WELDING ON GALVANIZED METALS

One of the most significant health hazards in the welding process is the generation of fumes and gasses. Do you weld on galvanized metals? Zinc is the coating used on galvanized metals, and when you heat the metal, it produces vaporized metal droplets which are called fumes. This is the smoky haze which consists of fine particles of metals or silicates. When you breathe these fumes, they may work deeply into your lungs.


The typical effect of breathing zinc fumes is metal fume fever. One or two hours or more after welding-without proper personal protection-you may experience severe thirst, pain in the legs, shivering, congestion in the head, dryness and tickling of the throat, and a cough. In very bad cases, you may feel severe shivering, a high fever, buzzing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, and even hallucinations and convulsions. Your symptoms will usually last 24 hours.


Some of you may weld for a period of time and find some of the symptoms appeared, then went away. You may actually have built up an immunity that hides the full effects. If you take a break from welding over the weekend or over a holiday, the symptoms will often come back again the next time you weld on galvanized metal. Because of this behavior, metal fume fever is sometimes known as "Monday morning sickness."


Protect yourself, if you weld on galvanized metals, by following these precautions:

- In all operations where metal fumes are present, you should work in a well ventilated area. The best way to protect yourself against metal fumes is to use local exhaust ventilation at the source of the smoke. Do not re-circulate the air in the shop.

- If good local ventilation is not possible you should wear an approved respirator, which will fit underneath your welding helmet, to protect yourself from fumes. This respirator collects the fume particles and keeps them from entering your lungs. (A paper dust mask is not adequate).

- If you find white dust inside your welding shield, you are not properly protecting yourself from the fumes.

- After you have finished welding, wash your hands and face thoroughly with soap and water.

- Do not eat, drink, or smoke in areas contaminated by welding fumes.

- If you think you are experiencing symptoms of metal fume fever, report it to your supervisor. Physicians familiar with this illness say that the best treatment is to drink plenty of water and go to bed and rest.

Finally, did you know that you can "contaminate" your family by bringing home zinc particles on your clothing? Protect both yourself and your family-weld safely.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WELDING & CUTTING

Protecting yourself when performing welding operations depends on your understanding of the hazards involved and the proper way to control them. Control of welding hazards include avoiding eye injury, respiratory protection, ventilation of the work area, protective clothing and having safe equipment to use.

Eye hazards include exposure to ultraviolet and infrared light. Welders and their helpers should wear filter glasses with shades ranging from 2 to 14, depending on the type of welding being done, to protect their eyes. Unless a welding arc is behind a screen, not only the welder, but also people nearby may need eye protection. Other workers should be excluded within a 30 foot radius from gas or low powered arc welding, or also be protected with appropriate filter lenses. Heavy welding requires a 100 foot radius. Inert gas welding produces 5 to 30 times as much ultraviolet light as arc welding and requires shielding for even greater distances. Keep in mind that ordinary untreated plastic lenses absorb ultraviolet light very poorly and should not be relied on for protection.

Virtually all welding processes generate gases, fume and dusts. Gases generated include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone, and nitrous gases. Other gases may also be formed in the presence of chemicals which may be on the material being welded. For example 1,1,1 Trichloroethane generates phosgene gas when exposed to the heat of welding. Welding and cutting can also generate fumes from cadmium, lead, cyanide, beryllium, arsenic, fluorides, nickel, cyanide, and other materials when can be hazardous if inhaled. Proper respiratory protection should always be worn when cutting or welding. The best type of protection to use can be determined by reading the Material Safety Data Sheet for the material being welded, or the manufacturer of the rod or flux being used.

Mechanical ventilation at the rate of 2,000 cubic feet per minute per welder is required if the area is more crowded than 10,000 cubic feet per welder; has a ceiling height of less than 16 feet; or in confined spaces where structural barriers significantly obstruct cross ventilation. Additional specific ventilation requirements are necessary for fluorine compounds, zinc, lead, beryllium, cadmium, mercury, and for stainless steel that is oxygen cut using either a chemical flux or iron powder or gas shielded arc cutting. Where it is not possible to provide this ventilation, airline respirators, hose masks, or self contained units must be used. Oxygen should never be used for ventilation.

