What is Toxics Use Reduction (TUR)

Minimization of pollution and hazards from chemical contamination through reduction, elimination, or substitution of the substance in question. TUR is achieved by changes in chemical usage and enhanced awareness of health and safety concerns

Where TUR Can Be Applied in Food Establishments

• Cleaners• Degreasers• Sanitizers• Pesticides

Why is Toxics Use Reduction Important in Restaurants

• High usage of chemicals, cleaners, degreasers, sanitizers, and pesticides

• Variable training of workers on safety and hazards of chemicals

• OSHA requirements• Liability to worker• Threat to public health• Effect on the environment – both indoor and

outdoor

How can TUR Benefit My Food Establishment

• Greater safety of workers• Greater safety of food offered• Decreased cost• Improved pest management (long term)• Benefit to the environment• Public perception of establishment

Results of Surveys

• Some are spending up to $1000 a month on cleaning supplies

• Varying degrees of employee training• Many are using multiple cleaners and

sanitizers• Many do not have accessible MSDS• Inspection reports show violations of toxic

use is found frequently

Toxicology Basics• Toxics – are substances capable of causing injury,

illness, or death by chemical means• Toxicity – is a measure of the relative ability of a

chemical to do biological harm.• Many naturally occurring substances can be toxic at

the right dose– Lead– Mercury– Arsenic– Pyrethrins

Toxics are a Public Health Concern for Many Reasons

• They can have severe and permanent effects on our health

• They are so prevalent in our lives• Little is known about the effects of multiple

chemical exposures• Toxicity data is lacking for most chemicals• Health effects can occur long after the exposure

There is No Such Thing as a Harmless Chemical

• Almost any substance is capable of causing injury, illness or death if it is present in a sufficient amount

• Some chemicals are more toxic than others

• The relative danger posed by a chemical is related to:

Dose• How much of a chemical enters the body• Dilutions

– The more dilute a solution is the less toxic it will be

• Potency – A more potent chemical produces harmful

effects at a lower dose than a less potent chemical

Route of Exposure• How the chemical enters the body

– Inhalation – by breathing– Ingestion – by swallowing– Absorption -Contact with skin and eyes– Injection – piercing of the skin– Indirect – food, water, air…

Duration or Frequency of Exposure

• Acute– Exposure of a short period of time

• Chronic– Exposure over a long period of time

• Cumulative– from a variety of different sources

Response

• How the body handles it once it enters the body

• Two categories of responses to toxics– Acute responses – ranging from skin

irritations to coma and death– Chronic responses – ranging from cancer,

liver disease, to nervous system damage

Vulnerability Different populations can respond

differently to the same chemical– Young children– Elderly– Pregnant women– Immunocompromised– Exposed Workers

Toxic Chemicals are pervasive in our society, and there is virtually no way to avoid at

least some exposure to toxics

OSHA Requirements

Who is Regulated Under OSHA

All establishments with more than one employee that are not related and there is interstate commerce

Hazard Communication Standard

(21 CFR 1910.1200)Purpose

– Employees have the right to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they are exposed to when working

– They need to know what protective measures are available to prevent adverse effects from occurring

Hazard Communication Standard (21 CFR 1910.1200)

Includes– List of hazardous chemicals at your

establishment– Container labeling and other forms of warning– Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)– Employee Training

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Gloves – don’t use the same ones for food prep

• Goggles• Eye wash station• Proper storage of PPE• Training employees how to use PPE

InformationEmployees shall be informed of

– The requirements of the OSHA Standard (21 CFR 1910.1200)

– Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present

– The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the list of hazardous chemicals at your establishment and the MSDSs

Training– Explanation of the labeling system– Material Safety Data Sheets– How employees can obtain and use the

appropriate hazard information– Personal Protective Equipment

Further Assistance• OSHA Regional Office

617-565-8110• State Consultation – Free Inspection

617-969-7177

MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

• Employers must have a MSDS in the workplace fro each hazardous chemical which they use

• Each MSDS must be in English• If the MSDS is not provided with your product

order, the employer shall obtain one from the chemical manufacturer as soon as possible

• The employer shall ensure that all MSDS are readily accessible during each work shift

Information found on MSDS

• Section One – Identification• Section Two – Hazardous Components• Section Three – Physical Data• Section Four – Fire and Explosion Data• Section Five - Reactivity

Information found on MSDS

• Section Six – Spill or Leak Procedures• Section Seven – Health Hazards• Section Eight – First Aid• Section Nine – Protective Measures• Section Ten – Additional Information

NFPA Hazard Ratings

Hazard Ratings – Health

Health (Blue)

