Health and Safety at Water Treatment Facilities

David P. Horowitz, P.E., CSP (@dphorowitz)

■ Health & Safety– OSHA Top 10

■ Globally Harmonized System– Changes– Implementation Dates

■ General Water Treatment Plant Hazards■ Safe Chemical Handling

– Typical treatment plant chemistries– Initial response activities– Tanks

Why do we care?

Why do we care?

Safety Takeaways

■ Watch for common issues!

■ Watch your staff & contractors

■ Management of change– Safety Data Sheets

■ The most frequent injuries in water treatment facilities are:

a. Cuts and bruises

b. Explosive and toxic gases

c. Slips and falls

d. Strains and Sprains

e. None of the above

I’m from OSHA. I’m here to help.

#10 Electrical – Systems Design■ Electrical design■ Arc Flash (NFPA 70E)

System specific evaluations

■ Proposed equipment■ Existing equipment

■ PPE

#9 Machine Guarding

■ Engineered or structural fixes

■ Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)

#8 Electrical - Wiring■ Permanent■ Temporary

#7 Ladders - CONSTRUCTION

■ Design considerations■ Milestone Observation

OSHA Video - Ladders

#6 Lockout / Tagout

■ System specific evaluation

■ Comprehensive energy source understanding

#5 Powered Industrial Trucks

■ PIVs■ Hoisting requirements

#4 Respiratory Protection■ Engineer out, if possible■ Written Plan

■ Baseline physical■ Medical surveillance■ Fit testing

#3 Scaffolding - CONSTRUCTION ■ Design considerations

■ Milestone Observation

#2 Hazard Communication

■ Globally Harmonized System

■ Risk Management Planning– Chlorine Gas = >2,500 Lbs

#1 Fall Protection - CONSTRUCTION

■ Design considerations■ Milestone Observation

■ The most frequent safety hazard from the use of polymers is:

A. Attack on many types of stainless steel

B. Cause of severe burns and blindness

C. Evolution of a toxic gas

D. Extreme slipping hazard when spilled on surfaces

E. The boss scrutinizing chemical costs

Global Harmonized SystemMajor Changes

■ Training and implementation■ Hazard classification■ Labels and warnings■ Standard Safety Data Sheets

OSHA Video - GHS

Hazard Classifications

Physical Hazards

Hazard Classifications

HealthHazards

■ The goal of GHS■ Label elements and GHS pictograms■ Labeling components■ Possible sources of confusion

What’s wrong with HAZCOM

Too many systems Too confusing

Too time consuming Too nationally

focused

What’s wrong with HAZCOM?

Lots

Sometimes the Signs Are Obvious

Sometimes They Can Be Subject to Interpretation

Or need an interpreter

Or worse

Protect yourself

Protect others

Major ChangesThe Basics

■ Hazard classification■ Labels and warnings■ Standard Safety Data Sheets■ Training and implementation

Effective Completion Date Requirement(s) Who

December 1, 2013 Training•New Label Elements•Safety Data Sheets

Employers

June 1, 2015 Manufacturer full complianceHAZCOM plans updated

Chemical ManufacturersEmployers

December 1, 2015 Distribution Prohibitions for non GHS labels

Chemical Manufacturers, Importers and Distributors

June 1, 2016 Updates to program and training based on new hazard classifications

Employers

Physical Hazard Health Hazard

HAZARD TYPES■ Physical

– Unstable Chemicals (Water Reactive)– Flammables or Combustibles– Explosives– Stored at High Pressures– Thermal Effects

■ Health– Acute– Chronic– Latency Period

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

■ May Cause Injury by Physical Action■ Burns: Flammables, Combustibles■ Pressure: Compressed Gasses■ Explosions: Explosives, Reactives

Hazard Classifications

Physical Hazards

Hazard Classifications

Physical Hazards

EXAMPLES: PHYSICAL HAZARDS

■ Flammable■ Explosive■ Oxidizer■ Pyrophoric■ Unstable (Reactive)■ Water Reactive

