TEMS Chemical Emergency Response Training

Tulane University - Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

TEMS Chemical Emergency Response Training

For Members of Tulane Emergency Medical Services

(TEMS) August 2011





Objectives• To learn how to identify chemicals• To learn how chemicals can enter the body and

the types of effects they may have • To learn how to protect yourself from

chemicals• To learn some of the chemical classifications

and where different types of chemicals can be found on Tulane’s Uptown campus


Objectives (cont.)• To learn the proper response for a TEMS

member when encountering a chemical incident • To understand the role of Tulane’s Office of

Environmental Health & Safety in emergency response incidents

• To know your role in hazardous materials spill response


Information About Chemicals• Information about a chemical can be found on the

label and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)• MSDSs can be obtained on the OEHS website:

http://tulane.edu/oehs, or call OEHS at 988-5486, then press 1

• Most laboratory doors at Tulane have signs showing types of chemicals within the lab and emergency contact information

http://tulane.edu/oehs


Chemical Routes of Entry

• Inhalation• Ingestion• Skin Contact/Absorption• Injection


Types of Effects of Chemicals• Acute effect – characterized by sudden and severe

exposure and rapid absorption of the substance. Adverse health effects are often reversible. (Example: carbon monoxide poisoning)

• Chronic effect – characterized by prolonged or repeated exposures of a duration measured in days, months, or years. Symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Health effects are often irreversible. (Example: mercury poisoning)


Types of Effects of Chemicals• Local effect – an adverse health effect that takes place

at the point or area of contact. Absorption does not necessarily occur. (Example: strong acid)

• Systemic effect – an adverse health effect that takes place at a location distant from the body’s initial point of contact and presupposes absorption has taken place. (Example: benzene affects bone marrow)


Types of Effects of Chemicals• Cumulative poisons – characterized by materials that

tend to build up in the body as a result of numerous chronic exposures. Effects are not seen until a critical body burden is reached. (Example: heavy metals)


Types of Effects of Chemicals• Synergistic effect – When two or more hazardous

materials are present at the same time, the resulting effect can be greater than the effect predicted based on the additive effect of the individual substances. (Example: smoking and asbestos)


Other Factors Affecting Exposure

• Rate of entry, chemical dose• Age, lifestyle, state of health, and genetic

disposition of individual exposed• Previous exposures (can lead to tolerance or

increased sensitivity)• Environmental factors: temperature and

pressure


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Carcinogens – Chemicals which can cause or are

suspected of causing cancer

• Examples: Benzene, Chloroform, Formaldehyde, Carbon Tetrachloride, Dichloromethane

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building

• Cancer is a chronic effect – it takes a long time to develop.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Compressed Gases – Gases which are stored in a

container (cylinder, lecture bottle) under pressure• Examples: Argon, Nitrogen, Chlorine, Carbon

Dioxide, Oxygen, Acetylene• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB)

Building, Boggs Building, Art, Facilities Services• Exhaust Ventilation is needed when using

compressed gases to prevent asphyxiation. • Cylinders must be chained and have protective caps

in place. If valve is damaged, cylinder can act as a missile.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)

Corrosives – Chemicals which can cause irreversible alterations/chemical burns to human tissue (Acids/Caustics)

• Examples: Sulfuric Acid, Nitric Acid, Hydrofluoric Acid, Ammonia Gas, Hydrochloric Acid

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building, Art, Facilities Services, Blessey

• Hydrofluoric Acid - will attack glass – use benzalkonium chloride solution or calcium gluconate gel for first aid treatment.

• For other acids or caustics, get victim to emergency shower or eyewash and wash for at least 15 minutes.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Cryogenic Liquids/Gases – Liquefied gases used at very

low temperatures (below -200C)

• Examples: Liquid Nitrogen, Liquid Oxygen


• Heavy gloves, face shield, and eye protection are needed when handling cryogenic liquids/gases


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Explosives – Chemicals which can release pressure, gas,

and heat when subjected to shock, pressure, or high temperature

• Examples: Nitroglycerin, TNT, Picric Acid, Sodium Azide



Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Flammables – Chemicals which can ignite easily and

burn rapidly, either spontaneously (pyrophoric) or from exposure to a high-temperature environment (autoignition), or a spark or open flame

• Examples: Solvents, Ether, Hexane, Mineral Spirits, Diesel Fuel, Gasoline

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building, Art, Facilities Services

• Fire triangle: Ignition source + oxygen + fuel


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Flammable Gases – Gases which can form flammable

mixtures with air

• Examples: Hydrogen, Acetylene

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Boggs Building, Art, Facilities Services

• Flammable gases are extremely dangerous fire hazards and require precisely regulated storage conditions.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Irritants – Chemicals which can cause reversible

inflammatory reactions (watery eyes, itchy skin)

• Examples: Formaldehyde, Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide


• Some irritants have distinctive odors.