All parts of the body should be protected from radiant energy, sparks, and molten metal splashes. Clothing made from wool, or wool blends, is generally better than cotton. Some cutting operations such as inert-gas metal arc welding will cause exposed cotton clothing to rapidly deteriorate. Leather capes, jackets, leggings, and aprons provide additional protection especially in vertical, or overhead operations. Use of dark clothing will help reduce reflected light.

All welding equipment should be inspected each day prior to use. Report any defects found in regulators, torches or electrical components to a person that is qualified to make the necessary repairs.

DON'T NEGLECT CUTS

Infection is often called 'Blood Poisoning'. It might be of interest to know exactly what is meant by 'Blood Poisoning'. The term itself indicates that it is a poisoning directly related to blood.

There are two ways in which a poison can attack our bodies. It may be taken in through the mouth and enter the body by way of the digestive organs, or it may enter directly into the blood stream through an abrasion or cut in the skin. In any event, every poison eventually works through the blood and the poison of infections works into the blood stream directly.

The smallest cut, abrasion or scratch is large enough for germs to enter. If they are not wash off they will cause an infection which could lead to blood poisoning. If left untreated, a hand or arm could become so infected that it might possibly have to be amputated.

Should you find yourself with a small scratch or cut be sure to get it washed out and properly covered with a clean bandage. 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'. Serious cuts and lacerations need to be treated by professional medical personnel.

Most often you'll run up against smaller injuries - burns, nicks, scratches and cuts. The danger here is that most workers don't bother to get first aid for these minor injuries. The bottom line is - DON'T NEGLECT CUTS. Do your part by trying to prevent them from happening in the first place, but when any injury occurs - serious or minor - be sure that it receives the right kind of treatment, as quickly as possible.

First aid kits must be checked, frequently to be sure they are clean and fully stocked. This applies to your home and car or boat as well as on the job.

KEEP MINOR INJURIES MINOR! FIRST AID TREATMENT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT INFECTION.

HEAT EXHAUSTION AND SUNSTROKE

When working during hot weather, we may suffer heat exhaustion or sunstroke. Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of body salt, and sunstroke occurs when the body mechanism is not able to keep the system cool. Following are the symptoms of these ailments and the steps we should take to aid the victim.

Symptoms:

The first signs of heat exhaustion are dizziness, weakness, headache, blurred vision, nausea and staggering. The face becomes pale, there is profuse sweating, the pulse is weak, and breathing is shallow. The person may become unconscious.

Treatment:

When someone shows symptoms of heat exhaustion, immediately remove that person to a place where the air is circulating freely. Make the person lie down and keep him or her warm. If the victim is conscious, add a teaspoon of salt to a pint of cool water and give this to the victim in small sips at frequent intervals. If the heat exhaustion symptoms persist, call the doctor.

How to Avoid:

Keep in good physical condition and stop to rest when you begin to feel faint. Increase dietary salt and fluids when working in extremely hot weather.

SUNSTROKE (HEATSTROKE) Symptoms:

The victim develops a severe headache, the face is red the skin is hot and dry, there is no sweating, and the pulse is strong and very rapid. The person has a high fever (105o—106oF.)and may become unconscious. This is followed by convulsions, coma, and sometimes death.

Treatment:

Get the victim to where there's professional medical treatment as soon as possible. In the meantime place the individual in the shade. Loosen the clothing and cool the victim with the best means available. If the individual's temperature starts to drop, cover with a light blanket, so that the sudden change in body temperature won't cause shivering or convulsions.

How to Avoid:

Stay away from alcoholic beverages. Instead, drink water, lemonade, or citrus fruit juices. Wear clothing that is lightweight, well ventilated, and loose. Replace the body salts lost through perspiration by making sure your salt and fluid intake is adequate.

Know The Difference:

Become familiar with the symptoms of sun- stroke and heat exhaustion. As we've discussed, the treatment for each of these ailments is different and knowing the difference could mean life or death.

