Best Practices for Use of BleachPage 1

Best Practices for

Use of Bleach

Table of Contents

Scope...... 1

Definitions...... 1

Laws and Regulations...... 2

Guidance for the Selection of Various Products...... 2

Use of Bleach...... 3

Hazards...... 4

Safety...... 5

First Aid...... 6

  1. Scope
  2. Diluted bleach can be used by employees for sanitizing and disinfecting.
  3. If students are allowed by the school to use bleach, it should only be used by middle- and high school-aged students under the direct supervision of school staff.

1)Examples:

a)Culinary classes,

b)Teacher’s aids in special education classes.

  1. Definitions
  2. Bleach: typically a 5½ percent sodium hypochlorite solution in water.

1)Some bleach products may be as much as 10 percent sodium hypochlorite.

2)Bleach contains no molecular chlorine.

  1. Clean: to use soaps, detergents, or abrasive cleaners and rinsing with water to remove surface soil.
  2. Sanitize: to remove filth or soil and small amounts of certain germs, to a level that disease transmission is unlikely.
  3. Disinfect: to eliminate virtually all germs from surfaces through the use of chemicals registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as disinfectants.

1)Only products with EPA registration numbers on the label can make public health claims.

a)If a product is not registered as a sanitizer or disinfectant with the EPA, it can only be relied on for cleaning and not for killing germs.

2)Physical agents, such as heat e.g. boiling water, can also be used.

  1. Laws and Regulations
  2. There is no California Education Code (Ed Code) statute, Department of Education regulation, or Cal/OSHA regulation prohibiting the use of bleach in a school setting.
  3. Bleach used in large quantities at school is subject to the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5194, Hazard Communication.

1)Labels

2)Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

3)Training

4)Exception: Consumer products packaged for distribution to, and use by, the general public, provided that employee exposure to the product is not significantly greater than the consumer exposure occurring during the principal consumer use (home use) of the product.

  1. EPA and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) classify bleach as an antimicrobial (germicide), and therefore, a pesticide.

1)The California Education Code requires all users of pesticides at schools to complete DPR-approved Healthy Schools Act (HSA) training.

a)

b)TargetSolutions has this training in a Pre-Built Custom Activity which is available in your Activities Builder, and ready to assign out, using the Create New Assignment application.

2)Use of bleach is exempt from all other HSA requirements.

3)HSA: Education Code sections 17608, et seq. and 48980.3

  1. If instructed by the County or State Health Department to use bleach, districts should follow the instructions provided by the health department.
  1. Guidance for the Selection of Various Products
  2. Presence of potentially highly infectious bacteria and/or viruses.

1)Examples include toilets and urinals, changing tables, surfaces in health offices, and other areas contaminated by fecal material, urine, vomit, blood, and other potentially infectious material.

2)Follow manufacturers’ instructions for use of bleach or other disinfectants.

a)To be effective as disinfectants, bleach or other disinfectants should stay wet on a surface for at least five (5) minutes.

3)When deciding whether to use bleach or other disinfectants, compare the following SDS sections:

a)Hazard Identification,

b)Exposure Controls/Personal Protection,

c)Stability and Reactivity,

d)Choose the least hazardous product.

  1. Small potential for bacteria, fungi, and viruses

1)Examples include most kitchen surfaces, door knobs and levers, drinking fountains, and some toys.

2)Wipe surfaces with detergents, and strong cleaners such as citrus-based cleaners, dilute-peroxide cleaners, vinegar, or dilute bleach and rinse with water.

  1. Presence of dirt, dust, grease, and spilled food

1)Wipe surfaces with soap, detergent, or abrasive cleaner and rinse with water.

  1. Use of Bleach
  2. Benefits

1)Bleach kills a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

a)It can be used to disinfect washable colorfast toys, changing tables, painted cribs, high chairs, plastic mattress covers, bumpers, and diaper pails.

2)Bleach is extremely powerful against viruses and bacteria at room temperature,

3)Bleach is commonly available and inexpensive,

4)Bleach breaks down quickly into harmless components (primarily table salt and oxygen).

  1. Dilution

1)When used at proper dilution, bleach is a very good disinfectant.

2)Disinfecting

a)Use one (1) tablespoon of bleach per quart of water.

b)For larger supply, add ¼ cup of bleach to one (1) gallon of water

3)Sanitizing

a)Use one (1) tablespoon per gallon of water

  1. Disinfecting

1)Wash, wipe, or rinse items with water,

2)Then apply the disinfecting solution, or let the item soak in a bucket of the disinfecting solution.

