomiting will remove the poison from the stomach. Your doctor or Poison Control Center may not always recommend using Ipecac syrup. Do not use Ipecac without the advice of a doctor or the Poison Control Center. Remember: Never produce vomiting unless instructed to do so! Never produce vomiting if the patient: Has swallowed petroleum products such as gasoline, cleaning fluids and lighter fluids. Has swallowed a strong corrosive such as drain cleaner or acids. If this occurs, give liquids only. Is drowsy or unconscious. Is having convulsions (fits). If you are instructed to use Ipecac Syrup to produce vomiting: Give one tablespoonful (15cc) to young children 1 to 12 years of age, and two tablespoonfuls (30cc) to older children and adults. Always consult with your doctor or the Poison Control Center before giving Ipecac syrup to a child under the age of 1. Follow the dose with a 4 to 8 ounce glass of water or juice. Encourage the patient to drink more fluids, if possible. Do not allow the patient to lie down. Keep him/her active. If the patient hasn't vomited within 15 to 20 minutes, give a second dose and another glass of liquid. If you come to the hospital, bring the poison and the container with you. Bring any stomach contents you collect from vomiting.

	Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCB oils have excellent dielectric properties, stability and are non-flammable and were used in manufacture of certain high voltage transformers, capacitors and other devices. PCBs were developed in the late 1940s and since the mid 1970s manufacturers have phased them out due to toxicity. Newer oil filled High Voltage components will be labeled PCB-free. PCB oils are NASTY BAD STUFF for living beings. If you suspect an old component uses PCB oils, you can call the EPA or hire a test lab, or CAREFULLY do the following three simple tests for PCBs : A droplet held in a flame on a piece of nichrome etc. will give a green color signalling the presence of chlorine. PCB oils are much heavier than mineral oils. Specific gravity of PCBs is about 1.5, and they will sink in water. PCB-based transformer oils have a pronounced sweet-solvent odor, like benzene. Mineral oils lack the strong odor, will float in water, and burn yellow. If PCBs are present, the component, the oil, and anything contaminated should be considered TOXIC. Protect the skin from contact. Wrap the component in absorbent material and place in a plastic bag, along with any waste wiping materials. Wash thoroughly. Symptoms of PCB poisoning include fatigue, headache, cough, numbness in the arms and legs, discharge from the eyes, and unusual skin sores. Long term effects include liver and kidney damage and birth defects. Treatment is to avoid exposure. For more info see Safety Bulletin 37 from the University of North London

	Magnetic
Magnets can damage credit cards and computer disks. Extremely strong magnets can be dangerous ! PREVENTION Even the most powerful magnetic fields ever produced cause no direct harm to living beings. However powerful magnets can exert dangerous forces on objects. Ferrous metal objects can pose a danger near high powered magnets, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit because the maagnet draws magnetic objects to it. Flying items can hurt and kill, including a young boy who died in 2001 from injuries after a metal oxygen tank was brought into an MRI unit, flew toward the magnet, and struck him in the head. Establish a safety zone around any high powered magnet that shall include all volumes where the magnetic filed strength can exceed 5 Gauss. Keep the safety zone free from metal objects such as tools, equipment and personal effects. Don't use paper clips, staples or other small metal objects that could find their way into the magnet. Anyone entering the safety zone must first "de-metal" (empty pockets; remove jewelry, watches, wallets, beepers, hairclips; leave pens, clipboards etc. outside) Double check wires on all equipment in the safety zone for loops which can cause serious electrical burns. Fire extinguishers near such areas must be nonferrous, aluminum, or plastic. Emergency workers responding should be warned if a powerful magnet is in operation, which could turn emergency equipment such as breathing tanks, fire axes and safety equipment into deadly missiles. Strong permanent magnets can attract and snap together with sudden unexpected force, pinching hands or body parts. Magnets can erase credit cards, computer floppy disks and hard drives. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE Magnetic fields cause no direct harm to living beings. Administer Standard First Aid for other injuries.

	Do Not Touch
U Cant Tuch Dis !

	Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing Radiation can hurt or kill you !

	Non-Ionizing Radiation
Non-Ionizing Radiation can hurt or kill you !

