PPE used when mixing bulk additives

[thatmanMIKEson]

Lately I have been getting real serious about PPE at work and at home, at home its mostly related to the reefing hobby and mixing my own additives. for a while now I have been using gloves when mixing two part and my balling solutions, because i would notice my hands would dry out possibly from direct contact, but since the addition of Kalkwasser to my additives I have really stepped up my precautions and have added a full face mask with carbon filter to my PPE equipment.

unfortunately I mix my chemicals in my garage with little air movement and I've burned my eyes a few times which is why I've finally invested in the mask. now im wondering about skin poures that are not in direct contact with the powders but still in the dust.

when mixing two part and balling part c I mix in 1 gallon jugs, the balling part c is the one that has irritated my eyes a few times.

when mixing kalkwasser I mix it in a 7g bucket and there is quite a bit of dust involved.

I'm wondering if anyone else takes any precautions like this, what are your methods of mixing and how do feel about the dust. will you think about the dust now?

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[glb]

Fwiw, I think if you mixed things outside it would solve your problem. Good luck!

 

[workhz]

I mix a gallon of kalk every week or 2 in a jug then dump that into 4 gallons of water in a 5 gallon container. I don’t notice a thing when mixing.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I mix a gallon of kalk every week or 2 in a jug then dump that into 4 gallons of water in a 5 gallon container. I don’t notice a thing when mixing.

Reef Blueprint Isol8:Ca(OH)2 1000g - Kalkwasser

Calcium hydroxide, USP (Kalkwasser). Calcium hydroxide (Kalkwasser), >99.0% purity (exceeds purity of most USP-graded material). Provides calcium, increases pH. Kalkwasser application is an integral part of an effective pH-management and coral growth regimen in dedicated coral culture systems.

www.championlighting.com

scroll down on here to review mixing instructions and the use of PPE, along with the suggestion of not mixing more than 48hours worth of kalkwasser solution.

 

[ReefEco]

I do wear gloves and an N95 when mixing kalk and especially sodium hydroxide. Your respirator looks epic - especially the different colored shields that are available!

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Some people are more sensitive than others to exposure. Sometimes one can become more sensitive over time. It is definitely worth thinking about and more so if you have others around especially kids and curious pets. I grew up and worked in a field where what people call toxic masculinity prevailed. PPE is for p***ies! Boy am I paying for that ignorance now! I’m glad to see that you are aware and taking steps to protect yourself….and others I hope. There is no shame in taking any and all measures to do so. I’m hoping more people will talk about this subject and that people like me years back will stay out of the conversation. I apologize to anyone and everyone I ridiculed and harassed in the past for being a p***y.

 

[Miami Reef]

Kalkwasser is kind of messy. The puff of cloud gets everywhere, so I totally understand the need for the mask.

 

[workhz]

scroll down on here to review mixing instructions and the use of PPE, along with the suggestion of not mixing more than 48hours worth of kalkwasser solution.

Thanks. I’ll have a read. 48 hrs? Have never heard that one before.

 

[workhz]

Thanks. I’ll have a read. 48 hrs? Have never heard that one before.

Ok, I read it. Everything is a skin irritant but I’d definite advise against snorting it or letting billows of kalk dust waft into the air. Taking a spoonful or 2 and pouring into a jug isn’t what I’d call high risk but then again it doesn’t hurt to wear a mask.

Have you ever dropped a bag of cement into a mixer or bucket? Now that’s fun.

Wonder how weakened the solution is after 48hrs if the container is sealed. If it’s at 75% by the end of the week then I’m ok with that.

Anyone know?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Ok, I read it. Everything is a skin irritant but I’d definite advise against snorting it or letting billows of kalk dust waft into the air. Taking a spoonful or 2 and pouring into a jug isn’t what I’d call high risk but then again it doesn’t hurt to wear a mask.

Have you ever dropped a bag of cement into a mixer or bucket? Now that’s fun.

Wonder how weakened the solution is after 48hrs if the container is sealed. If it’s at 75% by the end of the week then I’m ok with that.

Anyone know?

actually yes I have ! I've worked in construction for over 20 years and that is some of the work place hazards I am well aware of and try to prevent. in the past years i have really been trying to cut down on inhalation hazards weather its chemical dusts or organic particles. actually concrete dust is extremely harmful and can cause something called silicosis. very scary stuff if you get to be an elderly person, it all seems fine when one is young.

Silicosis

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a mineral that is part of sand, rock, and mineral ores such as quartz. It mostly affects workers exposed to silica dust in occup

www.lung.org

even a few spoonfuls of kalk powder makes alot of dust into the air! try making your solution the same way you do, in a dark room with a high powered flash light and no air movement and look at the particles, you may change your mind and use a simple m95 mask and goggles after that.

this is just a PSA for some people that may not think about these things, as they are not commonly mentioned when making these solutions are talked about, I like the fact that captiv8 puts it in their mixing instructions.

 

[homer1475]

This comes back to common sense, which no one has anymore.

 

[workhz]

Btw. Reading an old article by Randy, he states the degradation to be inconsequential and he has a chart of conductivity testing that goes out 20 days. 20 days is significantly more than 48 hrs.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/rhf/feature/index.htm