The Growing Threat of the Agriculture Workplace Pacific Avian Influenza Training Workshop Carter Davis Pacific EMPRINTS Program Threats & Problems • • • • • • • Farm Chemicals Industrial Chemicals Biological Terrorism Storage Transportation Proper Use Chemicals Hazard Class 1: Explosives • Background color: – Orange • Symbol: – Exploding ball Hazard Class 2: Gases • Background color: – Varies • Symbol: – Varies • Non-flammable gases, flammable gases, poisonous gases INHALATION HAZARD Hazard Class 3: Flammable Liquids • Background color: – Red • Symbol: – Flame • Flammable & combustible liquids Hazard Class 4: Flammable Solids • Background color: – Red & white candy striped – Blue if reacts with water • Flammable solids, spontaneously combustibles, dangerous when wet Hazard Class 5: Oxidizers & Organic Peroxides • Background color: – Yellow • Symbol: – Flaming ball Hazard Class 6: Poisons & Etiologic Materials • Background color: – White, with black lettering for poisons INHALATION HAZARD Hazard Class 7: Radioactive Materials • Background color: – White on the bottom, yellow on the top • Symbol: – Trefoil Hazard Class 8: Corrosives • Background color: – Black on the bottom, white on the top • Symbol: – Piece of metal and a hand damaged by liquid • Acids and bases Hazard Class 9: Miscellaneous • Hazardous materials not specified in other classes Facility Markings • NFPA 704 Marking System • Hazardous Materials Identification System (HMIS) • Generally used on smaller transfer containers Farm Chemicals • Pesticides – – – – Insecticides Rodenticides Fungicides Herbicides • Fertilizers • Animal Medications • Cleaning Agents and Solvents Pesticide Safety • Reduce risk to exposure and injury – Follow labels and MSDS – Wear appropriate PPE – Use the least hazardous chemicals at the recommended rate and concentration – Prepare only enough for immediate use – Verify application equipment is working properly and does not leak – Don’t eat, drink or smoke while pouring, mixing or applying – Work in pairs – Clean all equipment thoroughly and without contaminating the environment – Wash work clothes separately – Wash hands thoroughly after handling Pesticide Safety • Take Additional Precautions – Have a first aid kit nearby and include resuscitation mask, eye wash solution, soap – Have fresh water available – Have all workers take first aid training – Check labels and MSDS for proper handling, application, – Check with nearby health care facilities for proper stock of antidotes and emergency supplies – Stop work and seek medical attention if there is any sign of muscular spasms, blurred vision, excessive saliva, or difficulty breathing Pesticide Storage • Store chemicals in a well-ventilated area • Store in shed with good lighting and has impervious floor and shelving • Use secondary containment • Store chemicals in original containers • Place an external sign indicating chemical storage • Keep incompatible materials separate • Keep a spill kit nearby • Keep away from food, animal feed, fertilizers and seeds • Have access to an emergency shower nearby Pesticide Transport • Avoid transporting with food, water, animal feed, fertilizers, seeds and reactive substances • Secure in or on vehicle to prevent movement and change in orientation. • Keep shipping documents or records of the items you are carrying • Carry a spill kit and appropriate personal protective equipment with the vehicle Pesticide Disposal • Take notice of warnings on the labels regarding toxicity to non-target areas • Check label/MSDS for advice on disposal • Triple rinse empty containers • Uncap, puncture and crush all rinsed containers • When possible return containers to supplier or manufacture • Check with local government authority for information on safe disposal FIFRA Label Requirements • Front Panel – – – – – – – – Restricted Use Pesticide Statement (if applicable) Product Name, Brand, Trademark Ingredient Statement Keep out of Reach of Children (KOOROC Statement) Signal Word (Caution, Warning, Danger) First Aid (Statement of Practical Treatment) Skull & Crossbones “POISON” for high toxicity Net Contents/Net Weight FIFRA Label Requirements • Front or Back Panel – EPA Registration Number & Establishment Number – Company Name and Address • Back Panel – Precautionary Statements (Hazards to Humans and Animals, Environmental Hazards, Physical and