	LASER Radiation
Lasers are classified to describe the capabilities of a laser system to produce injury to personnel. This classification rates from Class I lasers (no harm) to Class IV lasers (let's cut thick steel). The manufacturer is required to label Class II, III and IV lasers with a warning label which has the laser's classification printed on it. Class I lasers are low powered devices that are considered safe from all potential hazards. Some examples of Class I laser use are: laser printers, CD players, CD ROM devices, geological survey equipment and laboratory analytical equipment. No individual, regardless of exposure conditions to the eyes or skin, would be expected to be injured by a Class I laser. No safety requirements are needed to use Class I laser devices. Class II lasers are low power (< 1mW), visible light lasers that could possibly cause damage to a person's eyes. Some examples of Class II laser use are: classroom demonstrations, low power laser pointers, aiming devices and range finding equipment. If class II laser beams are directly viewed for long periods of time (i.e. > 15 minutes) damage to the eyes could result. Avoid looking into a Class II laser beam or pointing a Class II laser beam into another person's eyes. Avoid viewing Class II laser beams with telescopic devices. Realize that the bright light of a Class II laser beam into your eyes will cause a normal reaction to look away or close your eyes. This response is expected to protect you from Class II laser damage to the eyes. Class IIIa lasers are continuous wave, intermediate power (1-5 mW) devices. Some examples of Class IIIa laser uses are the same as Class II lasers with the most popular uses being laser pointers and laser scanners. Direct viewing of the Class IIIa laser beam could be hazardous to the eyes. Do not view the Class IIIa laser beam directly. Do not point a Class IIIa laser beam into another persons eyes. Do not view a Class IIIa laser beam with telescopic devices; this magnifies the problem. Class IIIb lasers are intermediate power (c.w. 5-500 mW or pulsed 10 J/cm²) devices. Some examples of Class IIIb laser uses are spectrometry, stereolithography, and entertainment light shows. Some "super" laser pointers are in this class. Direct viewing of the Class IIIb laser beam is hazardous to the eye and diffuse reflections of the beam can also be hazardous to the eye. Do not view the Class IIIb laser beam directly. Do not view a Class IIIb laser beam with telescopic devices; this magnifies the problem. Whenever in a laser controlled area, wear the proper eye protection. Class IV lasers are high power (c.w. >500mW or pulsed >10J/cm²) devices. Some examples of Class IV laser use are surgery, research, drilling, cutting, welding, and micromachining. The direct beam and diffuse reflections from Class IV lasers are hazardous to the eyes and skin. Class IV laser devices can also be a fire hazard. Much greater controls are required to ensure the safe operation of this class of laser devices. Whenever occupying a laser controlled area, wear the proper eye protection. Most laser eye injuries occur from reflected beams of class IV laser light, so keep all reflective materials away from the beam. Do not place your hand or any other body part into the class IV laser beam. The pain and smell of burned flesh will let you know if this happens. Realize the dangers involved in the use of Class IV lasers and please use common sense.

	UV Radiation
UV Radiation can hurt or kill you !

	Electrical Shock
Electrical Shock can hurt or kill you !   PREVENTION Never work alone with high voltage. Have a partner who knows how to disconnect the power and who knows CPR. A healthy person can be easily restarted after electrocution. High voltages per se dont kill, but they cause dangerous currents to flow. Rule of thumb: 1 mA (milli Ampere, or 0.001 Amps) is startling, 10 mA is painful, 100 mA can cause the heart to go into fibrillation or stop. An old electricians trick to avoid accidental passage of electricity through the heart is to work with one hand and keep the other hand in a pocket. IN CASE OF ELECTROCUTION REMOVE THE POWER ! Dont become an additional victim. Turn off or disconnect power source. If unable to reach a switch or plug, use an insulated tool such as a wooden broom handle or rolled up paper to separate the victim from the power source. If extremely high voltages are present, use only the best insulators, like a clean, dry PVC pipe. Check if the victim is conscious. IF victim is unconscious, check for breathing and pulse. Administer Standard CPR if indicated. A healthy person can be easily restarted after electrocution. Once consciousness is restored, check for burns. Administer Standard First Aid for burns if indicated.

	Warning
Ignoring this Warning can hurt or kill you ! You could be hurt. You could die. Do not attempt these experiments or projects unless you fully understand and accept all risks involved. Minors should not perform experiments on this web site without supervision of a parent or teacher. BEFORE starting any experiment, all persons should know and completely understand these warnings, as well as warning labels on all materials and items used. If working with experimental hazards, print, review and post safety information. For example before performing an experiment involving two hazards, electricity and battery acid, everyone in the group or class must read and understand these two hazards, have safety materials on hand, be ready to act, and have the hazards printed out and posted in a prominent place such as by the telephone.

	No !
Dont do it !

	No Body
No bodies allowed !

	No Entry
Do Not Enter !

	No Hands
Do Not Use Hands !

	No Smoking
No SMOKING ! A good policy no matter what youre doing....

Altair Home hazard.html, Copyright © September 2001, Altair. EMail altair@altair.org