HAZARDS OF SOLVENTS

We use solvents practically every day in our lives. At work, we may use or be exposed to solvents when we come in contact with paints, coatings, while using dip tanks, thinners, degreasers, cleaners, glues or mastics. As a result of this widespread usage, it is important to know some of the hazards that are associated with the group of chemicals, generally called “solvents.”

For practical purposes a solvent is simply a liquid capable of dissolving specific solids or liquids. As you know, there are solvents that
we use daily that are hazardous. Petroleum based solvents are the most common type used in industry. Therefore, as part of your job,
it’s important for you to understand the hazards of working with or around solvents.

Exposure and over-exposure to a solvent can come from various methods. The routes of entry may include:

· Absorption by direct contact on the skin. If there are no “barriers” between the solvent and your skin, the solvent can be
absorbed through your skin.

· Inhalation by breathing solvent vapors. Breathing in the solvent vapors can quickly result in the chemical getting into your body
and bloodstream via your lungs.

· Ingestion from literally eating the chemical by not practicing good hygiene after handling solvents. Direct contact with your
hands and mouth through eating or smoking may result in unexpected ingestion of solvents.

· Puncture of the skin by a tool or other object that has a coating of solvent. Punctures can result in the direct introduction of toxic
chemicals into your body.

Overexposure to solvents can cause a variety of ailments. Depending on the type of solvent you are exposed to, the body will react in
different ways. Skin contact may result in minor skin rashes or an allergic reaction resulting in “chloracne.” This happens when the
solvent dissolves the skin’s natural oils. Some workers can develop a sensitization to a particular product or chemical. Sensitization
results in the entire body being “overly” sensitive to a particular chemical or product. After sensitization has occurred, even a very
slight exposure can result in adverse or serious reactions. Serious overexposures can lead to illnesses resulting in organ or tissue
damage.

As with any chemical or product, important information is contained in the product’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The
MSDS provides information on safe use, handling, disposal and protection methods among other information.

Solvents are very useful in our everyday lives. If we take the time to learn more about them, we can be better prepared to properly use
them, protect ourselves and effectively get our job done.

If you are unsure of the solvent or product that you are using, ask questions or check the MSDS.

Food For Thought

You have most likely heard the message that an impaired worker is an unsafe worker. Usually we think of a worker that
is impaired as one who comes to work under the influence of a chemical. Drugs and alcohol probably come first to your
mind when we talk about chemical impairment. Chemically, a healthy body is well balanced. Impairment occurs when
the drugs alter your blood chemistry. Can you think of another, subtler way in which blood chemistry can be altered?

The answer is surprisingly simple.

It is food or perhaps more commonly, the lack of food. Everyone that watches television has heard how important a good
breakfast is for children. It's a well-documented fact that children who start the day with a good breakfast do much better
in school. While the nutritional needs of adults are different than children, they are important and nutrition affects your
performance in all areas of your work, including safety.

Think back to the last time you were really hungry…what do you remember? Most likely, it was a dull ache in the pit of
your stomach, which successfully prevented you from thinking very long about anything other than how hungry you were.
To perform your job safely, you need to be concentrating on the task at hand, not, "when's lunch?" Inadequate nutrition
also decreases endurance, memory, arithmetic reasoning, reading ability and attention span. You may say that your job
doesn't require reading or arithmetic skills. However, decreases in performance in these areas are similarly experienced
when one is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In other words, inadequate nutrition is an impairment.

While breakfast may be the day's most important meal, many people begin to fade around 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. Prevention
magazine reported that researchers found that performance increased significantly when a high calorie snack was eaten in
the afternoon, rather than drinking the more common diet soda.

The Food-for-Thought in this safety meeting is Eat Well. Have a nutritious breakfast, a healthy lunch, and a snack in the
afternoon. Eating nutritious foods or snacks maintains your metabolism, assisting you in sustaining or improving your job
performance and concentration on the job. This in turn can improve your personal safety performance and make you more
comfortable during the day by getting rid of that uncomfortable ache.

Paints and Painting

Modern day paints are complex chemical mixtures of pigments for color, binders that cause paint to adhere to surfaces, and solvents that make the application easier and smoother.

