Environment
INFORMATION FROM KODAK
Safe Hand ling of Photog raphic
Processing Chemicals
J-98A
Kodak’s heal th, safety,
INTRODUCTION
Every substance we come in to
conta ct with is compose d of
chemica ls— the food we ea t, the air
we breathe, the clothing we wear,
the medicine we take. Although
most of these chemicals are not
hazardous, you may need to ta k e
precauti ons to l imit the ex posure to
some chemicals that could be
harmfu l. Fo r ex a m p le , direct skin
or eye contact with or inhalation of
vapors or mists from some
household cleaning products can
be irritating.
When handled properly,
photographic processin g chemicals
are safe to use. Follow the
guidelines below to minimize the
potential hazar dous effe cts o f these
chemicals.
BE INFORMED
Safe handling of chemicals requires
that you recognize and avoi d the
potential hazards. Learning more
about photog raphic processing
chemica ls red uces th e possibility of
illness or injury.
LABELING
Kodak provides warning and
precauti onary statements on
product labels, instruc tion sheets,
and packaged products. Kodak als o
provides labels for processor and
replenishment tanks. Kodak
evaluates ph otographic pr oce ssing
chemicals for poten tial hea lth and
physical hazards. When a
photographic processing chemical
has little, if any, potential hazard,
the statement “LOW HAZARD
FOR RECOMMENDE D
HANDLING” is included o n the
label.
Photographic processing
chemicals that are potentially
hazardous have appropriate
precautionar y statements, such as:
• A Signal Word—suc h as
“CAUTION,” “WARNING,” or
“DANGER!”
• A Statement of Hazard—such as
“CAUSES SKIN AND EYE
BURNS,” “HARMFUL IF
ABSORB ED TH R O UG H S K IN ,”
or “FLAMM A BLE,” that tells
what the potential haz ard is.
• Precautionary Wording—such
as “Do not get in eyes, on skin, or
on clothing,” or “Keep away
from heat, sparks, and flame,”
that describes how hazards can
be avoided.
• First-Aid Statements are also
included on labe ls and si gns th at
desc rib e im me diate me a s ur es
you must take in case of contact
with or over e xp osure to a
photographic processing
chemical.
and environmental
publications are available
to help you manage yo ur
photographic processing
operations in a safe,
environm ent al l y so und
and cost-effective
manner. Thi s publi c ation
is part of a series of
publications on health and
safety issues affecting
photographic processing
facilities. It will help you
meet the requir em ents of
the OSHA Haza rd
Communication Standard.
This publication is meant to assist others with their compliance programs. However, this is
not a comprehensive treatment of the issues. We cannot identify all possible situations and
ultimately it is the reader’s obligation to decide on the appropriateness of this information to
his/her operation.
©Eastman Kodak Company, 1997
YOUR LAB’S HEALTH AND
SAFETY PROGRAM
The Occupational Safet y and Health
Administration (OSHA) Haza rd
Communication Standard requ ires
chemical manufacturers to provide
Material Saf ety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
for haz ardous che micals. OSH A also
requires e mployers to make MSDSs
available in the workplace for the
purpose of proper chemical
container labeling, and training
employees on the safe use of
chemicals.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA
SHEETS
Photographic processing facilities
are required by OSHA to have
MSDSs for all hazardous chemica ls.
MSDSs provide detailed
information a b out each produc t.
Information included in MSDSs is
outlined in the following categories:
• chemical and manufacturer
identification
• c omposition/ingredients
• hazard identification
• first-aid measur es
• fire-fighting measures
• accident al release measu res
• handling and storage
• exposure controls and personal
protection
• physical and chemical properties
• stability and reactivity
• toxicological issues
• ecological issu es
• disposal issues
• transport issues
• regulatory issues, and other
information.
Kodak provi des customers with
MSDSs for all photogra phic
processing chemicals. If you need
replacement(s) or extra MSDSs for
any Kodak chemical, call 1-800-2422424, extension 43. You will need to
supply the catalog (CAT) number of
the products for which you need
MSDSs.
