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Safety Considerations & MSDS A variety of safety considerations must be taken into account as part of any chemical application within an HVAC system. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document produced by a chemical product manufacturer that contains information on the chemical makeup, use, storage, handling, emergency procedures and potential health effects related to a chemical product. The MSDS may contain more information about the material than the label on the container. In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that the MSDS be available at any job site where chemical products are in use. When concentrated products are used at the work site, manufacturers may make available a diluted solution MSDS (referred to as a "use solution"), as well as secondary-use labels for the application container for such diluted solutions. All application containers must have use labels affixed to them. Other nations may have different regulations regarding the use of the MSDS, bulletin or materials and chemical products so this should be taken into consideration when delivering service outside the United States. Some people are sensitive to certain chemical products. If there is a reason to believe that the use of a product would create a hazard, information about the potential hazard must be communicated to the building occupants and/or managers. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to perform work when occupants are out of the building and to adequately ventilate the building. With certain EPA-registered products, building evacuation is mandatory. Workers must be trained to follow procedures on the label and in the current MSDS bulletin for the safe use, handling, and storage of any product used to treat an HVAC system. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn, including respiratory protection if required. Correct application procedures must be understood and carried out to avoid hazards from failing to use the product according to the manufacturer's instructions. Risk Management Possible risks associated with chemical products include, but are not limited to: n Allergic reactions n Chemical burns n Respiratory irritation or damage n Eye injuries n Poisoning n Toxic fumes n Exposure to carcinogens It is recommended that the client sign a release authorizing the use of specific chemical products and acknowledging that he or she has been informed of risks associated with their use. Products that are used to mitigate pests are required to be registered with the EPA. When using an EPA- registered product, a state pesticide applicator's license may be required for the owner, firm, supervisor and/ or worker. All users of this document are encouraged to refer to applicable federal, state/provincial, and/or local authorities having jurisdiction over the subject addressed within this document. Categories of Chemical Products A variety of chemical products may be used as part of an HVAC system cleaning process. Note: In general, chemical products that do not make a claim of antimicrobial activity are not required to be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some exceptions exist. Antimicrobial Pesticides (including disinfectants and sanitizers) Product definition Antimicrobial pesticide: Any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate a microbial pest. These agents kill or suppress the growth of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi). In the absence of product claims, if the product is composed of ingredients known to be pesticides and they do not have a non-pesticidal use, then the product is a pesticide. If the product's mode of action is pesticidal in nature (no non- pesticidal use) then the product is a pesticide. If the intent is to distribute or sell the pesticide, it must be registered by the EPA as well as with the state in which it will be sold or used. Sanitizer: The term "sanitizer" is often misused and misunderstood. A sanitizer is a substance or mixture of substances that kills a high percentage (99.9%) of, but not necessarily all, bacteria on a surface. Technically, the EPA defines a sanitizer as a substance or mixture of substances that reduces the bacterial population in the inanimate environment (on surfaces and objects) by significant numbers (e.g, 3 log 10 reduction or more), but does not destroy or eliminate all bacteria. 1 Another useful definition is: an agent that reduces contamination in the inanimate environment to levels considered safe as determined by public health ordinance. 2 Disinfectant: An agent that eliminates a specific species of infectious or other undesired microorganism, but not necessarily bacterial spores, in the inanimate environment only. 2 Disinfectant products are often found to be effective against fungi and viruses as well as bacteria.