Chlorine Safety for Swimming Pool Operators

Chlorine is an effective and economical antibacterial that is used to destroy and deactivate a wide range of bacteria and viruses in homes, hospitals, swimming pools, hotels, restaurants and other public places.

Chlorine used in pool operations is supplied in three forms:

• Sodiumhypochlorite—aliquidthatindilute formiscommonlyknownasbleach

• Calciumhypochlorite—apowderortablet

• Chlorine—agassuppliedin150-lb.cylinders

Duetotheinherenthazardsofusinganyofthesecompoundscontainingchlorine,swimmingpooloperatorsshouldbetrainedinthesafeuse,handlingandstorageofthesechemicals.Thistrainingshouldincludeadiscussionofthehazards,emergencyresponseprocedures,firstaidandpoolchemicalsafetyrules.

Hazards of Pool-Chlorinating ChemicalsChlorine—Thehealtheffectsofchlorineareprimarilyduetoitscorrosiveproperties.Thestrongoxidizingeffectsofchlorinecausehydrogentosplitfromwaterinmoisttissue,resultingintheformationofhydrogenchloride,whichproducescorrosivetissuedamage.Becausechlorineisagas,mostexposuresoccurviainhalation.Low-levelexposurewillcauseeye/skin/airwayirritation,sorethroatandcough.Athigherlevelsofexposure,signsandsymptomsmayprogresstochesttightness,wheezing,shortnessofbreathandbronchospasm.Severeexposuresmayresultinfluidaccumulationinthelungs,whichcanoccurseveralhourslaterandresultindeath.Eyeandskincontactwithchlorinegasisalsopossible.Low-levelexposurewillcauseeyeandskinirritation.Higherexposuresmayresultinseverechemicalburnsorulcerations.Exposuretocompressedliquidchlorinemaycausefrostbite.

Sodium and Calcium Hypochlorite—Thehealtheffectsofthesetwocompoundsaredueprimarilytothehypochloritepresentinboth.Hypochloriteisa

strongoxidizerandcorrosivetotissue.Contactwithsolidcalciumhypochloritewillcauseirritationtoeyesandskin.Durationofexposureandconcentrationof the solution will determine theseverityoftheresultingburns.Dustofcalciumhypochloritecanbeinhaled,whichwillirritatethenoseandthroat.Higherexposureswillresultinsymptomssimilartobreathingchlorinegas.

Additional hazard—Allthreeofthesecompoundsarestrongoxidizers.Theyarenotexplosiveorflammablebythemselves,buttheywillsupportandincreasecombustion.Theyalsohavethepotentialtoreactviolentlywithorganicmaterials,suchasoilandgreasefromaircompressors,valvesandpumpsorwoodandragsfrommaintenancework,resultinginfire.

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Chlorine Safety for Swimming Pool Operators

First Aid for Chlorine Inhalation• Promptactionisessential.Removetheexposed

persontofreshairandgetprofessionalmedicalassistanceimmediately.

• Ifthevictimisnotbreathing,beginCPRassoonaspossible.

• Ifbreathing,placethevictiminacomfortableposition—eitherseatedinachairorlyingdownwiththeheadandbodytrunkelevatedata45to60degreeangle.

• Encouragethepersontotakeslow,deep,regularbreaths.Administeroxygenassoonaspossible.

• Keepthepersonwarmandatrest.

Basic Pool Chemical Safety Rules• Alwaysreadproductlabelsandfollow

manufacturer’sinstructions.

• Storechemicalsinacool,dry,well-ventilatedplace.

• Keeppoolchemicalsdry.

• Makesurepoolchemicalsareinaccessibletounauthorizedpersonnel.

• Avoidchemicalmixing.

• Nevermixchlorinewithanychemical–add eachtothepoolseparately.

• Donotmixoldchemicalswithfreshchemicals,eveniftheyarethesametype.

• Considerseparate,designatedtoolsfor eachchemical.

• Avoidbreathingfumesorvapors.

• Wearappropriatepersonalprotectiveequipmentaslistedonthelabelorsafetydatasheet(SDS).

• Don’tbuymorepoolchemicalsthanyou’lluseinaseason—theyloseeffectivenessovertime.

• Usetheentireproductbeforedisposingof thecontainer.

• Keepspilledmaterialsisolated.Followlabeldirectionsforcleanupanddisposal.Donotputspilledmaterialsbackintheoriginalcontainer.

• Donotdisposeofspilledmaterialorunusedproductinthetrashorsewer.Donotuse floor-sweepingcompoundswhencleaning uppoolchemicals.

• Donotstoreliquidmaterialsabovesolidmaterialstopreventaccidentalleakingandmixing,althoughsolidscanbestoredaboveliquids.

• Donotallowproducttocontactoil,grease, acidororganicmaterial.

• Donotsmokewherepoolchemicalsare storedorused.

• Donotusedrychemicalfireextinguishers (wateronly).

For Additional InformationCenters for Disease Control:www.cdc.gov/niosh

• SwimmingPools–Chlorine

The Chlorine Institute:www.chlorineinstitute.org

• ChlorineforSwimmingPools

Environmental Protection Agency:www.epa.gov

• SafeStorageandHandlingofSwimming PoolChemicals