TRAINING
OSHA requires that all employees
be trained on the safe h a n dl ing of
photographic processing chemicals
and general lab sa f e ty prior to their
initial assignment and whenever
new hazards are in troduced i nto the
workplace. Employees should be
familiar with the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard,
operations where hazardous
chemicals are present, the location
and content of Material Safety Data
Sheets, physical and health hazards
of chemica ls in their work area, as
well a s ad ditiona l to p i cs . For more
information on OSHA’s Haza rd
Communication Standard, see
KODAK Publica tion No . J-311,
Hazard Communication for
Photograph ic Proc essing Facili ties.
HANDLE CHEMICALS
PROPERLY
Once you know the hazards, learn
how to handle chemical s safely. Safe
handling practices include wearing
personal protective equipment,
following procedures that minimize
chemical conta ct, and follo w ing th e
instructions on chem ical lab els. If
contact occurs, know how to treat or
obtain medical/first-ai d assistance.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
OSHA requires that personal
protective equipment (PPE) be used
in the workplace whenever the
possibility of chemical co ntact
exists. OSHA also requires that you
perform a hazard assessment in
your facility to determine what type
of PPE is required to protect against
the hazards present. In general, the
PPE required for handling
photographic processing chemicals
includes:
• Neoprene or nitrile gloves
• Safety goggles
• Vinyl rubber apron or lab coat
Check personal protective
equipment often to make sure it is in
good working condition, clea n, and
works and fits properly. Train ing
must be provided on the use,
limitations, mai nten an ce, and ho w
to wear PP E. F o r mo r e inf o rmation ,
see KODAK Publication No. J-312,
Personal Protective Equipment
Requ ir e m e nt s fo r Ph ot ograph ic
Processing Facil ities.
CORROSIVE MATERIALS
Certain photographic processing
chemicals contain materials that can
burn or irritate the skin and eyes,
sometimes with only brief co ntact.
To reduce the possibility of injury,
always wear personal protective
equipment when handling
photographic processing chemicals.
Also make sure an emergency eye
wash station is readily available.
Safe Handling of Photographic ProcessingChemicals • J-98A2
CONTACT DERMATITIS
Dermatitis is the medical term used
to describe a skin inflammation.
Contact with some materials, such
as aci d s and bas e s, can c a u se
irritative contact dermatitis, while
other chem i ca l s , su ch as
photographic developers, may
cause allergic contact dermatitis.
Early sympto m s of irritative
contact dermatitis may i n clu de dry ,
red, crack e d or scaly skin at the site
of conta ct. Sympt o ms ma y wo r se n
with continued chemical exposure.
In most cases of allergic contact
dermatitis, the symptoms are itchy
blisters similar to those seen from
exposure to poison ivy or poison
oak. Although the rash is usually
confined to the site of contact, most
often fingers, hands, and forearms, it
may spread to other areas.
Sometimes people can work with
a chemical for years without any
noticeable effect, only to develop
contact der matitis at a lat er date. The
time b e tw e e n co n ta c t a n d when a
respo nse de v e lo p s va ri e s widely
among individuals. People with a
history of skin allergi e s, eczema, or
other skin disorders may be more
susc e p tib l e to th e e f fects of co n t act
with ch e mi c a l s.
If you think you have developed
contact dermati ti s, contact your
manager. A medical exa m inat ion
may be required to determine the
cause of the problem. Do not
attempt t o self-med icate wi th lotion s
or creams; they may make the
problem worse.
To prevent contact dermatitis
when handling photograp hic
processing chemicals, follow these
guidelines:
• Read the labels on chemic a l
containers so you know what
precautions to take when
hand ling t he con tents.
• Avoid contact with chemicals
whenever possible. Handle
chemical solutions care fully to
avoid splashing. Keep all PPE
(gloves, goggles, apron, etc.) free
of chemical residues.
