News item: Clorox to stop using chlorine to make bleach

Okay, time out.

So Clorox is going to stop using chlorine gas which is transported by rail—the safest form of transportation—in double-walled, insulated tanker cars with reinforced ends and all of the valves and gateways guarded. (Thank you FEMA AW 147 rail car incident class that I took two weeks ago!!)

Greenpeace applauds, the news release says, but that questioning voice you hear above the clapping is mine.

Let’s all put on our properly fit-tested SCBAs so we’re not overcome by the green cloud and consider what this means.

Now Clorox will be transporting bulk quantities of liquid sodium hypochlorite, which can be shipped in a “general service” single-wall rail tank car with no reinforced ends and no protection on the valves and gateways.

In the event of a derailment, guess which of these two types of rail car is more likely to breech???

With chlorine gas, you can evacuate the area and let the cloud dissipate. With a sodium hypochlorite spill, you’ll be digging up soil for months—and guess what:  That soil’s offgassing the pollutants the entire time. 

And guess what else—just because Clorox is going to stop using chlorine doesn’t necessarily translate to less chlorine on the rails or on the road.  

Guess how you make sodium hypochlorite: You react dilute a caustic soda solution with liquid or gaseous chlorine.   So chlorine is still going to be transported.  Most likely by rail.

This is a good thing??  What am I missing?

Yes, it will be safer for Clorox employees— and kudos to Clorox for that—but I just don’t see the environmental triumph. 

Image © Beth Van Trees - Fotolia.com

I’m here to question a USA Today story that says that the DOT has inadequate info on haz-mat spills.

We’re told that “federal records” show that “nearly half of all ‘serious’ hazardous materials spills on roads, rails, airstrips and waterways go unreported to the government, leaving investigators without data used to identify unsafe carriers and containers.” What “federal records” are they looking at? The National Response Center (NRC) pretty much tracks this info by the minute.

The story could leave the impression that haz-mat carriers in America are blatantly polluting. But if you read very closely, it doesn’t say that they’re not responding to spills, it says that they’re  not always doing the paperwork afterward, and the Department of (DOT) isn’t cracking down on them for that.

Here are the numbers given: “From 2006 through 2008, hazmat carriers failed to report 1,199 ’serious’ incidents, such as larger spills that cause substantial evacuations, major road closures, serious injuries, or releases of especially dangerous materials. The number of serious incidents that were reported: 1,403.”

Okay, but all of this is reported to the NRC by federal, state and local agencies. The DOT can access the info from NRC’s website the same way that you and I can.

Haz-mat carriers are indeed required to report spills to DOT, but it’s an exaggeration to think that having this data will enable DOT to eliminate all hazards of haz-mat transportation. Icy roads … drivers who fall asleep at the wheel: Things will still happen.

In USA Today’s article, the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee paints this picture: Without data on haz-mat spills, DOT “cannot put together a strategic plan for reducing hazardous materials transportation incidents, fatalities, and injuries.” He’s leading a hearing about this today.

If DOT wants accurate data, why not get it from the NRC? They can give you about 20 years of data almost instantly. There are already requirements that haz-mat carriers be “properly trained.” If DOT feels that something is lacking, why not revisit those regulations and revise them to be a little more specific? You don’t need a whole new strategic plan.

The article quotes Rich Moskowitz, VP of the American Trucking Association, as saying that many haz-mat carriers already know reporting requirements. “There needs to be better outreach to the industry and if that fails, then … stepped up enforcement.”

Hello! A voice of reason. Bless you, Rich Moskowitz! Education. Maybe the DOT can work THAT into their “strategic plan.” If they need some help, maybe they can ask their neighbors at OSHA and EPA. Both have created many, many programs to help walk people through a wide variety of regulatory topics.

Image © EyeMark - Fotolia.com

For those transportation companies that find themselves in need of response products, New Pig has spill response products to help protect people, animals and the environment and meet environmental regulations such as 40 CFR 263.30(a) and 40 CFR 263.31. These include:

Spill Kits
Pop-Up Containment Pools
Emergency Response Guidebook

For questions related to hazmat shipping, call the DOT Hazardous Materials info line at 1-800-467-4922.

To report a spill, call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802

For more information on reporting haz-mat incidents, click here.

