You make an important point Willie.
Safety must always be a consideration when working with chemicals of any kind.
I have attended many seminars on worker safety and I'm certified in HAZMAT, so I know how important it is to recognize the hazards and toxicity of the chemicals we use everyday. It is easy to forget that those individuals that are new to metal working industries may not be as familiar with the dangers as we are.
There are a number of solvents that (used to be used and some still are used) that are harmful to our bodies and are easily absorbed through our skin. A few chemical concoctions that come to mind include: gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, MEK, acetone, and the list goes on and on.
What many workers don't recognize are the hazards associated with using chemicals in combination. At one seminar, the speaker said that less than 10% of the industrial chemicals have been tested in combination with other common chemicals. One example he gave us was the deadly combination of the fumes from the chemicals used in dry cleaning and ethyl alcohol. The scenario he gave us was a woman that had her dress dry cleaned in the morning so she could wear the dress in the evening. The combination of the fumes lingering in the fabric from the dry cleaning solvent and a mixed drink killed her.
There was mention of chemicals (both acidic and basic) used to clean aluminum in one of the recent threads. The chemicals used to clean base metals may be buffered, but still, they can cause serious chemical burns that are painful and take a very long time to heal. I remember one acid I used for etching aluminum, fluoric acid; the chemist would not allow any of his technicians to mix it for me and he told me that it is easily absorbed through the skin and the warning that it causes bone cancer. The bottom line is that we should always wear chemical resistant gloves and protective eyewear when using these chemicals.
As welders, employed in the metalworking industry, we are exposed to numerous safety hazards everyday. It is important that we don't become calloused and forgetful of the hazards.
Thanks again for the reminder.
Hey Al,
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