flux paste

[raydeayon1]

Hi everyone I'm new here. My name is Jonathan and i have a question. I work at a medical lab making brain epilepsy cables and im in charge of making the cables. Now i do alot of soldering and i work withthis paste flux its very stickyand gross when it gets on you and can only comes off with alcohol. My question is I've started breaking out on my hands like small bums on my knuckles does anyone know why it does that or is it from the isopropyl and alcohol making my hands dry please help

[Dark]

That sounds like an allergic reaction. Can you wear gloves to do your job? and have you talked to your doctor?

[Zombie]

Hi everyone I'm new here. My name is Jonathan and i have a question. I work at a medical lab making brain epilepsy cables and im in charge of making the cables. Now i do alot of soldering and i work withthis paste flux its very stickyand gross when it gets on you and can only comes off with alcohol. My question is I've started breaking out on my hands like small bums on my knuckles does anyone know why it does that or is it from the isopropyl and alcohol making my hands dry please help

 

Hi Jonathan and welcome to GA - the one-stop-shop for all your health and safety at work issues ...

Seriously, some flux can be nasty - so if it were me I'd probably do this:

1/ Ask employer to confirm by email flux brand and type

2/ Email your symptoms and request email reply advice and medical review

3/ Take copies of emails (e.g. printouts) as evidence

4/ Google flux brand and type for user guidance and health hazards e.g. skin damage, toxic fumes etc

5/ If not happy with employer medical review get your own

6/ If it looks bad get a no win no fee lawyer!

[Andy78]

Sounds to me like it's contact dermatitis - my nan used to get a similar reaction to washing soda and hydrogen peroxide.

 

But get yourself checked out either by a doctor or your occupational health department.

[raydeayon1]

Ok thanks ive tryef gloves but its very hard to with them, and when i was put into a differnt lab the a few months ago the bums went away but now im back in my lab and the bums have come back i just have them in one spot of my hand. By bf is like eww lol jee thanks, but the brand is called qualitek international inc. they have a web site to. www.qualitek.com. And zombie im not to sure hoe to go about your options

[Zombie]

You need to keep a record of your communications. I suggested email because that is a clear record but if you are happy to talk to people then keep a clear written record of who you spoke, what was said, and the date and time. You never know when you might need this so better safe than sorry If you have a line manager you could raise your concerns with them - show them your injuries and explain why you can't wear gloves and request a medical review. I don't know how big your employer is or which country you're in so it's difficult to advise. The important thing is to identify the condition, receive any necessary treatment and agree how you can change your working practice to prevent recurrence.

[raydeayon1]

Thanks zombie ill do that

[Cia]

You got some good advice in here but nothing beats an actual doctor giving you actual advice after actually seeing the spot in question. Definitely get all the information on the types of gloves you wear, the chemicals you deal with and the type/length of exposure and then go see a medical provider.

[NotNoNever]

This is a sensitisation issue, which is quite common in chemical related work (yes, flux is a chemical). First and foremost, get it checked by a doctor, preferably your own, but also ask for a work referral to an occupational specialist.

 

Next, you should not, under any circumstances, be welding anything, or using small metals, with or without electricity, without gloves. If you can't do the job without gloves, you shouldn't be doing it at all. Your employer should know that, so it seems as if they are being negligent, to me. Speak to them, and as for a different type of glove, even if it is the thin latex surgical type which give you much better finger sensitivity. I suspect, though, that these will not survive the work as there will be a lot of sharp edges etc.. Your employer is duty bound to (probably, depending on country) to ensure that you have safety equipment suitable to the needs of the job AND to the individual. Ask them for a different type of glove.

