1. Ensure that work is carried out in accordance with the Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the manufacturer/supplier.
2. Plan work in the knowledge that any exposure may cause permanent incapacity or death.
3. Where practicable substitute less dangerous substances.
4. Alert workers to the lethal properties of hydrofluoric acid.
5. Train workers in safe work procedures, personal protection and first aid/emergency procedures in accordance with the Material Safety Data Sheet for Hydrogen Fluoride.
6. Ensure that safety showers, eye wash facilities and calcium gluconate gel are available wherever hydrofluoric acid is used.
7. Laboratories should conform to established Laboratory Safety Guidelines
8. Persons should not work alone with hydrofluoric acid.

CHRONIC STRESS AND YOUR HEART

Why is stress such a problem? The answer is simple, because our bodies do not know the difference between a real and a perceived threat. It goes back to the days when threats were real and our ability to respond meant that we had to either "fight the battle" or "flee the scene." Hence, the "fight or flight" syndrome.

Since the days of living in caves, there has been a rather slow development process in man's ability to distinguish between the threat of an attack, which is a high intensity quick response incident and the long term stressful situations such as waiting in a check out line at the supermarket or waiting in automobile traffic congestion.

The continuous reaction to a stimulus can have a devastating effect on our bodies, especially our cardiovascular system. Sometimes called the "Mind - Body Effect," much is written about the relationship between what we think and how we feel. It is not the stimulus that is the problem. How we react to stimulating events is the problem. We can not control external stimuli, but we can control how we react. It is easy to say, but hard to do. The problem is that far too many people "react" to the unimportant stimuli in today's modern day society. Eventually the constant bombardment of stimuli and the numerous reactions takes its toll.

What are some of the things that happen to the body when it is perceives a stressful situation? First, the blood pressure is elevated, blood clotting mechanisms start to work at full throttle (the pedal goes to the metal), the heart thinks that it is preparing for the Indy 500 and revs up and is ready to compete. Along with all of those occurrences, the metabolic rate goes up. The body reacts to stress in a manner similar to a long and grueling physical activity. If you compare it to running a marathon, even the best marathon runner can run full tilt for a few hours and then become totally exhausted. If stressful conditions go on for long periods of time and a person reacts in unhealthy ways, it may contribute to a heart attack. Stress is a major health concern that is associated with heart disease.

For some people the thought of conquering the world is inviting. The rigorous demands are welcome and the challenge is overcome. Some people adjust to stressful situations and overcome the challenge, while others seem to let everything bother them and react to all situations no matter how big or small, real or imaginary the same way. The net result is that stress gets the best of them.

More and more is being learned about stress and ways to reduce its effects on the mind and body. Aches, pains and stomach problems are some of the common symptoms of stress. Stress alone is not the only contributor to heart disease. You should also be aware of the primary risk factors such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, lack of exercise, chronic hypertension or the role of genetics as they relate to the progression of coronary artery disease.

If you suffer from arrhythmia, the malfunctioning of the bioelectrical system that controls the heartbeat, the stress can trigger arrhythmias. In some instances the arrhythmia can be fatal.

There have also been some recent studies, using nuclear imaging techniques, which showed that the blood supply to the heart in a stressful situation is actually diminished, even though more work is being demanded from it.

Many people develop stress coping mechanisms that are more dangerous to your heart than the initial stressors. Behaviors such as smoking, overeating, consuming mass quantities of alcohol along with the lack of rest and exercise are often things done by people under stress. Alternative types of stress reducing techniques such as meditation, exercise, proper diet, moderate alcohol consumption and proper rest are ways to avoid the potential of stress taking its toll on our body.

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

At the University of Massachusetts employees who work with hazardous substances learn how to safely handle, use and store them on the job.

But what about at home? Everyone knows about common household chemical dangers such as never mix bleach & ammonia because the fumes can kill you. Some common sense things you can do when you use household chemicals are:

1. Read the label and request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the store. If none is available look for the 800 or other telephone number on the label of the manufacturer.
2. Avoid working with solvents in areas with limited ventilation such as basements, or attics. Also, try to do projects during the time of year when you can open the doors and windows to allow for natural ventilation to reduce the exposure of the hazardous fumes, vapors and mists.
3. Be careful not to use flammable substances in areas where the right concentration of vapors can lead to an explosion from the spark of an electrical switch, electric motor or gas appliance.
4. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of overexposure. Common symptoms are dizziness, irritation of the nose and mouth (sneezing/sore throat), eye irritation (itchy eyes), and itching/burning skin sensations.
5. If you become light headed, cover the container and go outside into the fresh air.
6. Use appropriate Person Protective Equipment such as gloves, goggles, an apron or a face mask. The MSDS may provide specifications on proper equipment. If the information is not on the MSDS call the manufacturer or distributor.
7. Avoid the use of household cleaners or solvents that are packaged in pressurized aerosol cans. The spray application process has the potential for the most damage to the lungs when the substance becomes airborne. Try to purchase household cleaners and solvents in containers that allow non-aerosol applications such as mixing with water or applying with a damp rag.

for additional information you may contact the American Chemical Society at 1-800-227-5558.