10 Tips for Safely Using Chemicals on Electrical Job Sites

A given chemical may have different safety challenges when used in a commercial or industrial setting versus using it at home. For example, a popular light oil that comes in an aerosol can might be used to quiet a squeaky door hinge. But spray from that same oil onto the hinge of an electrical enclosure, and the overspray may ignite. So there’s the application danger to consider.

But there are also operational dangers, including the fact that other people may walk through the area of use, existing ventilation may work against you, and so on.

Follow these tips to reduce the danger of both:

1. Get a copy of the site’s hazard communication standard (HCS), and read through it. Among other things, it will list all of the chemicals that are expected to be used on that site and tell you about the hazards of each one.
2. Determine which chemicals you will use in what area, and get approval from the production superintendant or his designee for that usage. It is possible that a given chemical is not allowed in a given area. Perhaps that chemical would react with some process chemical, production may not have sufficient ventilation and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the people in that area, or there are floor drains in that area that production doesn’t want that chemical used anywhere near. Or perhaps the emergency shower for that area is out of service due to a corroded pipe. There are many things that Production can know that you don’t.
3. If ventilating from a room, carefully and thoroughly determine where exactly that air is going. “Outside” is not precise enough. In one case, an exhaust vent was close enough to the building’s make-up air intake vent that the chemical was pulled into the HVAC system and distributed to the building occupants. A similar logic applies when ventilating into a room for positive air pressure; what is on the other side of that wall?
4. If you don’t have the exact PPE that’s recommended, don’t substitute under the theory that some PPE is better than no PPE. If the SDS calls for unventilated goggles, that’s probably to protect your eyes from chemical contact. Sulfur dioxide can leave you blind, as can many other chemicals.
5. Estimate how much of the chemical you need. If it’s something other than a spray application, put only that amount into a small task container. This reduces exposure risk, air concentration of the fumes, combustion issues (if there are any), the consequences of a spill (it’s easy to kick over a can of solvent by accident), and both the cost and complexity of EPA-compliant disposal.
6. It may seem smart to note the location of a spill kit before heading off to use that chemical. It is much smarter to have that spill kit with you. If there is no spill kit available, you probably should not that chemical in a form or amount that can cause a spill problem. This issue is one reason to use the task container, but that alone may not suffice if you need a fair amount of this chemical to perform the work.
7. Scrutinize the area for related hazards. For example, you have a flammable solvent, and there are stacks of cardboard within spitting distance. Ask operations to relocate those stacks, at least temporarily, for you.
8. If there is an operator in the area, check in with that person. Inform him or her of what you will be doing, what chemicals you will be using, and how long you intend to take.
9. Properly dispose of the chemical when you’re done using it. This can depend on several factors. For example, can you seal the chemical and the applicator in a can so they stop emitting fumes? If so, you may want to dispose of the chemical before the job is completed. You may be able to get production to supply a person to handle that for you, dropping by at about the time you said you’d be done.
10. During the job, look for indications of harm that were identified in the SDS. For example, it’s a caustic and the SDS says you won’t feel a burn but your skin will redden. Do the same when you are doing with the job. Have members of your team check each other, especially in places you can’t see such as the seat of your pants.

Something you may have noticed in these ten tips is several involve teamwork. Ask production, talk with the operator, and check each other for contamination. When you’re using these chemicals, you are introducing a potential hazard not only to yourself but also to others who may be in the area or downwind of your exhaust vent. Recruit them as needed to help keep everyone safe.