Sunday, July 21, 2019

The Risks And Solutions For Dealing With Solvent Vapors

By William Turner


Household and industrial chemicals can be dangerous if handled incorrectly or you do not follow the safety instructions included with the product. There are different properties with each chemical that can make them caustic when used or mixed in the wrong way. There are important pieces of information that come with the bottles or containers that should be read before using them. One big issue that needs to be understood, is how to deal with solvent vapors.

Short term health risks can occur. These usually start with a headache or dizziness. As more exposure occurs, you may develop nausea and vomit. Other symptoms include irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. A skin rash or burning sensation may develop if some spilled on your skin.

Long term risks to your health can be permanent. Lung and throat damage can occur when exposure is ongoing or frequent. Some liver or kidney damage can also happen. Others can include damage to your central nervous system and even cancer. It is critically important to understand the precautions that are included with each product. When used properly, you can avoid or eliminate these risks.

The first step in using any solvent is to make sure there is plenty of ventilation. Opening a door or window will allow fresh are into the work area. Should this be impossible, there are ways to get fresh air in by using a fan or ventilation tube. If the area is enclosed, the fumes can build to a very dangerous level and should be ventilated before anyone enters the area.

When ventilation is difficult to achieve, you should wear a mask. There are typical cheap masks that you can buy at any pharmacy. These are often seen by people wanting to avoid pollution. However, they are usually not strong enough to avoid vapors from solvents. Instead, you should opt for an industrial type of mask. These have filters that can be exchanged and are usually strong enough to filter stronger chemical fumes.

Mixing products can be dangerous. If you are not sure what you are doing, do not mix products. This includes spraying one product on top of another before the first is washed away. Bases and acids do not mix and very dangerous fumes will occur. Before you mix anything, read the directions and safety sheet to be sure you are doing it correctly and at the right levels. When in doubt, simply do not mix chemicals.

First aid procedures should be learned before you work with any chemicals. Make sure you can move away from the work area and get fresh air the moment you feel dizzy or have a headache. This is an early warning sign that you are inhaling too many fumes. If you do not have an eyewash station, you can buy a portable eyewash bottle that comes premade with distilled water. If you get anything on your skin, be sure to wash it as quickly as possible. If you swallow anything, you need to contact poison control immediately and be prepared to seek professional medical assistance. Ingesting chemicals is very dangerous, so move quickly.

Being safe around solvents and other chemicals is critical whether you are mopping your floors or performing an industrial level chemical cleaning process on large equipment. Regardless of the situation, these can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Products and chemicals are required to come with safety information. Be sure to read it before starting any work.




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