• Wear the proper gloves. Do not
use gloves sold for household us e;
they may not be durable enough
for handling photographic
processing chemicals. Neoprene
or nitrile gloves protect you from
photographic processing
chemicals. To minimize the
possibility of chemicals coming in
contact with your bare h a nds,
rinse gl oves thoroughly with
water before taking them off. On
a regu la r b a si s or if chem icals ge t
inside the g loves, wash them
inside and out, and hang them by
the fingertips to dry.
– Check gloves regularly for
pinholes, leaks, or tears.
– Dispose of gloves when they
are damaged or begin to
degrade.
• In case of contact with chemicals,
wash your hands or other
affected skin areas immediately
with plent y of water. If yo u get an
alkaline solution, such as
developer, on your skin, wash
with a pH-balanced cleanser (like
Phisoderm, Su lfo Hand Cleaner,
or pH6). Ordinary soaps, which
are alkaline, may not be as
effective.
• Protect skin abrasions or cuts.
The risk of contact dermat itis is
increased if chemicals penetrate
the skin. Sk in damage by cuts or
abrasions is especially susceptible
to irritants.
• Change and launder clothing
worn while handling chemicals.
If photographic processing
chemicals are splashe d or spilled
on your clo thes, immediat e ly
rinse the clothes to remove the
chemical residue. Wash
contaminated clothing befor e
wearing it again.
• Clean-up chemical spills or
splashes immediately. Always
wear personal protective
equipment when cleaning up
spilled photogr aph ic proces s ing
chemicals.
• Immediately report any unusual
skin condition that you th ink
might be related to photographic
processing chemicals to your
manager and to your physician.
Conditions such as contact
dermatitis can be caused by
materia ls other than phot ographic
processing chemica ls; derma titis
usually will not improve until the
cause is found and the condition is
properly treated.
ABSORPTION OF
CHEMICALS
THROUGH THE SKIN
Some chemica ls are ab le to en ter the
body by absorp tion through the
skin. A varie ty of factors determine
the effects of these chemicals
including the toxicity of th e
chemical, its conce ntra tion and th e
duration of skin contact. Chemicals
can have a t oxic effect even without
skin ir ritation. If tests indicate that a
photographic processing chemical
may be absorbed through the skin in
amounts that could cause an
adverse effect, the product label will
include a precautionary statement,
such as “HARMFUL IF ABSORBED
THROUGH THE SKIN.” Always
wear personal protective equipment
when handling these chemicals.
Safe Handling of Photographic Processing Chemicals • J-98A 3
VENTILATION
Proper vent ilation is important to
assure a sa fe and com fortable in door
air environment for photographic
processi ng areas. Several common
potential indoor air contaminants
can be associated with photographic
processing. These include acetic
acid, sulfur dioxide, and ammonia.
These chemicals may be eye- and
respiratory-tract irritants depending
on their air b orne concentrations.
Exposure guidelines and standards
for these chemicals have been
establish ed by OSHA and other
agencies which represent
concentrations under which it is
believed that nearly all employees
may be repeatedly exposed without
adverse health effects. If significant
eye- or respiratory-trac t irritation
occurs during normal photographic
processing or maintenance
operations, this may indicate
elevated levels of these materials
and the need for better control.
EXPOSURE S TUDIES
Kodak studies of potential worker
exposure during automated
photograph ic pr oce ssing o perat ions
indicate that vapors and gases can
be controlled to acceptable levels
through good general room
ventil ation. Howev er, in some cases,
local exhaust for enclosed and/or
open tanks ma y be recommended.
Specific recomm e nd ations that
have been proven to be effective in
minimizing airborne level s of
photographic processing chemicals
include:
• General Ventilation
Dilution ventilation or general
ventilation is simply bringing in
and distributing enough fresh
uncontaminated air (preferable
outdoor air) to dilute the indoor
air contaminants to an acceptable
level.
