I don't get it........

With so many great alternatives on the market today, why would you still be using any product containing Chlorine Bleach at home or in your business.

And don't be fooled by ingredient trickery....many of the toxic household cleaning products under your cupboard or in your bucket contain chlorine bleach....aka "sodium hypochlorite" .....aka "hypochlorite."

Let's see....what is the side effects of using Chlorine Bleach

Irritation of the Lungs......not so bad, right?

Add.....dangerous for people suffering from heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema.

And to top it off..........risks are compounded when the cleaners are used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, such as the bathroom.

Do you or your staff wear the proper masks to work with products containing Chlorine Bleach.....probably not.

Wow....it's highly corrosive........it can damage, not irritate, skin, eyes and other membranes.

Do you or your staff wear the proper safety glasses, industrial gloves, and protective clothing to cover exposed skin.....chances are, that would be a No, not really

Now Chlorine bleach is considered by the EPA to be "simple and effective" when properly used (in a well-ventilated space, with protective gloves, and in appropriate quantities) .........I wonder what they consider well-ventilated and if they would change their view if they were the one's cleaning bathrooms day in and day out with chlorine bleach based products.

And just a little side note..........The Children's Health Environmental Coalition singles out chlorine bleach as the cleaner most commonly swallowed by children.

Did you know Chlorine Bleach can be fatal if swallowed.

Now let's talk about what happens when you do a little bit of accidental mixing.....Which of these items listed below can be safely mixed with Chlorine Bleach?

Ammonia

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Vinegar

Other Products containing Chlorine Bleach, sodium hypochlorite or hypochlorite.

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Chlorine Bleach cannot be mixed with any of the above....potential lethal vapours will form....and FYI.....Chlorine itself is not flammable, but it can react explosively or form explosive compounds with other chemicals such as turpentine and ammonia.

It would be safe to say Chlorine Bleach should not be mixed with any other product.

How do you know if you have accidentally mixed Chlorine Bleach with another cleaner........here are the signs that all is not right....

·         Coughing

·         Chest tightness

·         Burning sensation in the nose, throat, and eyes

·         Watery eyes

·         Blurred vision

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Burning pain, redness, and blisters on the skin if exposed to gas, skin injury similar to frostbite if exposed to liquid chlorine

·         Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (may appear immediately if high concentrations of chlorine gas are inhaled, or may be delayed if low concentrations of chlorine gas are inhaled) Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) within 2 to 4 hours

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I had 6 of the above symptoms, immediately after the toxic cloud formed......and yes I was fully dressed with paper mask (strongly recommended by Work and Safety), safety glasses, protective clothing and industrial gloves.........They did not protect me......Go Figure.

Now you know what can happen to you or your staff....next step....do you know what to do if you are caught in a situation where you have created a unsafe environment while using the Chlorine Bleach......and, please, do not think for a minute, you have everything under control and this will never happen to you or your employees......law of reasoning.....you cannot control the environment when you are no longer in it. In other words, you do not control your clients and the possibility they will use a reactive product which, in all reality, they would never think to mention to you or your employees.

If you notice a gaseous cloud form...leave the area immediately and get to fresh air. Do not go back in...call your local Health Department for instructions on how to handle the situation.

If you have spilled it on you, immediately wash with soap and water

If you have spilled a lot on your clothing...remove as soon as possible before it starts to burn your skin....do not remove any clothing over your head...cut it off instead. Place the clothes in a plastic bag

If your eyes are burning, rinse with water for about 10 minutes...if you wear contacts, remove but do not put back after flushing your eyes...if you wear glasses wash completely with soap and water

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, immediately seek medical attention

from the Seattle Times

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Three WashingtonState Ferries workers have been awarded more than $1.1 million because of exposure to chlorine gas on the ferry Tacoma in 2004.

According to the men's attorney, the ferry system allowed the absorbent powder Hi 'N Dri and bleach on the ferries without investigating the potential harm from combinations of the chemical products during normal cleaning operations. He said when the workers were cleaning a restroom, the products created a toxic cloud of chlorine gas, causing coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing that will require lifetime medications.

King County Superior Court Judge Glenna Hall found that "the chlorine gas which resulted from the mixture of Hi 'N Dri and bleach constituted an unseaworthy condition."

She said "all three of the crew members who were exposed to the chlorine developed significant and permanent occupational asthma" and ruled that "the storage and combination of Hi 'N Dri and bleach was neither reasonably fit for its intended use, nor a safe method of operation."

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Are your employees properly trained in the use of the products they clean with?

Do they have the proper protective gear and are they using them?

Is there a place in their handbook describing what to do in case of an accidental mixture and do they carry this with them on the job

Are your clients aware they must notify you of any toxic chemicals used in the home by them or contractors?

Finally, are you prepared if there is a toxic chemical accident which permanently affects an employee.....in other words what would happen to you financially if you are sued for not properly preparing your staff when it comes to handling toxic products like Chlorine Bleach and cleaners containing Chlorine Bleach.

And with all this said, I will end with what I started with......I don't get it.......why is it you are still using Chlorine Bleach, Sodium Hypochlorite and Hypochlorite.