| enefits from using Teak Cleaner? | | | | used, no evidence was around to support the |
| I know many within the | | | | consequences. |
| “professional” yachting industry will | | | | So, why do we let our crew, who we train and |
| say ‘Here we go again health and safety | | | | say we care about, work with substances without |
| poking its nose into our industry why | | | | the correct protection??? |
| can’t they just leave us alone?’ | | | | I believe the main cause of these injuries is the |
| well, I’m sure that for those who | | | | inability of management to identify how a specific |
| don’t have to use the above product | | | | product should be used safely onboard. Cleaning |
| may say that, but lethargy and the inability of | | | | teak for example seems to be known as a |
| some people not to see the ‘wood for | | | | ‘Deckies pedicure’ i.e. using a teak |
| the trees’ is no excuse for not ensuring | | | | cleaner without protective footwear. I’m |
| the safety of crew or Day–Workers. | | | | sure that if I asked is footwear available and |
| Some teak cleaners are assigned as dangerous | | | | worn the answer would be yes however, the |
| goods to one of nine classes dependant on the | | | | visible injuries I see do not seem to support that |
| main danger presented. Corrosive Materials (Class | | | | answer. |
| 8) are liquids or solids that cause full thickness | | | | The following advice should be taken when using |
| destruction of human skin at the site of contact | | | | all chemicals onboard: |
| within a specified period of time; or a liquid that | | | | 1. Read the product Material Safety Data Sheet |
| has a severe corrosion rate on steel or aluminum, | | | | 2. Follow Management Company/Yacht’s |
| some teak cleaners fall into the class 8 category | | | | written safety procedures for the product which |
| In the past 2 years I have seen 4 individuals who | | | | should include a Risk Assessment – if |
| have been injured having used various teak | | | | unsure check-up on the internet |
| cleaners. They all agreed that something should be | | | | The product advice for some teak cleaners is:- |
| done to stop deck crews from being injured by | | | | Hazards to Health |
| these cleaning products. | | | | Potential routes of entry or exposureIngestion |
| Just recently, 2 weeks after having delivered | | | | and Absorption |
| safety information to crew, a young deck-hand | | | | Health hazards and effects of over |
| approaches me and shows me the chemical burn | | | | exposureAcute irritation to skin and eyes |
| injuries he had sustained to both his knees and | | | | Emergency First Aid ProceduresInhalation - |
| arms, asking him how he received them, he told | | | | Remove to fresh air |
| me, he’d been asked to clean the teak | | | | Ingestion – DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING |
| deck with a well known cleaning agent without | | | | – keep the person warm and quiet and |
| foot /hand/eye protection or product information | | | | request immediate medical attention. |
| when I asked why his reply was ‘I was | | | | Eyes – Flush with copious amounts of |
| told to just get on with it’ he also said | | | | water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and |
| ‘you should see the state of the | | | | lower lids occasionally and request immediate |
| Bosun’s hands’ Obviously two | | | | medical attention |
| wrongs do not make a right. | | | | Special Protection Information |
| Another incident recently observed onboard was | | | | VentilationMechanical |
| one where 2 deckhands came into the crew | | | | Protective Gloves/BootsRubber – Eye |
| mess for their morning break, One guy said he | | | | protection - Goggles |
| had a terrible headache, which had come on | | | | Spill or Leak Procedures |
| through the morning, the other guy was OK, | | | | Precautions to be taken if the product leaks or is |
| neither had been drinking the night before but | | | | spilledNeutralise with Baking Soda or Sodium |
| both had been using teak cleaner through the | | | | Carbonate and flush with copious amounts of |
| fore-noon with no personal protection. They were | | | | water |
| both seemed quite happy that the hard skin had | | | | Special Precautions |
| been removed from their feet but neither | | | | Precautions to be taken when handling and |
| thought about the consequences of the substance | | | | storingStore between 40 and 120 degrees C |
| entering their blood stream via absorption. | | | | Any other precautionsDo Not Mix with – |
| We know that various products attack different | | | | Ammonia – Bleach or Caustic Materials |
| people in different ways, who knows what long | | | | especially powders |
| term damage could be occurring to these | | | | If the rules are followed and you do |
| individuals, lets just remember that smoking | | | | ‘exactly as is say’s on the |
| doesn’t appear to kill immediately neither | | | | tin’ crew using the above product should |
| does asbestos, we class these substances now | | | | be safe in the knowledge that all is being done to |
| as dangerous as they produce long term damage | | | | protect them. |
| to the body but, when they were initially being | | | | |