No abstract

The Hazard Communication Standard, commonly known as the Worker Right to Know law, requires that a chemical information sheet, known as a material safety data sheet (MSDS), be produced for all hazardous chemicals. This study examines the comprehensibility of a sample of MSDSs to a group of about 100 unionized workers in manufacturing industries located in the state of Maryland. Workers were given several MSDSs and performed the equivalent of an open-book test answering questions regarding health and safety information that was provided on the MSDS. On average, the information on the MSDSs was found to be about one-third incomprehensible. This result raises concerns regarding policies and practices for hazard communication. There is a clear indication that MSDSs need to be improved if workers must rely on them for health and safety information. 0 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

No abstract

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential component in any occupational health and safety program. The appropriate selection and use of PPE can help prevent or limit exposure to hazardous materials. The inappropriate selection or use of PPE can lead to unnecessary exposure or --with extremely hazardous materials--serious harm including death. In 1997, Dr. Karen E. Wetterhahn died from mercury poisoning resulting from a single exposure to dimethylmercury almost a year before. Her death raised numerous questions as to how this tragedy occurred and what could be done to protect against a chemical as dangerous as dimethylmercury. This article provides a brief review of the case and discusses the glove permeation testing done during the course of the accident investigation. Using this case as an example, the author argues that all recommendations for PPE be based on empirical testing using accepted methods and that this information be readily available.

Laboratory workers are potentially exposed to a wide range of chemical hazards while performing experimental research. Moreover, unique combinations of chemicals can generate hazards that the individual chemical compounds would not produce. Thus, researchers may lack proper personal protective equipment to adequately protect themselves. A recent incident is examined in which a researcher suffered a painful hydrofluoric acid (HF) burn when working with a solution of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) dissolved in a mixture of dimethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate. Under ambient conditions, LiPF6 can produce HF, which by itself does not easily permeate nitrile gloves. However, the carbonate mixture rapidly permeates nitrile gloves. The mixture carried HF through the nitrile gloves allowing for rapid permeation. The compounding hazards led to nitrile gloves being inadequate protection for such an experiment. This Letter describes this incident and discusses how a proper risk assessment could prevent similar incidents from occurring.