EXPLOSIVE

■ Sudden Release Of:– Pressure– Gas– Heat

■ When Exposed To:– Sudden Shock– Pressure– High Temperature

■ BLEVE: Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion

OXIDIZER■ Reacts With Organic Material■ Releases Oxygen■ Promotes Combustion

Sodium Hypochlorite

Peracetic Acid

Oxygen

UNSTABLE (REACTIVE)

■ Unwanted Chemical Change During Normal Handling

■ May Generate– Heat– Pressure– Polymerization

■ Can Create– Fires– Explosions

WATER REACTIVE■ Presence of Water■ Forms a Gas That Is:

– Flammable or

– Toxic

Flammable Liquid Categories

Possibility for Confusion?Flashpoint

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

NFPA / OSHA Flammable Combustible

NFPA 704 Diamond 4 3 2

EPA / DOT Flammable Combustible

GHS 1 or 2 3 4

Signal Word Danger Danger Warning

Hazard StatementExtremely flammable liquid and

vaporHighly flammable liquid and

vaporFlammable liquid and vapor Combustible liquid

Pictogram     Nothing

Possibility for Confusion?

NFPA Video - Confusion

Compressed Gasses■ Injurious due to

pressure

Ethylene Oxide

Oxygen

HEALTH HAZARDS

■ Acute– Immediate Effects

■ Chronic– Effects May Build Over Time– May Be Latency Before Recognized Effects

■ Latency Period– Period Between Exposure and Exposure Effects

OSHA Video - PELs

Hazard Classifications

HealthHazards

Hazard Classifications

HealthHazards

ACUTE EXPOSURE / EFFECTS

■ Example: Acids■ Body Recognizes on Immediate Exposure■ Can Get Prompt Medical Attention

CORROSIVE■ A Hazardous Material That

Causes Visible Destruction Of, or Irreversible Alteration in Living Tissue at the Site of Contact

Sodium Hypochlorite Peracetic Acid

Acutely Toxic – Low Hazard■ Acutely

– Effects are “immediate”■ Toxic

– Chemical that causes harmful effects

– To target organ(s)– Effects are different

depending on target organ

■ May be Systemic– Affects almost all target

organs

Acutely Toxic – Low HazardIsopropyl alcohol

Dacarbazine

Glutaraldehyde

Acetone

Acutely Toxic - Irritant■ A Hazardous Material That Causes a Reversible

Inflammatory Effect on Living Tissue by Chemical Action at the Site of Contact

Isopropyl alcohol

Acutely Toxic – Sensitizer■ A Hazardous Material That Causes a Percentage of

the Exposed Group to Develop an Allergic Reaction After Repeated Exposure

Methyl methacrylate

Acutely Toxic – High Hazard■ Acutely

– Effects are “immediate”■ Toxic

– Chemical that causes harmful effects

– To target organ(s)– Effects are different

depending on target organ

■ High Hazards– Effects are significant– May be immediately life

threatening Ammonia

Chronic Toxic Effects■ Examples

– Carcinogens– Teratogens– Reproductive toxins

■ Health effects– Vary with chemical– Affect target organ– May not show up for

years after overexposure

Dacarbazine Glutaraldehyde

Label Elements■ Sodium hypochlorite

Label Elements

Label Elements

Safety Data Sheets

■ Prescriptive requirements■ Sections must be consistent■ Information dictated by GHS guidance

SDS Hazards Description

SDS Sections

■ Section 1, Identification ■ Section 2, Hazard(s) ■ Section 3, Composition/information ■ Section 4, First-aid measures ■ Section 5, Fire-fighting measures ■ Section 6, Accidental release measures ■ Section 7, Handling and storage ■ Section 8, Exposure controls/personal protection ■ Section 9, Physical and chemical properties ■ Section 10, Stability and reactivity ■ Section 11, Toxicological information ■ Section 12, Ecological information■ Section 13, Disposal considerations■ Section 14, Transport information■ Section 15, Regulatory information■ Section 16, Other information, includes the date of preparation or last revision.