Pigments can contain hazardous materials such as lead, zinc, chromium, titanium dioxide, and silicates, as well as other hazardous substances. Binders can contain alkyd and epoxy resins that are classified as toxic.

Pigments and binders are dissolved in water or solvents, such as naptha, ether, xylene, mineral spirits or alcohol. When the paint is applied, solvents evaporate leaving behind pigments and binders.

The acute or immediate health hazards that can occur from exposure to paints are:

¨ INHALATION – Irritation of the throat and lungs, headaches, dizziness,
disorientation and unconsciousness

¨ EYE CONTACT – Chemical burns, loss of vision

¨ SKIN CONTACT – Irritation

¨ INGESTION – Abdominal pain and nausea

These symptoms will be noticed almost immediately. On the other hand, chronic effects or long term exposure can result
in the following:

¨ INHALATION – Liver or kidney damage

¨ SKIN CONTACT – Dermatitis or “sensitization.” Once sensitization occurs, even the slightest exposure may
result in severe reactions.

Paints containing lead can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Continual exposure to even small amounts of lead can result
in lead poisoning. Symptoms are headache and dizziness. Marine bottom coatings are typically extremely toxic.

When using paints and associated products:

1. Be sure there is adequate ventilation.
2. Read and follow the Material Safety Data Sheet on the product.
3. Wear a properly fitted respirator and make sure it has the correct cartridge.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or smoking.
5. Dispose of paints and rags in proper containers.
6. Wear gloves, aprons, safety goggles and barrier creams as appropriate.

PCB’S – A HEALTH HAZARD TO ALL

POLYCHLORINATED BI-PHENYLS (PCB’s) are a common chemical hazard, in spite of the fact that use has been banned since 1979. They are widely used in older electrical equipment as an insulating (di-electric) fluid. They generally have a consistency of light machine oil. They are noted for their high resistance to electrical flow, non-reactivity and low vaporization rates.

Normally, PCBs are found in sealed electrical equipment such as capacitors and transformers, and as such, do not provide a common problem. However, if they leak from electrical components, a substantial exposure results, and the equipment
should not be handled.

Special precautions must also be taken to dispose of damaged items containing PCB. If you encounter old, discarded electrical equipment covered by an oily substance, DO NOT HANDLE IT! Notify your supervisor immediately, as the substance may be PCB. If you are accidentally contaminated by a suspected PCB fluid, wash the affected area
immediately with warm, soapy water. Do not wait!

A much greater health threat exists if PCB’s are involved in a fire. They can then vaporize which means the smoke they create can be extremely toxic. Further, PCB’s undergo chemical change and break down into various DIOXINS or FURANS, which are some of the most toxic substances known to man—even more deadly than cyanide.

Do not fight fires in electrical service rooms, or any affected electrical equipment, if PCB’s are present or suspected! Personnel in the immediate area should be evacuated upwind, and out of range of the smoke. Under no circumstances should attempts at fire fighting be made inside a building that contains burning PCB’s except to save human life trapped inside—and then only by firefighters with proper equipment and training. Not only can DIOXINS be breathed, but they
can also be absorbed through the skin.

Evidence regarding the cancer-causing propensities of PCB’s is conflicting. NIOSH lists PCB’s as a “suspected” carcinogen. However, if altered by fire into a DIOXIN state, they are deadly. Even after a PCB fire is extinguished, severe hazards remain. The soot, ash and fire fighting residues will all contain toxic material, so clean-up should be completed only by specially trained and equipped specialists.

The way to avoid the problems posed by a world containing PCB’s is to AVOID CONTACT, and by using extraordinary measures of fire protection. Use good housekeeping, Keep combustibles away from electrical panel boxes and the like. Keep dry chemical fire extinguishers available to extinguish small fires near electrical equipment. Post fire watches when welding near electrical components.

PCB’s are a serious hazard that warrants precaution.Take great care to avoid exposure!

