f.
Although not flammable itself, oxygen gas must be kept away from ignition
sources and flammable materials because it makes fires start easily and burn with great
intensity.
g. Hand trucks should be used to transport all compressed gas cylinders. This
helps prevent cylinder damage or shock that could release the energy stored in the
compressed gas.
4-10. TYPES OF HEALTH HAZARDS
a. Health hazards are chemicals that can cause injury or illness when exposed
to the skin or eye contact, skin absorption, inhalation, or ingestion. The type of injury or
illness ranges from short-term irritation to permanent damage or death, and depends on
the type of health hazard.
b.
Health hazards include:
(1) Irritants. Irritants cause reddening, itching, or other irritation on
contact.
(2) Corrosives. Corrosives burn or eat away body tissues on contact.
(3) Cryogenics. Cryogenics freeze body tissue on contact.
(4) Reproductive hazards. Reproductive hazards target the reproductive
system, causing sterility, miscarriage, fetal injury, or birth defects. They include:
(a)
Mutagens, which damage genes in egg or sperm cells.
(b)
Teratogens, which damage the fetus during its development.
(5) Sensitizers. Sensitizers cause an allergic-like response in many
people who are repeatedly exposed.
(6) Carcinogens. Carcinogens cause cancer.
4-11. CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTH HAZARDS
a. There is no way to tell who will become sensitized to a chemical nor how
long it may take. The allergic-like response can appear on any exposure after the first
exposure.
b. Some workers become sensitized over time. Suddenly they develop
symptoms that they never had before. This is usually itching, a skin rash, or difficulty
breathing. Others who are repeatedly exposed to the same sensitizer never develop
allergic-like response.
MD0173
4-8