Proceed With Caution

By Paul Fawcett
Special to Aquatics International

October 2001

quatics professionals use pool chemicals every day without thinking much about them. They rely on chemicals to keep the water clean, free of disease and attractive to guests. But facility staffs must always remember that pool chemicals are potentially dangerous.

Failure to properly store and handle pool chemicals can endanger the health of operators and patrons, and can damage pool environments and equipment.

The storage area
Proper storage of pool chemicals not only provides safety, but also enhances the life span of the chemicals. Proper ventilation plays a key role in safe chemical storage rooms. Chlorine, muriatic acid and soda-ash vapors can accumulate in a closed environment, and exposure to these vapors can be unhealthy. If the vapors are highly concentrated, they can cause immediate risk of lung damage.

The floors of chemical storage areas should slope to a grated drain. Such sloping provides easy cleaning of the floors and provides an outlet for water from broken pipes. This reduces the possibility of accidental combination of water and chemicals. Electrical outlets should include ground fault circuit interrupters to eliminate potential electrocution hazards caused by leaking or ruptured water pipes.

To prevent unauthorized access, particularly by children, employees should lock all doors to the chemical storage room when not in use. They also should post a sign on the door indicating that the area is restricted to authorized personnel.

Storage containers
Always store chemicals in their original containers with the labels clearly visible. If chemicals are placed in new containers, users may not be familiar with the containers’ contents. This can lead to an unwanted chemical addition in the pool. Also, new containers can contain residues from other chemicals, resulting in violent reactions when mixed. Possible reactions include fires, explosions and noxious fumes.

Place chemical barrels and bags on wooden pallets in the storage area to avoid interaction with water used for cleaning or other liquids accidentally spilled. Long-term contact with water causes steel drums to rust and paper bags to rot, allowing chemicals to leak from containers.

Never store petroleum products such as gasoline and oil in the same room as pool chemicals; the combination of chlorine fumes and gasoline fumes can be explosive. To avoid burning or explosions, prevent chemicals from coming in contact with each other during storage. Granular chlorine and soda ash are a common example of incompatible chemicals.

Protective equipment
When handling chemicals, operators should wear protective equipment to minimize the risk of injury. Proper equipment includes clear, plastic safety goggles for handling liquid or granular chlorine, muriatic acid, soda ash or diatomaceous earth (DE). Splash or drift of these chemicals into the eyes can cause permanent damage.

Inhaling gases from granular chlorine, soda ash and DE may seriously impair breathing. When handling these substances, particularly in confined spaces where vapors can build rapidly, operators can minimize risks by wearing air-filter masks.
Operators should wear protective clothes such as plastic aprons, rubber gloves and boots, long-sleeve shirts, and long pants when handling any chemicals. Keep all masks, aprons, gloves and goggles in an accessible area and instruct all employees on their proper use.