Chemical Hazards) – – – – Directions for Use Storage and Disposal Warranty Statement Worker Protection Labeling C.B.R.N.E Terrorism Biological Chemical Nuclear Radiological Explosive Toxicology • What's Toxic? How is it determined? • Physical Hazards - Mechanical – Fire, Heat, Explosions, Falling Objects • Health Hazards - Biological – Bodily Contact – Immediate and/or Delayed Reactions Dose • Concentration – percent, – PPMs, PPBs, Mg/Kg Concentration • 1,000,000 ppm = % – 100% • 100,000 ppm = % – 10% • 10,000 ppm = % – 1% • 1,000 ppm = 0.1% • 100 ppm = 0.01% • • • • 10 ppm = 0.001% 1 ppm = 0.0001% 1 ppb = 0.0000001% 1 ppt= 0.0000000001% Concentration Which one is more toxic? Product A Product B Toxic effect when exposed to 9,000 ppm Toxic effect when exposed to 90 ppm Industrial Toxic Thresholds • By Inhalation – TLV/TWA - Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted, day to day exposure without adverse health effects (ACGIH) – STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit - may exceed TLV/TWA for up to 15 minutes but not to occur more than 4 times per day – TLV-C - should never exceed (ACGIH) – REL- Recommended Exposure Limit (NIOSH) Industrial Toxic Thresholds (continue) • By Inhalation – PEL - Permissible Exposure Limit (OSHA) – IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (NIOSH) – LC50 - Lethal Concentration by inhalation (animal) anything less than 200 mg/kg is considered a poison Industrial Toxic Thresholds (continue) • By Ingestion – LD50 - Lethal Dose by ingestion or skin absorption (animal) less than 200 mg/kg is considered a poison. – Carcinogens - cancer causing (N/A or no exposure) Industrial Substances PEL TWA (8 hrs & STEL) • • • • • • • • Acetone – 750 ppm, 1,000 ppm Unleaded Gasoline – 300 ppm, 500 ppm Carbon Monoxide – 35 ppm, 400 ppm Ammonia – 25 ppm, 35 ppm Hydrogen Sulfide – 9.9 ppm, 15 ppm Hydrogen Cyanide – 10 ppm Chlorine – 1 ppm Hydrazine – 0.1 ppm Chemical Substances PEL TWA (8 hrs & STEL) • • • • • • Phosgene – 0.099 ppm 2-chloroethyl sulfide – 0.0005 ppm Lewisite – 0.0004 ppm Tabun – 0.000017 ppm Somin – 0.000004 ppm VX (O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylamino)ethyl methylphosphonothiolate – 0.0000009 ppm Relative Toxicity by Inhalation • • • • >500 ppm - Toxic 101-500 ppm - Moderately Toxic 1-100 ppm - Highly Toxic <1 ppm - Super Toxic – Based upon the lowest value listed for the substance, usually TLV/TWA, STEL or PEL Relative Toxicity by Ingestion • • • • >5 gm/kg - Toxic .5 gm-5gm/kg - Moderately Toxic 50 mg-500 mg/kg - Highly Toxic 1 mg-50mg/kg - Super Toxic – Based upon animal LD50 – gm of product per kg of body weight of target organism Dose • Concentration – percent, PPMs, PPBs, Mg/Kg • Duration of Exposure – Acute Vs Chronic, Sensitization • Routes – Inhalation, Ingestion, Absorption, Injection Dose (continued) • Susceptible Target Organs – Nervous System, Skeleton & Marrow, Thyroid, Lungs, Heart, Blood, Veins, Liver, Kidneys, Intestines, Skin • Health Variables – body weight, age, physical condition, gender • Dose/Response Physical Properties • Vapor Pressure - Rate of Evaporation • Vapor Density - wt of vapor Vs wt of air • Specific Gravity - wt of liquid Vs wt of water • Solubility - mixes with water • Flash Point - min temp to produce enough vapors to cause ignition but not sustain combustion. Physical Properties • Fire Point - min temp to produce enough vapors to sustain combustion • Boiling Point - temp at which liquid changes to gas at it’s maximum rate • Flammable Range - the percent of vapor in air that is able to burn • Upper Explosive Limit (UEL) - max percentage of vapor in air that will burn Physical Properties • Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) - min percentage of vapor in air that will burn • Expansion Ration - ratio of gas volume compared to liquid volume • pH - scale used to measure how corrosive • Ionizing radiation – alpha, beta, gamma, neutron – time, distance, shielding, quantity Reference Resources • • • • • • • Emergency Response Guidebook NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards Internet Farm Safety Handbook by Rick Kubick MeisterPro Crop Protection Handbook Jane’s Chem-Bio Handbook InterNet Search Tools The Growing Threat of the Agriculture Workplace Pacific Avian Influenza Training Workshop Carter Davis Pacific EMPRINTS Program hazmat@hawaii.rr.com