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Appendix D - Training Program

Other Hazards at Waste Sites / First Aid

Objectives/Samples of Behavior:

  1. Determine the biological, physical, and safety hazards which may be present.

  2. List the types of heat and cold disorders and their signs.

  3. List the goals of first aid.

  1. Biological Hazards

  1. Animal bites/stings

    1. Nuisance - bees, wasps, scorpions (1st aid)

    2. Diseases - ticks, mosquitoes, skunks, foxes

    3. Sensitivity reactions/shock - most common / biggest hazard

  2. Toxic effects

  1. Plants - direct contact - which plants?

Skin - inflammation/ermatitis - protective clothing, decon, washing

  1. Sanitation - water borne, food borne diseases - types? - lavatory facilities

  1. Microbial hazards

  1. Chemical AND biological mixture - sewage

  2. Pathogens - neutral pH (7) - chemical neutralization effects? - normal decon procedure effects?

  3. Medical/infectious wastes - pathogens in blood, sputum, feces, urine - controls, practic3es, equipment in 29 CFR 1910.1030.

  1. Heat and Cold Stress

  1. Effects of heat on the body

  1. Protection from excess heat:

Blood flow changes - dissipates heat - flushing/reddening (extreme)

Perspiration - evaporation

  1. Protective clothing problems

  1. Major disorders

  1. Heat cramps - painful muscle spasms

lot of sweat, lot of water drinking

No eletrolyte replacement

Dilutes extracellular fluids (less salt)

Water seeps into active muscles

Fatigued muscles most affected

  1. Heat exhaustion - fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headache

Defenses beginning to fail

Skin clammy, moist, and pale, body temp - normal

Rest in cool place, replace fluids

No permanent effects

  1. Heat stroke - mental confusion, unconsciousness, convulsions

Very serious - heat regulation failed

Skin hot, dry, red

Treat fast - death, brain damage

Remove to cool place, reduce body heat (water, fan)

  1. Major contributing factors:

Temperature of environment

Physical effort needed for task including how fast work is done

Number of hours worked

Fluid / electrolye replacement

  1. Cold Stress

  1. Frostbite - most common - extremities

Pale or gray-yellow skin area, pain at first (may be none), cold & numb

Victim to warm shelter

Frozen parts in warm water (100-105) - not hot

Do not rub or massage

Bandage parts, gauze between toes/fingers

  1. Hypothermia

Core temp below 94 degrees F

Slow breathing, slufrred speech, tired

Insulate from cold ground, wind

Warm slowly (e.g. bath)

  1. General Safety

  1. Being secure from injury or loss

  1. Offensive - protection for actions you can control

  2. Defensive - awareness of situations others may create.

  1. Be careful that actions to protect one person do not set up a threat to others

  2. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

  1. Reduces dexterity

  2. Narrows field of vision

  3. Tough on com

  4. Increased heat stress

  1. Clothing away from drums

  2. Trips, slips, falls (striking injuries)

  1. Higher risks - why?

  2. Causes

  3. Prevention

Unsafe conditions

Unsafe acts (awareness)

  1. Gas/electric pumps

  2. Non-sparking tools only

  1. Drum plug wrench

  2. Drum Deheader

  3. Manual drum up-ender

  1. Ground equipment (static electricity)

  2. Buddy system

  3. Pressurized containers

  4. Opening containers/drums (standing H2O)

  1. Handling

  1. Containers meet DOT, OSHA, EPA, regs

  2. Inspect prior to moving, or

  3. If not possible, move to accessibel area & inspect before more handling

  4. Unlabeled containers - hazardous

  5. Organize to minimize container movement

  6. Warn of hazards prior to moving

  1. Storage

  1. Major spills possible - spill containment program for entire volume

  2. Bad containers - empty into sound container (proper type)

  3. Removing soil or covering material - prevent container rupture

  4. Fire extinguishing equip on hand

  1. Shipment

  1. ID & classify containers prior to shipment

  2. Keep staging areas to minimum

  3. Staging areas must have adequate access/egress routes

  4. Bulking of HW only after thorough characterization

  1. First Aid Requirements

  1. 20 CFR 1926.50

  1. Medical personnel for consult

  2. Provisions for prompt medical care prior to start

  3. First aid - immediate temporary care before doctor - state law defines limits of first aid - transport without complicating injury

  1. 29 CFR 1910.151

  1. Flushing facilities - eyes and body

  2. Eyewashes & drench showers

  1. Goals

  1. Care for life threatening conditions

  2. Make victim comfortable

  3. Transport so as not to complicate injuries