Safety Talk Working with Acids Sheet 1 What

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Sheet 1 - What is an acid? An acid is a low p. H corrosive chemical usually in a liquid form, but can be a vapour or a mist. Ó TRAINING NATIONAL

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Sheet 2 - What are three ways acids can attack the body? Acids attack the body in the three following ways: Through breathing in vapours. Through contact with the eyes or absorption through the skin. Through swallowing. Ó TRAINING NATIONAL

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Hand out sheet 3 - The three T’s If possible, transfer the job to a worker experienced in handling acids. Treat the hazard by using good Safe Work and Emergency Procedures and wearing PPE. Terminate the hazard by using engineering controls and equipment that is designed for the job. Ó TRAINING NATIONAL

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Hand out sheet 4 - The Material Safety Data Sheet Check the Material Safety Data Sheet which will tell you about: • the health hazards; • the precautions for use; • the safe handling requirements; • the Emergency Procedures; and • the First Aid procedures. Ó TRAINING NATIONAL

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Hand out Sheet 5 - First Aid treatment Rinse the exposed area for 15 minutes. If exposed to hydrofluoric acid, rinse for 1 minute and apply Calcium Gluconate gel. In both instances, seek medical attention. Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately and laundered before used again. If you suffer from inhalation exposure - leave the area IMMEDIATELY and seek medical attention. If poisoning occurs, DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Drink water and seek URGENT medical attention. Ó TRAINING NATIONAL

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Hand out sheet 6 - Keep acids away from other chemical substances Contacting acids with many other substances would cause reactions that could be violent enough to cause an explosion. Always: • store acids separately from other chemical substances; and • transport acids separately from other chemical substances. CORROSIVE MATERIALS Ó TRAINING NATIONAL

Safety Talk - Working with Acids Hand out sheet 7 - Precautions to take when maintaining equipment exposed to acids Before maintaining any equipment that has been exposed to acid, you should: • flush a closed system with neutralising water; • check the rinse water p. H for a p. H of about 7; • rinse all exposed parts of the equipment with water; • always wear your PPE; and • put warning signs on the equipment being worked on. Ó TRAINING NATIONAL