The following is adapted from an article I wrote for the latest edition of OHS magazine. Used with permission.

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is among the most common safety citations in general industry, with over 4,000 violations annually. Hopefully, the following information will help you comply and have a safer workplace.

The HazCom Standard requires a written outline for a hazard communication program, proper employee training on workplace hazards, and documentation that each employee who could be exposed a hazard understands how to protect himself. This includes a process for proper container labeling—curled masking tape with smudged ink won’t satisfy a compliance officer.

Chemical manufacturer responsibilities

The manufacturer or importer of a chemical must determine its hazards [29 CFR 1910.1200(d)(1)]. OSHA lets employers treat this information as accurate.

A container of hazardous chemicals must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) listing hazardous components and describing health hazards, proper use, and emergency procedures. OSHA also requires thefollowing information on the container, label or tag [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)]:

• Identity of the chemical
• Appropriate hazard warnings
• Name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party

If a chemical manufacturer or importer learns of a new hazard, labels and information must be revised within three months. Hazardous materials in transit must meet not only OSHA requirements but also those of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Employer responsibilities

Creating an employer’s hazard communication plan will include the following steps:

• Create an inventory of hazardous chemicals on site
• Gather an MSDS for each
• Develop a program describing how a container will be marked so workers can easily identify the chemical and its hazards. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)]. OSHA requires that markings be legible, in English, and prominently displayed. The chemical’s identity may be a common or trade name or the actual chemical name. Hazard warnings may be words, pictures, symbols, numeric representations, or a combination.
• Document training plans, including schedules for refresher sessions.

Labeling requirements apply when a hazardous chemical is transferred to a smaller portable container unless the dispensing person immediately uses the chemical. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f) (5), 29 CFR 1910.1200(f) (7)]. Employees who do such dispensing must understand the requirements and know how to mark a portable container when needed, or how to get this done.

Facilities often use the labeling standards of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) or HMIS (Hazardous Materials Information System). Both systems indicate hazard levels with a numeric scale. Using established systems like these aids labeling, training and compliance, as an MSDS will often include the NFPA and HMIS numeric values.

An employer should designate someone to ensure that container markings follow the established format and always have proper and current information. This includes documenting these duties and the review and updating process.

Training

OSHA requires that each employee receives information about:

• Any hazardous chemical exposure possible in his workplace
• How to protect against such exposure
• How to read container markings and MSDS
• Where MSDS are stored and how to get more information

Some employers give all workers the same HazCom training. Others tailor training to hazards in an employee’s main work area so training is more realistic. Proper signs help remind employees of hazards in areas they rarely visit.

Receiving crews should be trained to accept only properly labeled chemicals, perhaps only those on a specified inventory. Some facilities establish protocols for MSDS; for instance, requiring chemical suppliers to send them in advance and/or only to a safety officer.

Rounding out safety

The Hazard Communication Standard is far-reaching and sometimes overwhelming, but proper training helps employees understand how it improves safety and be better able to comply.

See these groups of labeling products at newpig.com:

Right-to-Know Signs and Labels

Hazardous Waste Labels

Portable Label Makers

“The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic”

Well, it’s official.  Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization (WHO) has  raised the world to Level 6.

Before everyone starts scrambling for masks and hunkering down, let’s remember:

1. Yes, this is a virus; and yes, it is contagious.  So is the common cold and many other things. If you’re sick, stay home. Keep a good social distance (whether you’re sick or not).  Wash your hands and avoid touching your face.
2. Remember that not every case of the flu is deadly. Sadly, it is true that people have died from this strain of the flu—but people die from every strain of the flu. MOST people recover without the need for hospitalization or medical care.

Want to know more? WHO has lots of information posted to help educate the public on what they can do to protect themselves.

My post on compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) drew a  comment from Walt McGinnis, a licensed electrician and radiation tester who’s also blogged about this topic. His post is definitely worth reading and mentions several more considerations related to CFLs, including:

• Possible dangers from ultraviolet, radio frequency and electromagnetic radiation
• Energy consumed during manufacturing, packaging, shipping, selling and disposal, as well as during related mercury reclamation
• Energy losses during operation
• Product life and efficiency improvements in incandescent bulbs
• Potentially much greater gains to be made in water heating energy use

One of the Walt’s most interesting points concerns the cooler operating temperature of CFL’s: While this may reduce air conditioning use in summer, it may also increase heating use in winter, peak season for both lighting and heating. Great perspective!