• Get exposed person to fresh air.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Oxidizers – Chemicals which promote combustion

• Examples: Oxygen, Perchloric Acid, Nitric Acid

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building, Art

• Keep oxidizers away from flammables.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Sensitizers – Chemicals which can cause allergic

reactions in normal tissue after repeated exposure to the chemical

• Examples: Chromium compounds, Nickel compounds, Toluene Diisocyanate

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building, Art

• Not everyone reacts to chemicals in the same way.

• Reaction may be as mild as a rash or as serious as anaphylactic shock.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Toxic – The ability of a chemical to produce a health

effect or injury once it reaches a susceptible site in or on the body

• Examples: Lead and its salts, Arsenic, Dimethyl Mercury, Silica Dust, Cyanides, Hydrogen Bromide

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building, Art, Blessey

• All chemicals will exhibit a toxic effect if given a large enough dose.


Chemical Classifications/Possible Locations (Uptown Campus TU)Water Reactives – Chemicals that react with water

• Examples: Sodium metal, Potassium

• Possible Locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building

• Combustible metals need special type fire extinguishers (Class D).


Chemicals May Have More Than One Property

• Example: Acetic Acid – flammable and corrosive – Possible locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs

• Example: Pyridine – flammable and toxic (bad odor) – Possible locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building

• Example: Nitric Acid – oxidizer and corrosive – Possible locations: Stern Hall, Israel (ESB) Building, Boggs Building, Art


Summary• There are many types of chemicals at this university.• The potential effect a chemical can have on a body

depends on many factors. Not everyone reacts the same to chemical exposures.

• The dose and route of entry of a chemical affects the body’s response.

• Many chemicals have more than one property.• Information about chemicals can be found on the

label and the MSDS.• Chemical effects are not always additive.

• First Responders respond to the site or point of release

• Includes Supervisors, Fire Fighters, Public Safety, HAZMAT teams, Emergency Medical Technicians


Emergency Response - Who is a First Responder?

• Secure the area of hazardous materials spill incident

• Protect lives and environment

• Give medical treatment

- Care for sick or injured people

- Transport injured persons to appropriate medical facility

- Protect first receivers (at medical facility)


First Responder Job Functions


Definition of HOT ZONE:

Hot Zone – An area in and immediately surrounding a hazardous materials release, which extends far enough to prevent adverse effects from hazardous materials releases to personnel outside the zone.


Beware Hazard Transmission to First Responders

Secondary Exposures from hair, skin and clothing of victims are possible.

• Influenced by– Inherent characteristics of the toxin– Concentration of the release– Contact time with victim

• Less than at the site of release


Response to a Major Chemical Incident at Tulane

• Role of Supervisor

• Role of Tulane Dept. of Public Safety

• Role of OEHS

• Role of TEMS


Role of Supervisor• Attend to injured or contaminated persons.

Remove them from further exposure.• As needed, immediately flush the eyes with water

using the eyewash fountain or use the safety shower for body exposure. Flush for at least 15 minutes.

• Alert others in area to evacuate.• Turn off or remove sources of ignition in the

vicinity of the spill.


Role of Supervisor (Cont.)• Confine the spill (e.g., upright container, close

doors, pull down sash of hood)• Evacuate the area• Close doors to affected area • Notify OEHS (988-5486, ext. 1), and Tulane

Police/TUPD• Standby to assist emergency personnel in

uncontaminated area


Role of Tulane Dept. of Public Safety

• Secure the scene of the incident

• Prevent all unauthorized personnel from entering the chemical spill area

• Provide necessary support for transportation, traffic control, and security


Role of OEHS

• Secure spill area

• Help facilitate clean up activities

• Act as a Liaison between Tulane and outside response agencies

• Ensure that all Tulane personnel and injured persons are properly decontaminated if medical treatment is necessary

Role of TEMS

• Know there is a high probability of exposure to chemicals

• Look for signs of chemicals on– Clothing– Skin– Shoes– Hair– Face


Role of TEMS (cont.)• Do not enter chemical spill area without

Public Safety and/or OEHS knowledge

• Contact OEHS for instructions/advice

• Cautiously provide medical care and transport for injured persons – DO NOT rush in to contaminated area

• Protect yourself by wearing appropriate PPE


Role of TEMS (cont.)

• Decontaminate victim when possible before transport by using eyewash, emergency showers

• Remove contaminated clothing at the incident site for removal by OEHS



Summary• Emergency response to a chemical incident is

a team effort. The supervisor, TUPD, TEMS, and OEHS each have a distinctive role.

• Never rush in when chemicals are involved.• Recognize the need to decontaminate injured

personnel before transporting to a medical facility and to wear personal protective equipment.

• Seek and follow advice from OEHS – 988-5486.


Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) - Basics

For TEMS Employees of Tulane University

August 2011


Objectives

• To know how to assess the area for PPE needs• To understand the importance of providing

adequate amounts and various sizes of personal protective equipment

• To understand why potentially contaminated PPE should not be worn outside the work area

• To know how to properly select, use, and store PPE

Proper Dress• Dress appropriately for your job

• Usually best to wear closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing (no shorts, sandals, flip flops)

• Wear PPE as needed


Control of Workplace Hazards

• Engineering controls (Ex. Ventilation)

• Administrative and work practice controls (Ex. Proper written procedures)

• PPE is to be used when work practices and/or engineering controls do not lessen or eliminate the hazards, and in emergency situations. It is important to select and use PPE properly to reduce and/or eliminate exposure to the hazard.