EYE INFECTIONS-CLEANLINESS IS THE KEY

Your eye has some natural protection but does not have much in the way of a built-in defense against infection. There are few blood vessels in the eye so the eye does not heal as fast as other parts of the body. Your retina (one of many eye parts) is made up mostly of nerves, which do not re-grow if injured. Because of the lack of built-in defenses, the eye is more likely to suffer permanent damage from injury than for example, a finger.

Unfortunately, a cut caused by a foreign body or a burn caused by a chemical splash can open the eye up to a secondary type of injury.
This can be more dangerous to the eye’s health than the original cut or burn. This threat is infection.

We have all had an infected cut at one time or another. Remember how painful it was? Now think of an infection that involves your eye. In this case, it is not just the pain that is the concern, it is the damage done by the infection itself.

How do you reduce the likelihood of infection? First, take precautions to avoid injury. If you are smart, you wear proper eye protection whenever necessary. Without an open wound, the risk of infection drops dramatically. If you do get a foreign body in your eye, get medical attention as soon as possible. Do not wait until he next day. It’s not going to get better by itself. If you receive an irritation or burn, begin flushing the eye immediately with a sterile eye wash solution. The usual recommended flushing time is 15 to 30 minutes if the injury is caused by a chemical splash. If there is the danger of a chemical splash, read the first aid section of the label before using the product. You will need to remember the first aid information because if you do get splashed in the eye, you will not be in a position to begin reading at that point in time.

Tap water should be used only in an emergency. Tap water can contain chemicals and other impurities that may not harm you if you drink them, but can cause infection if poured in your eye’s wound. Sterile solutions are only sterile until the cap on the container is opened for the first time. For this reason, eyewash bottles should be used only once. If an eye wash is not sterile, you could be compounding your injury by using it. Don’t make this mistake. Keep eye wash bottles clean and sealed until needed. Once a bottle has been opened, throw it away. If you have an eyewash station in your facility, keep it clean with the nozzle covers in place until needed.

Eye injuries are bad enough by themselves. Don’t make a bad situation worse. The longer you delay treatment, the worse the situation becomes. Always get prompt attention. Cleanliness is the key.

Remember… prevent the eye injury by using appropriate personal protective equipment and you won’t need to worry about the potential of an eye infection.

BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS (BBP) SAFETY AT ALL LEVELS

Individuals who are infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) may not show symptoms and may not know they are infectious. For this reason, all human blood and body fluids should be considered as if infectious, and all
precautions should be taken to avoid contact. This simple rule is known as “universal precautions.”

In the workplace, blood-borne pathogens (BBP) may be transmitted when blood or other infectious body fluids come in contact with mucous membranes (your eyes, nose, mouth); non-intact skin (due to cuts, abrasions, burns, rashes, paper cuts); or by handling or touching contaminated materials or surfaces. Blood-borne pathogens are also transmitted by “injection” under the skin via a contaminated sharp object puncturing or cutting the skin causing a wound.

Hepatitis B Virus versus Human Immunodeficiency Virus:

· Hepatitis B Virus is more persistent than HIV and is able to survive for at least one week in
dried blood on environmental surfaces. However, HIV will not survive for more than a few
minutes when exposed to room temperature air, and will usually die within seconds.

· A teaspoon of infected blood may contain over one billion HBV particles, while a teaspoon of
infected HIV blood contains about 15 HIV particles.

· Hepatitis B Virus usually has mild symptoms, which makes diagnosis difficult. HIV infections
usually are not diagnosed for years and symptoms may not appear for many months or years.

· Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine. At the present time there is no preventive vaccine
for HIV.

· No cure is presently available for HBV or HIV.

If you administer first aid to an injured person in the workplace and there is a potential for contacting any body fluids, you should adhere to the following “universal precaution” guidelines:

· Wear impervious gloves when there is a chance of exposure to blood or body fluids.

· Wear a face shield to protect your entire face, and safety goggles to provide the most complete
eye protection.

· Use resuscitation devices when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

· Report all BBP exposures, or potential exposures to your supervisor immediately.

· Immediately wash your hands and affected areas with soap and warm water.

· Flush your eyes, nose or other mucous membrane areas with water, if exposed.

· Wash down areas that body fluids may have been contacted with the use of a mild solution of
household water and bleach (10:1).