Walt, thanks very much for reading The Pig Blog and for your comments.

Image © Roger Asbury - Fotolia.com

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), that leading symbol of environmental awareness, has environmental and health issues of its own that may surprise you. Balanced against the potential energy and cost savings are potential dangers to people, animals and plants during the manufacturing, use and disposal of CFLs. You can make up your own mind about using them at home or at work; it’s just good to have the information you need to make an informed decision.

Image  © Petr Kratochvil - Fotolia.com

A closer look at energy and cost savings
CFLs are often known as energy saving lights because a CFL generally uses less power and has a longer rated life than incandescent lamps. Typically, the packaging for a CFL will say that the lamp can save over US $30 in electricity costs over its lifetime compared to the lifetime of an incandescent bulb.

However, a CFL may last no longer than an incandescent bulb if it’s used for only a few minutes at a time. The US Energy Star program advises leaving a CFL on for at least 15 minutes at a time. In that context, your higher-priced CFL may save you nothing when used for a trip to the kitchen for a midnight snack or to the bathroom or in many other on-and-off situations.

A closer look at environmental benefits
Not only are CFLs engineered to use less power than incandescent lamps, but because they also run cooler, they may also cut air conditioning power use. Assuming that it draws electricity derived from burning fossil fuels, a CFL used to its maximum life may save 2,000 times its own weight in greenhouse gases.

In areas powered by coal, CFLs may also reduce some mercury emissions (because coal emissions include mercury). However, mercury is at the core of environmental and health damage that CFLs may cause …

A closer look at mercury factors
Like all fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain mercury vapor that glows when electrified. Mercury is highly toxic. An accumulation in the body can cause nerve, lung and kidney damage and especially threatens unborn babies and young children.  And unfortunately, you can’t see, smell or taste mercury vapors—so it’s hard to know whether you’ve been exposed.

Some quick history: Ancient Roman and Greek cultures knew about the dangers of mercury. Prisoners were often made to work in mercury mines to spare the health of the general population. This was actually a death sentence worse than beheading or stoning because it was slower and more painful. And remember the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland? Well, he was “mad” because hatters commonly used mercury to shape the felt in felt hats. The overexposure to mercury vapors caused madness.

Having that information helps underline tragic news reported this week in the London Times that the manufacturing of CFLs has led to hundreds of citizens of China being poisoned by mercury. The article says that inadequate safety and environmental controls in some mines and factories not only sicken people and animals, but also stunt crops.

Mercury vapor is released any time a CFL or any fluorescent light is broken. You’ll find cleanup advice at this EPA page, starting with the instruction to open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes. The EPA page also has information for what to do in case liquid mercury spills. Keep our Mercury Spill Control Kits in mind. The MerconKit™ product below features excellent vapor control as well.

Frankly, the EPA is vague about CFL disposal. The advice is to look for options locally, but there are sometimes none to be found. I know this firsthand: I’ve got a half a dozen CFLs in a box in my garage waiting for a good disposal option. This drives me nuts, especially because some countries are going to make CFLs mandatory as soon as next year, so a lot more people will run into the same situation OR, not knowing any better or not caring, will just toss spent or broken CFLs into the regular trash. Not only does this increase their risk of exposure to mercury vapor, it also sets up a prime scenario for water and other resources to be contaminated!

The closest “safe and responsible” disposal option I’ve found (starting here) is the Home Depot or IKEA in Pittsburgh—about a two-hour drive from my hometown.  So I’ve spent twice the money to buy this bulb, and will have to drive 120 miles to get rid of it?  Now I’m creating excess air emissions and wasting fossil fuels. Have legislators really thought this through?

Thankfully, it’s often easier for companies who use recycling services. New Pig is diligent about recycling CFLs, fluorescent tube lamps, HID bulbs and as many other materials as we can.  We can only hope that more convenient options will become available for the general public as well.

Hope you found all of this this en-light-ening …

Think you know all the facts about SPCC compliance? Take our 6-question quiz to find out for sure!