3)Let stand two (2) to five (5) minutes.

4)Wipe the surface with a paper towel or allow it to air dry.

  1. Sanitizing

1)Weaker solutions can be used for cleaning and sanitizingfood contact surfaces and equipment, such as dishes, pots and pans, glasses, utensils, refrigerators, freezers and more

a)Dilution reduces the hazard

2)Spray or wipe on surfaces.

3)Let stand one (1) to two (2) minutes.

4)Air dry.

  1. Shelf Life

1)Bleach solutions become weak due to evaporation, sunlight, and heat.

2)Disinfecting solutions should be mixed daily to maintain proper strength.

3)Purchased supplies should be used within a few months so they do not become too weak to be effective when diluted.

  1. Hazards
  2. Bleach is a strong irritant that is anacute health hazard.

1)Damage eyes;

2)Irritate the respiratory system, and cause coughing;

3)Irritate or burn the throat and digestive tract, possibly causing nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea;

4)Irritate skin.

a)Prolonged contact may cause burns.

  1. Bleach reacts with other household chemicals such as toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, acids, or products containing ammonia to produce hazardous, irritating gases, such as chlorine and other chlorinated compounds.
  2. It will also damage clothes.
  3. Prolonged contact with metal may cause pitting or discoloration
  1. Safety
  2. Engineering Controls

1)Use bleach in well ventilated areas.

a)Dilution ventilation from a forced air unit.

b)Use of portable fans can dilute the odor.

c)Windows and/or doors open.

  1. Safe Handling

1)Ensure custodial staff, teachers, and others who use bleach read and understand all instruction labels, and understand safe and appropriate use.

2)Use caution when carrying containers of bleach.

3)If using a spray bottle, adjust the setting to produce a heavy spray instead of a fine mist.

a)Spray bottles are to be labeled , tagged, or marked with:

  • Product identifier; and
  • Words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the bleach.

4)If splashes are likely to occur, use recommended personal protective equipment found on the label or SDS.

5)Because of the potential sensitivity of students to the strong odors of bleach and other cleaning products, conduct major cleaning (floors, walls, toys, etc.) when students are not present.

6)When using bleach around students, make sure the container is out of their reach. Ensure that the product stays under the adult’s control at all times.

a)Also, do not allow student access to the treated area while the area is drying.

7)Do not eat or drink when using bleach.

8)Wash hands after direct contact.

9)Always flush drains before and after use at the sink.

10)Do not reuse empty containers.

  1. Personal Protective Equipment

1)Eye and Face Protection, such as goggles or face shield;

2)Skin and body protection, such as gloves and aprons;

3)Respiratory protection is typically not needed during normal use.

  1. Storage

1)All cleaning products, including bleach, should be stored away from or secured from students.

a)Reclose the cap tightly. The cap must be tight in order to be child-resistant.

b)Child-resistant capscan reduce the ability of a student to open a product, it does not make the product childproof.

2)Store upright in a cool, dry area, away from direct sunlight and heat.

3)Provide secondary containment.

4)Store separately from food.

5)Store separately from acid-based cleaning products,toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, acids,

6)Store separately fromproducts containing ammonia, such as certain glass cleaners.

  1. Spill Control

1)Prevent further leakage

a)Place leaking container in a sink or plastic tub large enough to contain the remaining contents.

2)Excess bleach spilled on surfaces should be absorbed.

3)Absorptive materials such as sponges and towels can be rinsed in the sink or in clothes washers.

4)For spills of multiple products, responders should evaluate the Safety Data Sheets of each product for incompatibility.

  1. First Aid
  2. General

1)Call Poison Control, 800-222-1222, for first aid treatment advice.

  1. Eye Contact

1)Rinse with plenty of water, 15 to 20 minutes.

2)Get medical attention immediately if irritation persists.

  1. Ingestion

1)Call Poison Control – 800-222-1222.

2)Drink 1 or 2 glasses of water.

3)Do NOT induce vomiting.

4)Get medical attention immediately if symptoms occur.

  1. Inhalation

1)Move to fresh air.

2)Get medical attention, if symptoms persist.

  1. Skin contact

1)Rinse with plenty of water.

2)Get medical attention if irritation develops and persists.