Pool chemicals?
What should you know about safe handling and storage of swimming pool chemicals?
Pool chemicals are intended to be added to large quantities of water. If, instead, a small amount of water is added to a large amount of the chemical, a dangerous reaction may occur.
Recommendations for addressing the major hazards associated with pool chemicals are described below. Most of this comes directly from an EPA Alert (PDF: "Safe Storage and Handling of Swimming Pool Chemicals"). Although the EPA's recommendations mostly concern facility managers and emergency responders, consumers can benefit from this knowledge, too.
Keep Pool Chemicals Dry
Design and maintain designated areas for pool chemical storage so that water does not come in contact with containers or packaging. Any evidence of potential water entry from the following possible sources should receive prompt corrective attention:
- Roof, windows, and doors;
- Wall and floor joints;
- Water pipes or hoses and sprinkler systems; and
- Drains.
You should look for ways to prevent water contact with stored pool chemicals such as:
- Close containers properly;
- Cover opened or damaged packaging;
- Store chemicals away from doors and windows;
- Ensure that there are no roof leaks, open or broken windows, or leaks from water pipes, hoses, or the sprinkler system;
- Ensure that floors are sloped to keep water drained away;
- Store chemicals on shelves or pallets to keep containers off the floor;
- Use waterproof covers on packaging;
- Exercise particular caution to prevent water contact with stored chemicals any time water is used for cleanup of floor areas near stored packages; and
- Ensure that water will not back up from faulty or clogged floor drains.
Avoid Chemical Mixing
Conduct a review of chemical storage arrangements and chemical handling tasks to identify situations where chemicals could be intentionally or accidentally mixed:
- Separate incompatible substances; avoid storing containers of liquids above containers of other incompatible substances;
- Do not mix old chemicals with fresh chemical, even if they are the same type;
- Consider separate, designated tools for each chemical. Handle only one chemical at a time and make sure that tools used with one substance are not used with another unless all residues are removed;
- Use separate, designated containers for cleanup of spilled materials to avoid inadvertent mixing of spilled substances. Consult your local hazardous waste disposal facility for more detailed information on proper waste disposal; and
- Make chemical storage area housekeeping a priority. Don't allow rags, trash, debris, or other materials to clutter hazardous material storage area. Keep combustible and flammable substances away.
Fire Prevention
Prevent a chemical reaction ignition by avoiding wetting or mixing chemicals as described above. Avoid having combustible or flammable materials near the chemicals, particularly gasoline, oil, paint solvents, oily rags, etc. Do not allow ignition sources, such as gasoline, diesel, or gas powered equipment such as lawn mowers, motors, or welding
machines, in the storage area. Also, do not allow smoking in the storage area. Review bulk storage, including packaging and storage locations, relative to potential for accidental contact with water, including sprinkler systems, rainwater, etc.
Note also that once started, fires involving pool chemicals are difficult to attack. Keep in mind that:
- Do not use dry chemical or halon-type fire extinguishers where chlorine gas may be
evolving. These agents react negatively with chlorine.
- In extinguishing a fire, only large volumes (copious flow) of water should be applied and then only by persons trained in chemical fire response. Caution must also be exercised to protect against wildlife damage due to contaminated water runoff.
- Large quantities of water should be applied to the burning combustibles to remove heat and for fire intensity control.
- Once started, the reaction of wetted or mixed chlorinated pool chemicals may continue
generating heat, unless the material is cooled below its heat of reaction temperature or until all chlorine is used.
Personal Injury
Pool chemicals can cause injury if they directly contact a person's skin, eyes, or respiratory or digestive system. The chemical will immediately react when wetted by perspiration, tears, mucus, and saliva in the nose, throat, and respiratory and
digestive systems. Such injuries may occur from direct chemical contact with the skin or if chemical dust in the air contacts eyes, is inhaled, or settles on food that is consumed.
The pool chemicals information above was excerpted from an Environmental Protection Agency booklet entitled "Safe Storage and Handling of Swimming Pool Chemicals."
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