For minilab operations , the
American Society of Heating,
Refrigeratin g, and Air
Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) recommends a
minimum gene ral dilution
ventilation of 0.5 cubic feet minute
per square foot (cfm/ft
area. This should be effective in
controlling air contamina nts
associated with photographic
processi ng. In some c ases, vent ing
the dryer section of the processor
to the outdoors may be
appropriate to prevent excess
humidity and od ors in the
workplace.
• Effective Covers
Covers on photographic
processing equipment and
chemical storage tanks can be an
effect ive co n t ro l me c h a ni s m fo r
minimizing the amount of gases,
vapors, and mists that may enter
the work area. Covers should be
made from dur a ble non-r e acti ve
materials and should cover as
much of the open surface as
possibl e. In many cases, effective
equipment covers combined with
good general room ventilation,
proper operation, and
maintenance may be all that is
needed to co ntrol odors and
airborne exposure to
photographic processing
chemicals.
2
) of floor
• Proper Equipment Operation
and Maintenance
Indoor air quality can be impacted
by how the processing equipment
is operated and maintained. It is
important to follow the
manufacturer’s recommen ded
operating procedures for
operating temperatures, agitation
of processing solutions, and
processing speeds.
In addition, draining and flushing
processing equipment tanks with
cold water prior to rack removal or
maintenance operations can also be
effective at controlling sho rt-ter m
exposures to photographic
processing solutions.
For more detailed information see
KODAK Publication No. J-314,
Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation in
Photographic Processing Facilities.
KNOW FIRST-AID IN
CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY
Appropriate first-aid treatment is
included in the MSDS an d on the
product and processor labels. Firstaid should be used for immediate
treatment in the event of an
emergency and is not intended to
replace medical attention, when
necessary. Do not administer firstaid to others unless you have been
specifically trained to do so.
CHEMICAL SPLASHES
If a chemical gets into a person’s
eye(s), use the eyewash station to
thoroughly f lush the eye(s). Get
medical attention, if necessary.
If you get chemicals on your
cloth ing, tho r oughly rin s e th e
affected clothes to re m ove all of the
Safe Handling of Photographic Processing Chemicals • J-98A4
chemical residue. Use water to rinse
the skin area where the chemical
contact took place. If the chemical is
a developer, wash with a pHbalanced cleanser, like Phisoderm,
Sulfo Hand Cleaner, or pH6. Wash
contaminated clothing before
wearing it again. Thoroughly clean
contaminat e d shoe s; if they can not
be cleaned, discard them.
SWALLOWED CHEMICALS
Immediately identify which
chemical was swallowed and follow
the first-aid recommendations on
the container/proces sor label and in
the MSDS. Call a physician or
poiso n- contr ol ce nter as qu ickly a s
possible; make sure you have the
MSDS with you when you call.
INHALED VAPORS AND
GASES
Immediately get fresh air. If
symptoms persists, get medical
attention.
STORE CHEMICALS
SAFE LY
• Keep containers easily
accessible—Always store
photographic processing chemical
containers in a designated area,
away from heavy traffic, where
they can be identified and
inventori ed, i f ne cessar y. P ositio n
containers in an area where you
can easily reach without having to
stretch.
• Do not remove chemical labels
that come on chemical con tainers.
Container labels include the
chemical name, appropriate
hazard warnings, and
precautionary measures where
applicable.
– Processor tanks and other
storage tanks also need to be
properly labe led. Kodak
provides hazard wa rning labels
for th is p urp o se.
• Use the proper containers—
photographic processing
chemicals sh ould only be stored in
the containers in which they were
originally deliv ered . Do not
transfer chemicals into any other
containers.
• Keep corrosive m a terial s
separated—store corrosive
materials away from any
materials with wh i ch they may
react, and away from other
incompatible ma te rials . See the
stability and reactivity section on
the MSDS for more information.