If you’re not satisfied with your score or just want to know more,  click here for more information about the EPA’s SPCC requirements and some helpful hints for keeping your facility compliant and our water resources safe!

Thanks to the swine flu news reports, we’re all seeing a lot of people wearing face masks these days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a page with a lot of information related to this practice. It gives usage tips and cautions about how much protection to expect.

The media’s been providing almost up-to-the minute counts on confirmed cases and deaths, but they’re failing to report that simply donning a paper mask is NOT going to prevent you from contracting the swine, avian, H5N1 or any other form of flu.

Here are five practices that are equally effective for the general public:

1. Wash your hands properly. Use warm water and soap, sing “Happy Birthday” twice, and turn off the faucet with a paper towel.
2. Sanitize surfaces completely. One swipe with doesn’t cut it. Keep cleaning for at least 20 seconds: sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
3. Stay home if you’re sick.
4. Maintain your social distance. Stay more than two feet away from other people.
5. Avoid touching your face unless you have just washed or sanitized your hands.

Some factors to consider with paper masks:

No one knows how well respirators and face masks help control flu. The CDC opens its page by saying they have little data in this area, so they’re working from their best judgment and from history of general respirator and face mask use.

Don’t rely only on respirators or face masks. It’s better to take a range of actions such as those described above.

Respirators and face masks reduce exposure to airborne contaminants. Don’t expect them to prevent exposure. The problem with paper masks is that most don’t have a seal around the edges. Any air that is not drawn through the filtering media has not been “cleaned.” And even the most efficient respirator cartridge is only 99.7% efficient. There’s still a .3% chance of exposure.

A respirator’s seal to your face is vital. There’s a difference between a respirator and a paper mask. A respirator has a seal and needs to be fit-tested to ensure that it forms a proper seal and is providing proper protection. Without that seal, it’s not much better than a paper mask. Most paper masks are just that: masks. They don’t have a seal. As mentioned earlier, you’re not protected from “dirty” air that flows in around the edges—and air takes the path of least resistance, so much of an incoming breath could be unfiltered.

Watch the rating. N95 is a very common rating, but it was designed for respirators and masks used in an industrial setting. It has to do with whether the mask can be used in the presence of an oil mist. Although the CDC is recommending an N95 or higher rating, most N95 respirators haven’t been tested with any viral or bacterial contaminants.

A quick guide to the industrial ratings:

• N = Not resistant to oil
• R = Resistant to oil
• P = Oil Proof

• 95 = Filters 95% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter or larger
• 99 = Filters 99% of particles 0.3 microns or larger
• 100 = Filters 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger

Respirators with exhalation valves can spread infection. If you are or may be infected, a respirator with an exhalation valve won’t protect others around you.

Any disposable respirator or face mask can spread infection if not handled properly. After using a disposable respirator around anyone who might be infected, don’t touch it except when wearing proper protective gloves. Dispose of it properly. It could be a biohazard.

Be careful with your gloves, too. Assume that protective gloves that touch a used respirator or face mask are also contaminated, so don’t touch anything else while wearing them. Remove them with caution, not touching the outer surfaces, dispose of them properly, and wash your hands thoroughly after removing the gloves.

Compare the cost of disposables to reusables. Will your group be discarding enough one-use respirators that reusable respirators would be a better choice?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just raised the Pandemic Level from 4 to 5. With proper awareness, we may be able to avoid Level 6!

Our sympathies goes out to everyone affected by these cases of flu. Be well.

Related PIG® products:

Disposable Respirators

Reusable Respirators

Nitrile Gloves

Latex Gloves

RelyOn™ Antiseptic Hand Wipes

KIMTECH PREP® Surface Sanitizer

Wall Bracket for KIMTECH™ Surface Sanitizing Wiper

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes
12 tubs, lemon scent
12 tubs, fresh scent
6 tubs, lemon scent
6 tubs, fresh scent

Purell® Sanitizing Wipes
35 wipes
175 wipes

Purell® Hand Sanitizer
four 2-liter pump bottles
24 4.25 oz bottles
twelve 8 oz. pump bottles
six 800-ml bag-in-box refills
dispenser

PIG® BioSafety Spill Clean-up Kit

Vomitus Clean-up Kit