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Personal Safety
Employee Education and Training
Before undertaking any training of the employees who are engaged in
handling or processing epichlorohydrin, the instructor should be thoroughly
familiar with the contents of this bulletin. The supervisor must make
certain that each person handling the material is aware of the precautions
and measures necessary to maintain safe operation. Professional assistance
is recommended in organizing and implementing safety indoctrination and
handling procedures.
It is the supervisor's responsibility to check employees periodically to
make certain they are following instructions and observing precautions as
directed.
Personal Protective Equipment
Availability and Use
Personal protective equipment should be provided and used in conjunction
with proper working conditions and adequate ventilation. Personal
protective equipment is not a substitute for administrative and engineering
controls. Although it should be used only for emergency or temporary
situations, it is, nonetheless, in many instances the only practical means
of personal protection. All who may have to use personal protective
equipment should be instructed on how and when to use it. The following
personal protective equipment should be used when indicated:
Eye Protection
It is imperative that eyes be protected from epichlorohydrin which either
as a liquid or a vapor is capable of causing eye burns.
- Chemical Safety Goggles - Cup-type plastic or rubber framed liquid
and gas tight goggles, equipped with approved impact resistant glass or
plastic lenses, should be worn whenever there is danger of contact of the
eyes with the liquid or gaseous material. Goggles should be carefully fitted.
Employee Education and Training
- Spectacle-Type Safety Goggles - Metal or plastic rim safety
spectacles with unperforated side shields may be used in laboratories where
continuous eye protection is desirable, but the degree of exposure is low. Spectacles, however, should not be used if complete eye protection is
needed; they do not afford protection from splashes or vapors. In all
cases persons who wear contact lenses should wear chemical safety goggles
as minimum eye protection.
- Face Shields - Plastic shields (full face type) with forehead
protection may be worn in addition to chemical safety goggles where
complete face protection is desirable. Chemical safety goggles always
should be worn as added protection where there is danger of material
striking the eyes from underneath or around the sides of the face shield.
Face shields alone should not be used as a substitute for chemical safety
goggles.
Respiratory Protection
Severe exposure to epichlorohydrin vapors may occur in cleaning and
repairing tanks and equipment containing ECH, with decontaminating ECH
spill areas or in case of failure of ECH piping or equipment. Employees
who may be subject to such exposures should be provided with proper
respiratory protective equipment, checked for proper fit, and trained in
its use and care.
Where respirators are needed, the appropriate respirator should be selected
from Table 2 and supervision should ensure that the employee uses the
respirator provided.
Respirators should be approved by the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the provisions of 30 CFR Part 11.
A respiratory protection program should be instituted in accordance with
Section 1910.134 (b), (d), (e), and (f).
Table 2/Respiratory Protection for Epichlorohydrin
| Condition |
Permissible respiratory protection |
Vapor
concentration | |
| 50 ppm or less |
Any supplied-air respirator.
Any self-contained breathing apparatus. |
| 250 ppm or less |
Any supplied-air respirator with a full
facepiece, helmet, or hood.
Any self-contained breathing apparatus
with a full facepiece. |
| Greater than 250 ppm |
Self-contained breathing apparatus with
a full facepiece operated in pressure-
demand or other positive pressure mode.
A combination respirator which includes
a Type C supplied-air respirator with a
facepiece operated in pressure-demand
or other positive pressure or continuous-
flow mode and auxiliary self-contained
breathing apparatus operated in
pressure-demand or other positive pressure
mode. |
| Fire Fighting |
Self-contained breathing apparatus with
a full facepiece operated in pressure-
demand mode or other positive pressure mode. |
| Escape |
Any escape self-contained breathing
apparatus.
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Note: Respiratory
protective equipment must be carefully maintained, inspected, and cleaned
at regular intervals and always after each use.
Caution: Filter-type dust respirators do not offer protection against gases
or O2 deficiency are unsuitable for use when working with epichlorohydrin.
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