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with the hazards associated with its use. The safety
hazards of perchloroethylene are contained in
BUMEDINST 6260.12.
Many incidents have been reported where
Ship’s Servicemen were overcome by fumes from
dry-cleaning solvent. To prevent and minimize the
hazards of handling dry-cleaning solvent, you
must follow these precautions:
Use solvent only in well-ventilated spaces.
Avoid prolonged or repeated breathing of
vapors.
Ventilate stowage areas well.
Free exhaust ducts, fans, and ventilation
shafts of dirt, lint, or other debris.
Vent vapor recovery units to the outside
air.
In addition to the above precautions you should
inspect your equipment daily for loose or leaky
joints, couplings, connections, valves, covers, or
doors and report all discrepancies promptly to
maintenance personnel. Do not eat, drink, or
smoke in areas where the dry-cleaning solvent is
handled.
Any liquid solvent, even a trickle that comes
in contact with the atmosphere, presents a
potential hazard to personnel. If spills occur, they
should be cleaned up promptly. Personnel who
clean spills should wear rubber gloves and an
approved respiratory protection device that is
equipped with a canister or filter suitable for use
with chlorinated vapors. Personnel not wearing
rubber gloves or respirators should remain clear
of areas where spills have occurred. Open all
doors and turn on exhaust fans to ventilate the
area.
You should use a sorbent to clean up small
spills. Allow the sorbent to stay in place until it
has completely absorbed the solvent and then
shovel the solvent-laden material into an airtight
container and dispose of it properly. If a large
spill occurs, it should be drained and then pumped
into an airtight container for disposal. The dry-
cleaning solvent should not be dumped into
sewers, placed near water supplies, nor should it
be drained into the bilges. It should be placed in
a suitable container and disposed of in one of the
following ways:
Released to a licensed reclaimer
Incinerated in an approved incinerator
Evaporated in very small quantities
Buried in landfills in compliance with
local, state, and federal regulations
Dumping the solvent into any body of water is
strongly discouraged and may be illegal. No
personnel should be allowed to return to any areas
where spills have occurred until all evidence of
excessive vapors is gone.
HEALTH HAZARDS
Perchloroethylene can be used safely when
proper precautions are observed; however, the
user must guard against certain hazardous
properties of the solvent. Users should guard
against inhalation of excessive perchloroethylene
vapor, prolonged or repeated contact of the liquid
with the skin, swallowing the liquid, and splashing
into the eyes. Manufacturers of dry-cleaning
equipment design and build their dry-cleaning
systems with these points in mind. When such
equipment is operated and maintained in an
appropriate manner, dry-cleaning solvent should
not become a health hazard.
Dry-cleaning supervisors should make sure a
buddy system is adopted in the dry-cleaning
operation. All dry-cleaning personnel should be
alert for the signs of overexposure or illness caused
by the dry-cleaning solvent including the
following:
Loss of inhibitions, lightheadedness,
giddiness, or drunkenness
Loss of coordination
Stinging sensation in the eyes, nose, or
throat
Headache, nausea, or dizziness
FIRST AID
All personnel who work in areas where over-
exposure to perchloroethylene could occur should
be thoroughly trained in administering
appropriate emergency first aid. Experience has
shown that promptly administering such aid can
help to reduce the possible adverse effects of
accidental exposure. You must realize, however,
that first aid is for emergency treatment only and
medical attention should be obtained promptly.
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