PROPERLY DISPOSE OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC
PROCESSING
CHEMICALS
Always follow the procedures
designated for your photographic
processing facility when disposing
of photographic processing
chemicals. These disposal
procedures are based on local, state,
and federal requirements that
regulate the di sposal of
photographic processing chemicals.
If your facility discharges waste
solutions, make sure you have
reviewed the local sewer discharge
requirements for your area. use
silver-recovery methods for silverbearing effluents (e.g., used fixers,
bleach-fixes , and st ab ilize rs) . Also,
know what oth er materi al s ma y b e
discharged to a common drain.
Never pour any photographic
processing chemicals into a drain
where cleaning age nts contai ning
chlorine are present, unless the drain
has been thoroughly rinsed. Run
plenty of water down the drain,
prior to dispo sing of photographic
processing chemical effluents, then
thoroughly ri nse the drain again
after the disposal of effluents.
For mor e inf o rm a tion on silv e r
recovery, see KODAK Publication
J-212, The Technology of Silve r
Recovery for Photographic Processing
Facilities.
If off-site treatment (hauling) is
used for the di sp osal of waste
photographic processing solutions,
make sur e the on ly sol utions poured
into the waste drum(s) are
photographic processing solutions.
Regardles s of the type of reco very
or disposal procedure you use in
your facility, maintain the system so
overflows and spills do not occur.
SAFE HANDLING OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC
PROCESSING
CHEMICALS IS EASY
WHEN YOU USE COMMON
SENSE AND WHEN YOU:
• Know the chemicals you are
handling.
• Read the MSDSs and container
labels.
• Use care when moving containers
from one location to another.
• Store photographic processing
chemicals safely.
• Do not eat, drink, or smok e in
chemical handling areas.
Safe Handling of Photographic Processing Chemicals • J-98A 5
MORE INFORMATION
If you have environmental or safety questions
about Kodak products or services, contact Kodak
Environmental Services at 1-585-477-3194,
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time) or visit
KES on-line at www.kodak.com/go/kes.
Kodak also maintains a 24-hour health hotline
to answer questions about the safe handlin g of
photographic chemicals. If you need healthrelated information about Kodak products, ca ll
1-585-722-5151.
For questions concerning the safe
transportation of Kodak products, call Kodak
Transportation Services at 1-585-722-2400.
Additional information is available on the
Kodak website.
The products and services described in this
publicat ion may not b e av ailable in all countri e s .
In countr ies other t han the U. S., contact y our local
Kodak representative, or your usual supplier of
Kodak products.
The following publications are available from
Kodak Customer Service or from dealers who sell
Kodak products.
J-110 Formaldehyde Use in Pho t ogr aphic
Processing Facilities
J-111 Determining Workplace Exposure to
Formaldehyde
J-112 Formaldehyde Emergencies
J-113 About the OSHA Formaldehyde Standard
J-114 Formaldehyde Trainin g
J-311 Hazard Communic at ion fo r Ph ot ographic
Processing Facilities
J-312 Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
in Photographic Process i ng Facilities
J-313 Occupational Noise Ex posure Requirements
for Photographic Processing Facilities
J-314 Indoor Air Quality and Vent ilati on in
Photographic Proces sing Facilities
J-315 Special Materials Management in Photograph-
ic
Processing Facilities
J-316 Emergency Preparedn ess for Photographic
Processing Facilities
J-317 Injury and Illness Manag em ent for Photo-
graphic Processing Fa cil ities
For more information about Kodak Environmental Services,
visit Kodak on-line at:
www.kodak.com/go/kes
If you have questions about Kodak products, call Kodak.
In the U.S.A.:
1-800-242-2424, Ext. 19, Monday–Friday
9 a.m.–7 p.m. (Eastern time)
In Canada:
1-800-465-6325, Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Eastern time)
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY • ROCHESTER, NY 14650
Safe Handling of Photographic Processing Chemicals
KODAK Publication No. J-98A
CAT 832 1713
Kodak and “e” marks are trademarks.
Revised 10/97
Printed in U.S.A.
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