CLEANING SOLVENTS As a petty officer third class, you may be assigned the task of supervising a cleanup detail. No matter what the  job—from  paint  removal  to  swabbing  the decks—precautions must be taken to guard against the careless use of cleaning solvents. Take for example the Sailor who did not read the labels on the cleaning materials he was using to clean a commode. While using a chlorine-based cleaner to clean the commode, he decided to clean the drains at the same time. Therefore, he added a granulated drain cleaner to the commode containing the chlorine-based cleaner and then left the head. A few minutes later, he heard a loud explosion. The chemical reaction of the drain cleaner and the chlorine-based cleaner caused an explosion in the commode. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the head was a mess. Precautions Solvents used in paints, adhesives, rubber and plastic materials, and in degreasing solutions can be hazardous to your health. Most solvents are toxic and, with a few exceptions, are flammable. Appropriate measures must be taken to reduce their toxic and flammable effects. In addition, solvents that come in contact with your skin can cause serious skin problems. When using solvents, always observe the following precautions: MAKE sure the space in which you are working has adequate ventilation. WEAR protective clothing, goggles, respirators, gloves, and other appropriate equipment. MAKE  sure  accessible  fire-fighting  equipment is nearby. TAKE  every  precaution  to  prevent  excessive vapors from contaminating the air. CHECK the labels on all containers of liquids. WIPE up spilled solvents immediately. AVOID contact with your eyes, skin, or clothing. You  should  NEVER  swallow  solvents  and  should always avoid breathing the vapors. KEEP  solvent  containers  tightly  closed  when you are not using them. CHECK containers for leakage; if a container is defective, transfer the solvent to a new container. MAKE  sure  containers  are  empty  before  you discard them. You must observe the approved practices for disposal of solvents, cleaners, and their containers. LABEL all containers used to store solvents. READ  and  comply  with  all  instructions  and precautions on the label. For  information  on  cleaning  solvents,  refer  to Naval Ships’ Technical Manual (NSTM), chapter 631. When  working  with  solvents,  you  must  stress safety  precautions  to  your  people.  Solvents  should NEVER  be  used  in  an  unventilated  space  under  any circumstances.  Special  clothing  requirements  also must be observed when using some solvents. As a petty officer, you MUST make sure all safety precautions are observed  at  all  times.  Laxity  on  anyone’s  part  could cause a mishap, resulting in injuries or even deaths. By observing safety precautions, you and your people will reduce mishaps and save lives. Damage  to  containers,  including  dents,  pitting, rust,  creases,  cracks,  and  damage  to  closures  and gaskets,  may  lead  to  leakage  and  dangerous  spills. Containers in flammable liquid stowage facilities will be  inspected  weekly.  Containers  of  other  hazardous materials  will  be  inspected  monthly  and  inventoried quarterly.  OPNAVINST 5100.19 (Series)  describes proper  stowage,  handling,  container  inspection,  and disposal of hazardous general-use combustibles. Types of Solvents As mentioned throughout this topic, the Navy uses many  types  of  solvents  for  a  multitude  of  cleaning assignments. Many of these solvents are highly toxic and some are highly flammable. You must take special care when using many of these solvents; make sure you store  them  in  cool,  dry  areas.  NSTM,  chapter  631, contains  a  list  of  approved  solvents  and  their  flash 6-8 Q8. When personnel are working with hazardous material, supervisors are NOT responsible for ensuring that approved personal protective clothing and equipment are maintained. 1. True 2. False REVIEW QUESTION