The best protection against blood-borne pathogens is universal precautions!

TETANUS IS NOTHING TO FOOL WITH!

Minor cuts and skin abrasions occur during the jobs many of us do every day. Few people take them very seriously. But everyone should know that even small cuts or scratches, under the right conditions, can result in tetanus—a serious and sometimes fatal disease of the central nervous system.

What causes Tetanus? It is caused by bacteria known as clostridium tetani that thrive in dust and dirt, especially if contaminated with sewage. When small cuts are contaminated with dirt, tetanus germs may enter your body and multiply rapidly. Then, ten days to several weeks after the initial incident, symptoms such as fever, heavy sweating, and lockjaw begin. “Lockjaw” is a painful muscle spasm in the jaw muscles that make it difficult to open your mouth. These muscle
spasms then spread throughout the body, often interfering with breathing. You could die from this condition unless a physician performs a tracheotomy by cutting an opening in your windpipe that enables you to breathe. This is a serious situation! The fatality rate varies from 30-90% depending on how soon treatment begins.

How can you prevent it? To keep this serious condition from happening, never ignore minor cuts and abrasions. Clean the wound with an antiseptic and cover it with a sterile bandage or Band-Aid to keep dirt out of the cut. When should you see a doctor—even for minor cuts?

* If you haven’t had a tetanus shot within the last five years.
* If the cut is very dirty, or if there is any possibility of exposure to sewage (animal or
human) in any form.
* If signs of infection such as swelling or redness develop—especially if you’ve had a puncture wound.
* If any of the symptoms of tetanus develop such as stiffness of abdominal and back muscles, contraction of facial muscles, fever, sweating, or lockjaw.

Early treatment is critical! Tetanus can be successfully treated with an antitoxin in most cases—if treatment is started early. Take care of those small cuts and scratches as soon as they happen.

Never underestimate the danger of tetanus. It can kill!

GOOD HYGIENE CAN KEEP YOU HEALTHY

Most of us learned the basics of good personal hygiene from our mothers when we were children. She started us on good hygiene with the simple rule of washing our hands before we ate. As we have grown older, some of us may have drifted away from our mother's wise advise.
In today's chemical laden workplaces, being even more conscientious about hygiene is the smart thing to do. Even though washing our hands is a simple and logical task, it's still commonly overlooked.

What is on your hands gets ingested. How many times have you seen fellow workers smoke a cigarette while their hands were covered with paint or grease? How about the workers who eat their lunch without washing their hands? Not one of us would intentionally eat paint, or dip our cigarette into the paint bucket. Even so, that is basically what is happening when you eat your sandwich or smoke a cigarette without washing your hands. In addition to tobacco, smokers may be inhaling toxic substances that have been placed on the cigarette from their hands. Remember, when paints, solvents or most any chemical is heated or burned, its chemical makeup is changed.

Cleaning your skin with solvents is never a good practice. Mechanics who use a solvent to clean their hands are setting themselves up for a case of dermatitis or possibly becoming sensitized to the chemical or solvent. Before using the solvent to clean with, think "what is the purpose of a solvent?" A solvent's purpose is to cut grease. When it is used without protection such as gloves or barrier creams, it is degreasing the protective oils from your skin.

Clean clothing is a part of good hygiene. Maintaining good personal hygiene includes the clothes worn to work. A worker wearing oily, greasy clothing, or clothes that have toxic chemicals spilled on them, is likely to experience irritating rashes, boils or other skin problems. Work clothing should be changed daily. A daily shower and clean clothing reduces the chances of skin problems. Remember, dirty clothes and skin carry chemicals to your home and family.

First-aid begins with cleanliness. When we get a sliver, a nick, or a cut we typically go to the first-aid kit. We grab an adhesive bandage, quickly put it on, and go back to work. Several days later we wonder why the small injury is inflamed and infected. Don't ignore small injuries like these. The wounded area should be washed with soap and water before the bandage goes on. Possibly an antiseptic should be placed on the wound as well. This simple trick you first learned from your mom helps to keep the wound from becoming contaminated. To also help prevent a small injury from getting to be a serious health hazard, keep your tetanus booster current. A small needle stick every 10 years is a small price to pay, in the prevention of infection.

