a chemical safety timeline
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TRANSCRIPT
A Chemical SafetyTimeline
Russ PhiferWC Environmental, LLC
West Chester, PA
Prehistory-Pliny-Paracelsus-Ramazzini-Pure Food& Drug Act-Canaries-ASSE-NSC-RoSPA-OSHA
Early History
• Prehistoric men learned what foods killedpeople and animals, and what plant extractsto put on arrow tips for hunting
• They learned not to eat things that killedother people
• Early writings from Egypt, Mesopotamia,Greece, Rome, India, and China all discusspoisons and medicines
Gaius Plinius Secundus(Pliny, the Elder -AD 23-79)
• Invented the first respirators to protectworkers from inhaling lead oxide
• First respirators were crudely made fromanimal bladders
Paracelsus (1493-1541)
• Developed the basis for modern toxicology – “What is itthat is not poison? All things are poison and nothing iswithout poison. It is the dose only that makes a thing nota poison”.
• First to publish a description of the symptoms of chronicmercury poisoning; Also developed the first“chemotherapy” – using mercury for the treatment ofsyphilis (used for over 350 years)
• First to recognize silicosis came from inhaling metalvapors
Dr. BernardinoRamazzini (1633-1714)
• Recognized as the founder of the discipline ofoccupational medicine
• First to shift questions from “Where does it hurt”to “What type of work do you do?”
• Examined 43 different occupations for diseases orafflictions and offered practical advice forprevention/mitigation
1700’s & 1800’s –first “modern” respirators
• First Self-contained breathing apparatusand first air-purifying respirators weredeveloped
• 1814 – particulate-removing filter in a rigidcontainer first developed
• 1854 – value of activated carbon forfiltering vapors first recognized
1800’s - First “field” instrumentfor chemical safety
Used for methane & carbon monoxide detection
Early Safety Organizations
• Marine Hospital Service (predecessor agency toUS Public Health Service & NIH), first industrialhygiene laboratory - 1887
• American Society of Safety Engineers – 1911• National Safety Council – 1913• Holmes Safety Association – 1916 (mine safety)• British Industrial “Safety First” Council – 1917• ANSI (- 1918• International Labour Organization – 1919
Safety Glasses/Goggles
• Based on anecdotal evidence, not used atall in labs until mid 1940’s; not commonuntil 1960’s; not universal until 1970’s
Safety Glasses/Goggles?
1920 Pathology/bacteria lab
1931 chemistry lab
1930’s Metallurgical Lab
Fume Hoods
• First fan powered 1930’s
• Alchemists first used fireplace chimneysfor exhaust
Gloves in the Lab
• Not common until 1970’s
• No permeation testing until 1980’s,enabling chemical-specific gloves
OSH Act of 1970
• Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration formed
• Many standards associated with chemicalsafety developed, including personalprotection, eye protection, chemicalexposures, hazard communication, etc.
ANSI Eye ProtectionStandards
• As American Engineering StandardsCommittee, approved first eye protectionstandards for industrial workers in 1921
• ANSI Z88 first implemented in 1980
ACS Division ofChemical Health & Safety
• 1961 - Committee on Professional Relations andStatus recommends formation of ad hocCommittee on Chemical Safety
• 1961 – Council Policy Committee forms ad hoccommittee, and recommends formation ofstanding committee & a safety-oriented technicaldivision
• 1976 – DivCHAS achieves provisional status• 1980 – DivCHAS becomes a full Division
“Modern” inventions
• Heating mantle
• Automatic pipetting
• Micro-scale chemical use
• Computer technology reduces wet-chemistry work
• Automatic monitoring devices
• Automatic & robotic equipment