To remind workers that contact with poison oak can cause skin irritations. To educate workers about how to recognize poison oak.

Transcription

1 Safety Training Tpic Purpse f Meeting T remind wrkers that cntact with pisn ak can cause skin irritatins. T educate wrkers abut hw t recgnize pisn ak. T cnsider ways t prtect yurself frm skin irritatins caused by cntact with pisn ak. Materials and Preparatin A cpy f any related safety rules r plicies. Nte t Trainer Enter yur name and the training date n the Training Sign In Sheet. Have each attendee sign the Training Sign In Sheet next t their name. Use this page fr yur reference and give attendees cpies f the remaining pages. CSRMA Tailgate Tpic 2010 DKF Slutins LLC Page 1

2 SAFETY TRAINING TOPIC Intrductin Pisn ak is a plant that can cause skin irritatins. It cntains a txin called urushil, which is present in the sap f the plant. Tuching this type f plant can cause skin rashes and blisters. Expsure This training has been develped t educate wrkers abut hw t take apprpriate precautins in rder t wrk safely in area where pisn ak may be present. Expsure ccurs when a wrker cmes in cntact with urushil, the harmful il in pisn ak. Cntact can be: Direct cntact by tuching the sap f the pisn ak plant. Indirect cntact by tuching smething n which the il is present. The il can stick t the fur f animals, t garden tls, clthing, r any bjects that have cme int cntact with it. Airbrne cntact r inhalatin f pisn ak ils are pssible when the plants are burned. Warning! The il can stay active fr up t five years n any surface, including dead plants, tls and unwashed clthing! CSRMA Tailgate Tpic 2010 DKF Slutins LLC Page 2

3 Hw t avid cntact with pisn ak il: Prevent cntact with pisn ak by: Wearing lng sleeves, lng pants, bts, and glves. Wash expsed clthing separately in ht water with detergent. Barrier skin creams, such as a ltin cntaining bentquatum, may ffer sme prtectin befre cntact. Barrier creams shuld be washed ff and reapplied twice a day. After use, clean tls with rubbing alchl (isprpanl r isprpyl alchl) r sap and lts f water. Wear dispsable glves during this prcess. D nt burn plants that may be pisn ak. Inhaling smke frm burning plants can cause severe allergic respiratry prblems. Identifying Pisn Oak Western pisn ak lks like a bushy shrub r a climbing vine, and it thrives in Califrnia. It is characterized by alternate leaves with three r ccasinally five veined, shiny leaflets. In the autumn, the leaves turn a deep red clr. Pisn ak may als have yellw r green flwers and clusters f green-yellw r white berries. If yu ntice any pisn ak in yur wrk area, advise yur supervisr immediately! CSRMA Tailgate Tpic 2010 DKF Slutins LLC Page 3

4 Symptms f Expsure When the pisn ak il gets n yur skin, it begins t penetrate immediately. The reactin usually des nt appear fr 12 t 48 hurs. The skin s reactin can include severe itching, redness and swelling, fllwed by blisters. Nte: Fluids frm weeping blisters are nt cntagius. In a few days, the blisters becme crusted and may take tw weeks r even lnger t heal. What Shuld Yu D? If yu are expsed t pisn ak yu shuld: Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alchl, specialized pisn plant washes, degreasing sap (such as dishwashing sap) r detergent, and lts f water. Rinse frequently s that wash slutins d nt dry n the skin and further spread the urushil. Be sure t scrub under nails with a brush. T reduce itching: Apply wet cmpresses, calamine ltin, r hydrcrtisne cream t the skin. D nt apply t brken skin, such as pen blisters. Take a bath in atmeal r baking sda Cnsider taking an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). In severe cases r if the rash is n the face r genitals, seek prfessinal medical attentin. Call 911 r g t a hspital emergency rm if the expsed wrker is suffering Prvided by: DKF Slutins Grup fr CSRMA Tailgate Tpic 2010 DKF Slutins LLC Page 4

5 Burning Pisn Oak Whenever pssible, we will prevent yu frm being expsed t burning pisnus plants. Hwever, when expsure is unavidable, yu will be prvided with a NIOSH-certified halfface piece particulate respiratr rated R 95, P 95, r better. Respiratrs must be wrn crrectly and cnsistently thrughut the time they are used, in accrdance with ur Respiratry Prtectin Prgram and applicable OSHA regulatins. Cnclusin Wrking in areas where pisn ak may be present can be hazardus. Use the knwledge gained in this training t recgnize pisn ak and prtect yurself frm expsure. If yu are expsed, fllw the guidelines fr minimizing the symptms as much as pssible. Prvided by: DKF Slutins Grup CSRMA Tailgate Tpic 2010 DKF Slutins LLC Page 5