Good personal hygiene all boils down to common sense. A daily shower, followed by clean clothing, and frequent washing of hands…particularly before eating or smoking, goes a long way in keeping you healthy and safe.

E. COLI: FOOD SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

In the last few years a bacteria named E. coli has become a household name. What is E. coli? What dangers does it present, and what are the precautions one should take to prevent being infected? Given recent, serious outbreaks of illness, these are important questions.

Escherichia coli, more commonly called E. coli for obvious reasons, comes in many strains. E. coli normally lives in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals without causing disease or illness. However, the strain called E. coli 0157:H7 is different. This strain, first linked to human illness in 1982, produces a dangerous toxin which is very harmful to humans.

Anyone can contract E. coli, but elderly people and those under five years of age appear more likely to develop serious infections. Infection can cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a disease in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. The majority of people contracting HUS recover completely, however it can be fatal.

The most common source of E. coli infection is red meat, especially ground beef which is rare or undercooked. However, E. coli 0157:H7 has been found in other food items such as mayonnaise, unpasteurized milk, some unpasteurized juices, and contaminated water. Person-to-person transmission of this bacteria is also on the rise. This manner of transmission is typically from an infected child or adult who does not wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom.

What are the Symptoms. Symptoms of an E. coli infection appear about 3 days after exposure, although it can range between 1 to 9 days. The symptoms of E. coli can be bloody or non-bloody diarrhea or abdominal cramps. Some amount of blood is usually found in the stool as well. This infection usually causes little or no fever. Most infected people will recover without medication in 5 to 10 days. Fluid and electrolyte replacement is important when diarrhea is present or there are signs of dehydration. The use of antibiotics in fighting the disease are unproven to date. Anti-diarrheal medication should be avoided.

There are several simple and straight forward ways to prevent being infected by E. coli 0157:H7:

Do not eat undercooked ground beef. Cook it to at least 1600 F or until all pink is gone from the interior and from any juices. Other meats have not yet been linked to E. coli outbreaks.

Drink only pasteurized milk and milk products.

Wash hands with hot, soapy water after using the restroom and before preparing food.

Wash hands, utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water after contact with raw meats and /or meat juice.

Wash all fruits before eating. Low-acid, unpasteurized fruit juice is also considered a risk.

When eating out, check hamburgers and ground beef for doneness. Return any food to the kitchen which is not thoroughly cooked.

BACK CARE: YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

"OUCH! Why did I try to lift that much weight on my own?" Did you ever ponder those words after you hoisted something heavy, or lifted from an awkward position? These incidents are well known causes of back strain, but you might not have considered other "underlying" factors that lead to back injury. Several conditions influence your "back health."

The cause of most back problems is poor posture, loss of flexibility, stressful living/working habits and above all, a general decline in physical fitness. Surprised? You shouldn't be. When you "let yourself go," (and most of us do with age) the first thing to go can be back strength. Along with correct lifting techniques, we should also work on our overall physical condition.

Nutrition--is an important key to staying physically fit! As we grow older, our metabolism slows down. To counteract this natural event, we have to eat the right types of food-and not too much of it-or the pounds come on quickly! Now, what does nutrition have to do with a healthy back? For one thing, a healthy back is correctly balanced on your spine. With a "sway" back, that balance is lost-and those darned potbellies cause sway backs. Carrying around excess weight puts tremendous strain on back tissues, so lifting even a small extra load may cause an injury.

Exercise--plays an important role as well. A form of exercise as simple as walking 30 minutes a day can raise your heart rate and burn enough calories to help keep you lean. Flexibility is another condition that changes as we grow older, if we don't work to retain it. It's true, as they say-"Use it or Lose it!" Without flexibility, we lose our body's full range of motion. Then, when a sudden, physical demand takes a muscle or joint further than it's used to, the risk of injury is high. You can do stretching exercises every morning to keep yourself flexible and ready for the physical demands of work. After all, don't athletes warm up before a game to prevent injury?

