Everyday Hazmat User’s Training Guide, Page 8

Everyday Hazmat User’s Training Guide

Section I—Common USDA Forest Service Activities

This section of the Everyday Hazmat User’s Training Guide contains summaries of some of the more common activities that use hazardous materials or generate hazardous wastes. Each activity is subdivided into specific task areas that flag special regulatory concerns either directly, or by referring to hazardous materials management guidelines (section II) or hazardous waste guidelines (section III).

Many regulatory and work and facility safety concerns can be avoided by using products that are not hazardous or that do not create hazardous wastes or air or water pollutants—these are often known as green products. Visit the Everyday Hazmat Web site for some specific suggestions: /eng/t-d.php?link=everyday_hazmat

USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management employees can access that Web site from their internal computer networks at: http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/everyday_hazmat

The guidelines in this section are based on Federal regulations and the requirements of the IFC and NFPA requirements. Your State and local governments may have additional requirements. Your local fire marshal may choose to selectively adopt IFC and NFPA requirements, or may have additional requirements, so contact the fire marshal when appropriate.

Painting is one of the most common uses of hazardous materials and sources of hazardous waste at all USDA Forest Service units. These activities include interior and exterior painting as well as tree marking. As new types of paints come onto the market, the use of traditional solvent-based and metal-containing paints may end, as may the use of regulated cleaning solvents.

The Activities

Painting Activities—The Processes

Painting activities within the USDA Forest Service have been a common source of regulated materials and worker safety concerns. This guideline identifies some of the most common painting tasks, outlines certain regulatory obligations, and recommends specific changes to reduce regulatory exposure and costs.

Supplies of tree-marking paint often include large quantities of special paints. You may also find large quantities of regulated cleaning solvents (hazardous) that were used with earlier versions of paint. Most of these paints will be found in secured areas.

Another common painting activity is sign painting, which typically requires small volumes of many types of paints and large quantities of hazardous cleaning solvents. Paint removers may be found in open cans used to clean brushes.

You may find many 1- and 5-gallon cans and aerosol canisters of paint used for building maintenance.

Regulated solvents (hazardous) used with oil-based paints can be eliminated by switching to latex paints that are not hazardous. More latex paints are being used in maintenance activities to reduce worker safety concerns, regulatory obligations, and storage expense.

Typical Painting Activities

Tree Marking

Tree-marking activities have traditionally been one of the largest uses of regulated paints and sources of hazardous waste. As water-based tree-marking paint becomes available, the old hazardous paints and cleaning solvents can be eliminated.

Lead-Based Tree-Marking Paints

Immediately mark these paints as hazardous waste and move them to your hazardous waste accumulation area; see the Hazardous Wastes guideline.

Water-Based Tree-Marking Paints

Water-based tree-marking paints are being distributed for widespread use. Keep them from freezing and maintain appropriate security. Flammable storage is no longer needed. Recycle empty containers or dispose of them in the trash if they are not pressurized.

Solvent-Based Tree-Marking Paints

Solvent-based tree-marking paints are being phased out of service. Collect bulk containers and aerosol canisters in a proper storage area (see the Flammable Liquids guideline) and await direction on disposition; maintain appropriate security.

Cleanup Solvents for Tree-Marking Paint

Because regulated paint solvents are not needed with the water-based tree-marking paints, they can be eliminated. If possible, find a way to use unused solvents, and do not order more. If their use is not feasible, move solvents to the hazardous waste accumulation area for disposal (see the Hazardous Wastes guideline).

Be sure to use the MSDS to determine which solvents are hazardous.

General Painting

Painting will continue to be a USDA Forest Service activity far into the future. In the past, solvent-based paints containing heavy metals were used. However, with today’s new products, we have acceptable latex substitutes. All paints containing heavy metals and solvents should be eliminated. With the switch to latex paints, regulated solvents used for cleanup can also be eliminated.

Paints Containing Heavy Metals

Unless there is a specific need for these paints, they should be marked as a hazardous waste and moved to the hazardous waste accumulation area; see the Hazardous Wastes guideline .

Latex Paints

Latex paints are available for nearly every painting need. Keep them from freezing. Flammable storage is no longer needed. Recycle empty containers or dispose of them in the trash.

Oil-Based Paints

Except for special area applications, eliminate the use of all solvent-based paints, replacing them with latex paints. Use up the remaining solvent-based paint or treat it as a hazardous waste; see the Hazardous Wastes guideline.

Paint Cleanup Solvents

There is no need to use regulated cleanup solvents with latex paint. If possible, find a way to use unused solvents. Otherwise, treat them as a hazardous waste; see the Hazardous Wastes guideline.

Flammable Aerosol Paints

Unless there is a specific need, eliminate all flammable aerosol paints. These are typically marked extremely flammable and dangerous. Use up what is left, or dispose of the paint as prescribed in the Aerosol Cans guideline.

Handy Tips

Use up all solvent- and oil-based paints so you don’t have to dispose of them as hazardous wastes. Buy only as much as you need for a task.
Beware of cheap, surplus oil-based paint. It may cost more to dispose of leftovers than you save.
Buy only latex paint.
Phase out all aerosol paints—they are costly to buy, costly to store properly, and costly to dispose of properly.
Never use gasoline for paint cleanup!
Check your community recycling centers to see if they take old paints for recycling.
When you have eliminated your oil- and solvent-based paints, you can eliminate all paint-cleaning solvents (such as mineral spirits).
Look for green products at the USDA Forest Service green purchasing Web site: /eng/t-d.php?link=everyday_hazmat/green.htm