PPE/Hazard Assessment

• Assessment for personal protective equipment application must be done per hazard (physical and chemical):

- Chemical - Impact- Biological - Penetration- Radiological - Compression- Noise - Heat/Cold- Vibration - Harmful Dust- Light radiation


PPE/Hazard Assessment

• Assessment must include the following areas of the body which may be affected:– Head – eyes, ears, face, respiratory

– Hand – wrist, fingers and palms

– Body – torso and legs

– Foot – shins and feet


PPE/Hazard Assessment• Proper PPE must be provided for each worker that the

hazard affects.• PPE must be made available in adequate amounts and

different sizes.• PPE must be stored as per manufacturer

recommendations to prevent damage, distortion or contamination.– Bag respirators; don’t hang from straps

– Rinse reusable gloves

– Don’t leave in sunlight


Use of PPE• All who wear PPE must be trained on its uses,

limitations and proper decontamination/storage.• Those who wear PPE must not wear it outside

their work area.• If PPE is reusable, it must be properly cleaned and

decontaminated after use.• All PPE must be stored in a clean and safe

manner.


Eye Protection• Safety glasses (with side shields and brow guard) – impact

hazards

• Safety goggles – liquid chemicals

• Face shield – used with eye protection

- For impact protection, face shields alone do not offer eye protection. They must be used with approved safety glasses or goggles.

- Notes:

– The American Chemical Society advises that contact lenses may be worn around hazardous materials as long as the appropriate type of eye protection is used. Contact lenses do not provide adequate eye protection.


Protective Clothing• Aprons

- Clean if contaminated with hazardous materials- Replace if torn, ripped or tattered

• Laboratory Coats- Must be worn only inside the work area- Must be removed before leaving work area for breaks, lunch and end of the work day.- Must be cleaned by a professional cleaning service. DO

NOT TAKE CONTAMINATED CLOTHING HOME FOR WASHING.

• Fluid Resistant Clothing- When working with bloodborne pathogens, disposable

clothing and/or laboratory coats may not be adequate protection for the employee. Such clothing must be

resistant to blood and body fluid splashes.


Hand Protection• Latex Gloves

- Supervisors must supply adequate supplies and sizes.

- Worker and supervisor should be aware of latex allergies and must supply the appropriate substitute PPE as needed.

• Rubber Gloves

- Must be worn when working with highly corrosive or toxic materials

- Must be cleaned, decontaminated and properly stored after each use

• Temperature Resistant Gloves (non-asbestos)

• Leather

Hand Protection• Gloves must be inspected before each use

for tears, holes, cracks, and deterioration.

• If gloves are defective or badly soiled, they must be discarded.

• Disposable gloves must not be reused.

• Contact OEHS for information on latex allergies and glove use.


Hand Protection - Chemical

• For information as to the type of glove that should be used to protect yourself from a particular chemical, consult the glove manufacturer’s chemical compatibility chart.

• Contact OEHS for further assistance.



Foot Protection• Rubber Booties

• Chemical Resistant Shoes/Boots

• Steel-toe Shoes

• Paper booties


Types of Respiratory Protection• Air Purifying

- TB Respirators (N-95)

- Cartridge Respirators

- Dust/Mist/Particulate Respirators

- Positive Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)

• Air Supplied

- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs)


Respiratory Protection

• Respiratory protective equipment is needed when work practices and engineering controls cannot eliminate the inhalation hazard.

• The selection and type of respirator is based on the air contaminant and other factors (such as the concentration of the contaminant, oxygen deficient atmosphere, etc.).

Respiratory Protection• In order to wear a respirator, the following must be

done:– The employee must receive a copy of the OSHA

Respiratory Protection Standard and the Tulane University Respiratory Protection Program.

– The employee must be clean shaven.– The employee must have a medical evaluation

to determine their ability to wear a respirator.– The employee must be fit-tested by OEHS on an

annual basis or when the employee’s facial features have changed dramatically.

– Contact OEHS for more details on the Respiratory Protection Program.



PPE Summary

• A PPE hazard assessment must be done when responding to an incident.

• PPE must be adequate for the job and available to the employee in different sizes and styles.

• PPE must not be brought home for laundering.• PPE must be stored properly so that it will not be

damaged.

Tulane University Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS)

http://tulane.edu/oehs Pam Fatland - Manager, Chemical Safety

(504) 988-2800, [email protected]

If unable to proceed to quiz, type the link below into your browserhttps://pandora.tcs.tulane.edu/ehs/enterssn.cfm?testnum=78 Proceed to Quiz

http://www.som.tulane.edu/oehs/

mailto:[email protected]

https://pandora.tcs.tulane.edu/ehs/enterssn.cfm?testnum=78

Documents

TEMS Chemical Emergency Response Training