Fixed positions--not moving enough--can also cause back problems. Staying in a fixed position for too long can lead to muscle spasms. We feel it as stiffness, but by the time discomfort from "static" muscle contractions is experienced, low level tissue damage has begun. Take stretch breaks between long standing or sitting periods to improve circulation and prevent back strain.
Poor body mechanics and bad lifting habits usually "trigger" a back injury-and are more likely to do so if overall physical condition is poor. Remember these techniques to help escape injury:

Avoid using fast, jerking motions when lifting.
Avoid bending and twisting at the same time.
Avoid handling a load too far away! Keep the load close to your body.
Teamwork! If the load is too heavy, two persons should carry the load.

Emotional Stress leads to mental distraction, so that things other than proper body mechanics are on your mind. Stress and back pain seem to go together. Low back pain has been called "a tension headache that slipped." Solving our personal problems isn't always easy to do, but it often takes away back pain and helps prevent repeated injuries.

In Conclusion: Improper lifting isn't the only thing that causes back injuries. People who do not also stay in good physical and mental condition are at high risk for back problems.

It's Up To You--Take Good Care Of Your Body and Save Your Back!

ACETONE USAGE & CARE

Acetone, also called dimethyl ketone, is one of the ketone group of solvents that also includes methyl ethyl ketone. Mechanics, painters, and fiberglass workers are frequent users of acetone for various purposes in the shop, and many people are familiar with its pleasant sweet-smelling odor. Acetone is an excellent solvent for oils and greases. It is often used in the electronics industry for degreasing and cleaning of precision electronic parts. It is also used in the formulation of lacquers, rubber cements, cleaning fluids, and paint removers, as well as the manufacture of methacrylic and epoxy resins. Acetone can also absorb 22 times its volume of acetylene gas, which permits safe and economical shipment of acetylene in cylinders.

Acetone is one of the least toxic of the many organic solvents used in the work place. Its toxicity is low for both acute and chronic exposures. However, prolonged inhalation of high concentrations of acetone vapor causes irritation of the respiratory tract, headache, loss of memory, and in extreme cases, unconsciousness. Other symptoms of acetone intoxication include dizziness, nausea, or drowsiness. Continued skin contact may produce a mild form of dermatitis.

Control Vapor Concentrations: Acetone vapor in work areas should be maintained at or below the Threshold Limit Value of 750 PPM (averaged during an 8-hour workday), with a maximum Short Term Exposure Limit (defined as 15 minutes) no higher than 1000 PPM. For most operations, vapor can be kept at safe levels by enclosing the operation, by ventilating, or both. Opening windows or doors is often adequate for most small uses. Local exhaust may be needed with larger operations in order to capture the vapors at the source and keep them out of the breathing zone.

Wear PPE: Employees engaged in routine handling of acetone should wear milled butyl rubber gloves and rubber aprons for protection against skin contact. Chemical goggles should be worn where necessary. When complete face protection is necessary, a face shield should be worn.

Fire Prevention: Acetone is a serious fire hazard and can ignite with only a 2.6% concentration in the air. Water solutions of acetone are also highly flammable; a solution of 10 percent acetone in water has a flash point of about 80 F (27C). All sources of ignition, including spark-producing mechanisms or operations should be eliminated in areas where acetone is stored, handled, or used. Vapor proof electrical systems should also be installed (Class 1 - Division 1). Fire extinguishers for acetone fires include foam, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical. Water used on an acetone fire should be in the form of a spray or fog in order to prevent spreading the fire.

First Aid: If a person has inhaled small amounts of acetone vapor and exhibits any of the symptoms of acetone intoxication, they should be moved to fresh air and the effects will often disappear in a few hours. If large amounts have been inhaled, the person should be moved to fresh air and medical assistance immediately summoned. If breathing has stopped or respiration is weak; artificial respiration should be given. If splashed in the eyes, the eyes should be irrigated immediately with large quantities of running water for at least 15 minutes. An evaluation by a physician as soon as possible is recommended. Skin contaminated with acetone should be washed with soap and water, and any contaminated clothing removed.