 

Hygiene is important. Before starting to work on the materials wash your hands with warm or cold water and a mild soap. A strong soap, especially if used with hot water acts as a degreasant and removes all the natual oils from your skin, so thats not good. Then apply a barrier cream to your hands. This is particularly helpful in skin conditions. These are standard engineering and fabrication practices. If you are having to reuse any gloves, wash them out at the end of the day and let them dry. The sweat from your hands will accumulate salts in them and thus will also dry your skin out and lead to and exacerbate any skin irritations. After working, observe the same hygiene rules. Your employer should have all of the above available to you.

 

When you see your doctor, you should let him know the flux brand, and also any hygiene products so that he can assess any interactions and also the effects of his own treatments.

 

As you have established a pattern of effect in this lab, and a pattern of relief in the other lab, ask for a transfer back to the other one. This could only be temporary while allowing your hand to heal. Healing treatments will be far less likely to work if under constant reinforcement from the work practice.

 

I think all of Zombie's advice is good, but remember that that is only an insurance for if your employer does not make reasonable adjustments for you. It is far better for all concerned to address the problem mutually. If you have a union, consult with them too.

 

Lastly: do not under any circumstances forget that you are also responsible for your own health and safety at work, just as much as your employer. If they are providing gloves and you are not using them, you are very much in the wrong, and it will affect later actions badly. Unless you can establish a pattern of coercion to work very quickly, which is only possible without suitable protection, AND you can show your representations on the matter, AND you can show a dismissal or ignoring of you issues and concerns, you will get nowhere. They will blame you, and with some justification, unfortunately. You must use gloves, and you must highlight the issues to your employer. That's only fair.

 

Good luck

Edited July 18, 2012 by NotNoNever

[raydeayon1]

Thanks everyone for the great feed back i taked to the manager on first shift that works in my lab and she says the bumps are not from the flux but from the uv curring lights we have to heat the glue we use. She has broken out many times before and the uv protective gloves we use don't work at all she says. Now when i have to cure something under the uv light i use these gloves and ware the uv glasses they give us. So im going to bring it up to her again tomorrow and ask if we can get real uv protective gloves. Also its been about a week scents i used the uv light and believe it or not the bumps are slowly going away so it can't be from the flux because im around that all day! Werid right and the uv lights are only on when we use them and in a different room just for the lights so its not like im around them all.

Edited July 19, 2012 by raydeayon1

[Zombie]

i taked to the manager on first shift that works in my lab and she says the bumps are not from the flux but from the uv curring lights we have to heat the glue we use. She has broken out many times before and the uv protective gloves we use don't work at all she says. Now when i have to cure something under the uv light i use these gloves and ware the uv glasses they give us. So im going to bring it up to her again tomorrow and ask if we can get real uv protective gloves. Also its been about a week scents i used the uv light and believe it or not the bumps are slowly going away so it can't be from the flux because im around that all day! Werid right and the uv lights are only on when we use them and in a different room just for the lights so its not like im around them all.

 

Yikes, I don't want to be alarmist but there is evidence is linking small UV lights and skin cancer. I've just done a quick Google and found this (I'm sure there's lots more you can find):

 

http://www.nytimes.c...3real.html?_r=1

 

You need to keep records of all your discussions, gather evidence of the equipment you are issued with (maybe take photos of the UV lights and the type of gloves you're issued with that "don't work") and keep these records. I would also strongly recommend you see a Dr immediately for his opinion on the "bumps" before they disappear and also to have these lesions recorded on your medical records. You must also get effective UV protection for your eyes and always use it. This is most important e.g. to reduce the risk of eye cataracts. Good luck

[raydeayon1]

Oh jezz, i love what i do at my job saving people from seizures trying to find the source what caused it. But if my health is on the line and other people in my lab something must me done we need new gloves that work that the uv can not go through the glove and into contact with skin this is a big concern that i have to bring up thanks zombie for the info you and the others have been a big help for me :-)

[Celethiel]

reminds me when i was working at the Promoter, and was cleaning at the backs of the press... my arms would break out every time i leaned over the back...

allergy to metal, not the solvent because I used the solvent all the time and never broke out.