CHICAGO — Chemicals are necessary when it comes to the laundry process, and with the potential for personal and environmental harm, numerous regulations have to be followed regarding usage, storage and safety.
Federal requirements are often top-of-mind with chemicals, so operators might overlook local and state regulations.
There can be wide variations in chemical storage and use regulations, but most general requirements are based on national or international building and fire codes, says Eli Cryderman, director-technical services for laundry chemical provider Gurtler Industries Inc.
These regulations will specify the amounts of hazardous chemicals that can be stored on-site; the type of building, containment and fire protection required; and any other storage and use considerations.
“Every state is different and it would require that an operator research what standards their local state agencies follow and who those state agencies are,” says Vaughn Minissian, director of operations for chemical solutions and water technologies company Norchem Corp.
“Local/state/federal requirements are varied, and operators should always employ a bottom-up strategy, focusing on local requirements first,” adds Ryan Cotroneo, chief technology officer for chemical manufacturer UNX Industries Inc.
“These requirements will likely involve the most audits (wastewater) and are specific to the community and the infrastructure (human/mechanical) they have in place.”
SAFETY DATA SHEETS
Kasey Wahl, director of sales and marketing, and John Koduru, director of safety, regulatory and quality, for Washing Systems, a provider of products and services to the commercial laundry processing industry, say that chemical safety programs must include a written hazard communication program, which addresses maintaining current SDS, container labeling, PPE, emergency response plan and training.
“The chemical supplier must ensure that the information supplied to a laundry on each chemical must be current and up to date with all governing regulations,” they say. “Laundry operators are responsible for assimilating that information into their own written ‘HazCom’ program as a part of a company’s overall safety program.”
SDS should be read thoroughly and completely, as they will contain detailed health and safety information, as well as storage, handling and any pertinent regulatory data, says Cryderman.
“The revised Globally Harmonized System (GHS) adopted by OSHA makes reading SDS easy and intuitive, with simple to understand phrases, pictograms and technical information,” he says.
“Sections 2-8 are likely the most important for an operator to review in-depth as these sections cover the most pertinent information for a user, such as the product hazards (Section 2), First Aid measures to follow after an exposure incident (Section 4), what to do in the event of a spill (Section 6), how to store properly (Section 7), and what type of personal protective equipment or facility safety equipment is necessary (Section 8).”
Also, Cryderman says SDS should be read and understood before receiving the product to ensure the facility and staff are properly equipped and trained to handle the material, as well as complying with any applicable regulations.
“They must pay attention to the ingredient list, comprehend corrosiveness, oxidation, fire safety, noxious nature of each ingredient,” Minissian says. “Pay attention to compatibility of product with other products.
“For example, acids and bleach cannot mix, alkali and sour cannot mix. They must study the sections of the SDS sheets that touch on these subjects.”
Cotroneo says a laundry operation should familiarize itself with the following quick cards and briefs from OSHA:
- OSHA 3491: quick card on standard pictogram design and meanings (www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3491QuickCardPictogram.pdf).
- OSHA 3493: quick card on SDS layout and section purposes (www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3493QuickCardSafetyDataSheet.pdf).
- OSHA 3514: in-depth briefing on SDS layout and section purposes (www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3514.pdf).
“These quick cards/briefs give the operator an understanding of the purpose of each section and where to get specific information,” he says. “All operators should have a familiarity with the chemicals within their plant before they are used in any operation.”
Many factors influence whether cleaning chemicals can cause health problems, shares Peter Berrio, director of business development for Pariser Industries, a manufacturer of specialty cleaning chemicals, and important matters to consider (and where related information is found) include:
- Chemical ingredients of the products (label, SDS).
- How the cleaning product is being used or stored (label, SDS and chemical vendor training).
- Ventilation in the area where the cleaning product is stored or used (label, SDS).
- Emergency response should there be splashes or spills or contact with skin/eyes (label, SDS).
- Whether mists, vapors and/or gases are released (label, SDS).
Berrio suggests that every laundry should identify and appoint a qualified employee to administer to the operation’s chemical handling and emergency response. The person should have experience or training in the following:
- Proper use and storage of the chemicals in the laundry.
- Facility protocols in the event of a chemical spill or related accident.
- Administration of SDS placement at point of use and in corporate files.
- An understanding and familiarity with the nature, contents and use of SDS.
Miss Part 1 on wastewater and handling-usage? Click HERE to read it. Check back Thursday for the conclusion on help for operators and final thoughts.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].