4 Danger May be fatal on short exposure. Specialized protective equipment required

3 Warning Corrosive or toxic. Avoid skin contact or inhalation

2 Warning May be harmful if inhaled or absorbed

1 Caution May be irritating 0 No unusual hazard

Hazard Ratings – Reactivity

Reactivity (Yellow) 4 Danger Explosive material at room temperature

3 Danger May be explosive if shocked, heated under confinement or mixed with water

2 Warning Unstable or may react violently if mixed with water

1 Caution May react if heated or mixed with water but not violently

0 Stable Not reactive when mixed with water

Hazard Rating – Flammability

Flammability (Red)

4 Danger Flammable gas or extremely flammable liquid

3 Warning Flammable liquid flash point below 100° F

2 Caution Combustible liquid flash point of 100° to 200° F

1 Combustible if heated 0 Not combustible

Hazard Rating – Special Precautions (White)

• W -Water Reactive• OX - Oxidizing Agent

NFPA Rating

Chemical Name Skin Skin Absorb? Inhalation Chronic H F R

Benzyl Alcohol yes S Irr Car,CNS 2 1 0vertigo

Diethanolamine Irr no Slight sus Car 1 1 0skin allergy

Naphlalene Irr yes Irr Pot Car, GI,Liver 2 2 0

Kidney,Blood,Repro

Trichloroethylene Irr no yes liver,repro,CNS 2 1 0carcinogen

Chemicals to Avoid – Info give for full strength ingredient

Ingredients to Avoid or Use Extreme Care

NFPA RatingChemical Name Eye Skin Skin Inhalation Chronic H F R

Absorb?2-Butoxy Ethanol Irr Irr yes yes Repro,Fetal,Liver, 2 2 0

Kidney,CNS

Ammonia Burn/Blind Damage Sev Irr/ Burn Kidney/Liver 3 0 0CNS

Ammonium Blind Dam yes, dam Cataracts, Glaucoma 3 1 2Hydroxide

Diethylene Glycol Irr Irr yes slight kidney, CNS 1 2 0Monobutyl Ether

Sodium Hypochlorite Irr Irr Irr Chance of Sensitization 2 0 1Bleach

Triethanolamine Dam Burn yes slight liver, kidney, Carcin 2 1 1

Chemicals to Use With Extreme Care

Info Given for Full Strength ingredientNFPA Rating

Chemical Name Eye Skin Skin Inhalation Chronic H F RAbsorb?

Diethylene glycol Irr Irr yes yes Liver/Kidney

CNS Toxicant

Potassium Hydroxide Irr Irr

Sodium Hydroxide Blind Damage No Burns 2 0 1

Ingredients to Use Normal Care

NFPA RatingChemical Name Eye Skin Skin Inhalation Chronic H F R

Absorb?

Acetic Acid Burns Burns No Yes

d-limone Irr Irr No Irr allergies 1 2 0

EDTA Irr Irr Irr 0 0

Ethylene Glycol Irr Irr slight 1 1 0

How to Reduce Toxics in Your Establishment

Identify the Highest Risk Products Currently Being Used,

and Change

• Look at MSDS sheets and compare hazard ratings

• Use the charts

• Substitute products containing Butoxyethanol with Isopropanol

• Avoid degreasers with Tetracholorethylene and Tricholorethylene

Try Non-toxic Products You May Already Have

• Coffee cup stain remover – moist salt• Coffee pot cleaner – vinegar• Degreasers – Borax on a damp cloth• Floor cleaner – 1 cup of vinegar in 2 gallons of

water• Oven cleaner – 2 tbsp liquid soap with 2 tsp of

borax in warm water• Window cleaner – 2 tbsp vinegar in 1qt. warm

water

Use Products Correctly• Cleaners Vs Sanitizers

– A surface must be cleaned before it can be sanitized

• Using Bleach to Clean Floors

• Concentration of products

Dilute Concentrations Properly

• Automated Systems• Test Strips• Read labels – dilution rates• MSDS example: Oasis 255SF Vs Windex

Keep Track of How Much Product You Use

• Sanitizer Logs• Record Keeping – purchase orders• Monitoring Employees

Avoid Aerosol Products

Clean Equipment and Facility on a Regular Basis

• Give employees a cleaning task before the start of a shift and before the end of a shift

• Clean grills and other large pieces of equipment every night

Need for Simplicity – Do you really need it

• Mechanical dishwashing supplies• Multiple sanitizers• Multiple cleaners

Train ALL Employees How to Use Cleaners Properly

• Do not just hand out written materials• Post directions in work areas• Monitor employees to verify proper use

Dispose of Old Products Properly

• Minuteman Facility on Hartwell Ave• Safety Kleen – (978) 683-1002