What hasn’t changed

■ Exclusions and exemptions■ Elements of the HAZCOM program■ Training requirements■ Secondary container labeling■ Temporary container exclusion■ Special labeling systems

– NFPA 704– HMIS

Effective Completion Date Requirement(s) Who

December 1, 2013 Training•New Label Elements•Safety Data Sheets

Employers

June 1, 2015 Manufacturer full complianceHAZCOM plans updated

Chemical ManufacturersEmployers

December 1, 2015 Distribution Prohibitions for non GHS labels

Chemical Manufacturers, Importers and Distributors

June 1, 2016 Updates to program and training based on new hazard classifications

Employers

Conclusion

■ HAZCOM is adopting GHS■ Broad applicability – everybody is “in”■ Lots to do

– Training on GHS elements– Plans and programs need to be revised– SDS need to be developed– New labels need to be designed and implemented

Safety Issues for Water Operators■ Confined Space

– Monitoring– Definition– PRCS– Procedures

■ Lockout/Tagout– Energy Control procedures– Locks & tags– Electrical exposure

■ Fire Safety/Extinguishers– A-comb; B-electrical; C-chemical– Safe storage of flammables

■ Safe Lifting– Sizing up the lift– Back braces– Two person lifts– Lifting aids (hoists)

■ Hazard Communication– Hazard types: physical/health– Health hazards: acute/chronic– NFPA 704/HMIS– MSDS

■ Chemical Safety Information– Caustics: corrosivity– Always add acid to water– Good ventilation

Safety Issues for Water Operators■ Machine Guarding

– Power transmission– Guards & blocks

■ Walking/Working Surfaces– Housekeeping– Oils– Caustics– Ice– Ladders– Fall safety

■ Chemical Monitoring– Instruments– O2 deficiency– Combustible gas indicator– H2S

■ PPE– Safety glasses: a must!– Gloves: compatible material– Respirators– Hearing protection– Eyewashes/Showers

Safety Issues for Water Operators■ Emergency Preparedness

– Emergency action plan– Take care of yourself first– Call postings– Evacuation procedures– Buddy system

■ Accident Prevention– Signs: caution, warning, danger– Labeling containers & tanks– Pipe colors

Storage Tank Update

West Virginia News

■ Tank Trouble– Elk River, WV

» 400,000 w/o water» January 10, 2014

– Laurens, SC» Mystery oil spill

– Belgrade, Montana» Tank fire

– Bryan, OH» Massive bird kill

Storage Tank Update

Storage Tank Update■ Typical Tank Uses

– Fleet fueling– Facility heating– Generator fueling

■ Underground Tanks– USTs– Fuel tanks need operators

■ Aboveground Tanks– ASTs– Receiving scrutiny

Remote Spill Box/FillFuel Dispenser

Fuel Pump

Interstitial Leak Detection

Spill Kit

Normal Vent

Labels

Dispenser Hose Bollards

Secondary Tank Emergency Vent

Primary Tank Emergency Vent Mechanical Gauge

Preventive Limiting Barrier

Concrete Pad

1.5-inchesNut

Integral Containment

Rain Shield

Ideal Installation – Generator Tank

QuestionsDavid P. Horowitz, P.E., CSP

Tighe & Bond53 Southampton Rd.Westfield, MA 01085

413.572.3211dphorowitz@tighebond.com

Tighe & Bond177 Corporate Drive

Portsmouth, NH 03801603-433-8818

l446 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01605508-754-2201 

l4 Barlows Landing Road, Unit #18

Pocasset, MA 02559508-564-7285  

l213 Court Street, Suite 900

Middletown, CT 06457860-704-4760 

l1000 Bridgeport Avenue

Shelton, CT 06484203-712-1100