posted by Scarlet Palmer on December 1st 2014

Grow room safety is essential. How do I keep my grow safe and myself too? How do I prevent fires? How do I prepare for a fire, just in case? How do I protect my eyes? How do I lower my chances of catching Legionnaires’ Disease? All these questions and more are tackled below!

1.       Do everything you can to prevent fire.

a.       Don’t leave any trash lying around. A really simple and effective tip is to not have a bin inside your grow room, instead just keep a roll of garbage bags and use a fresh one every time you’re in there, taking it with you when you leave.

b.      Check for anything in your grow room that could catch fire, or burn quickly if it does catch on fire, and get it out of there!  Your grow room should not be used as a storage area, especially for anything flammable. (And definitely don’t store your cannabis seeds in there.)

c.       Install a smoke alarm, and make sure you replace the batteries and test it regularly. Also test whether or not you can hear it from other places in the area or building, as it’s no use if you can only hear it with the door open.

d.      Don’t use a heat regulated thermostat for keeping your room temperature down. They might seem like a good idea for if you’re away frequently, but if a fire does break out, the fans will activate and draw the fire through the ventilation system, feeding it with more air as it goes.

 

2.       Assume a fire is going to break out at some point anyway.

a.       Keep at least one fire extinguisher in your grow area. Check that it is full and in good working order, and replace it within the ‘use by’ date. Keep a good torch next to it; if your lights are off, and your room is as light-proof as it should be, you may be dealing with a pitch-black space filled with smoke and lit only by flickering flames.

b.      Fit a heavy-duty, preferably fire-resistant door to your grow space, especially if it is in or attached to your home. If you can, have two, with a small area between them; this seriously reduces the speed at which the fire spreads (and is also handy for changing your clothes on the way in and out).

c.       Have an exit plan. In the event of a fire getting out of control, you should already know which way(s) you can leave the building, and what you’re going to do about alerting other people in the area and the emergency services.

3.       Know that you can never be too careful with electricity!

a.       Don’t overload your electricity circuits or otherwise stress your cables and power-points. If you have to splice wires, use a proper connector; invest in heavy-duty extension cables with built-in circuit breakers.

b.      Fix ballasts and extension cable blocks to pieces of wood, and then the wood to the walls or ceiling. Keep as many of your electrical components off the floor as possible; not only is this better for fire safety, it’s better for overall safety to keep cables out of the way so you don’t trip over them.

c.       Familiarize yourself with basic wiring safety. This is a good list of the most common DIY wiring mistakes, and what to do about them.

4.       Protect your eyes, lungs and skin.

a.       Your eyes can be damaged by long-term exposure to UVA, UVB and UVC rays. Regular sunglasses with a CE rating of 400 will filter out most UVA and UVB rays, but not UVC. In daylight these rays are usually filtered out in the upper levels of Earth’s atmosphere but they are present in the extreme light spectrums of grow lights. HPS, LED and MH lights will all produce excellent results for plants, but will cause headaches and irritation for gardeners! Invest in a good pair of glasses designed specifically for indoor garden use; Method Seven produce some excellent models and are very popular with professionals.

b.      Your eyes can be far more rapidly and drastically damaged by chemicals. Whenever you are working with nutrients, fertilizers, pesticides and especially pH balancing substances, wear proper safety goggles every single time. Opening a bag of powder can cause it to puff up into the air and mix with liquid on the surface of the eye, forming a corrosive liquid that can even cause blindness, depending on which chemical it is.

c.       Keep an eye bath, or at least a bottle of saline solution, handy for worst case scenarios. It’s much better to have it and never need it, than to try flushing your burning eyes with a watering can. Rinse your eyes for at least 10 minutes; the most damage from chemical burns occurs in the first one to five minutes, so having something on hand will make a big difference.

d.      Protect your airways as well as your eyes, especially when working with chemicals. Use breath masks and full face masks as needed.

e.      Invest in a box of latex gloves, and use them. Cannabis can cause skin irritation; even if you haven’t experienced this previously, it has been known to develop with repeated exposure to the plants. Needless to say, always use them when dealing with nutrients, pesticides, pH adjusting agents and other growing substances.

f.        Keep a first aid kit handy, and keep it well stocked! Remember to replace any items that you use up.

 

5.       Remember that water can be as dangerous as electricity in its own way!

a.       Water on the floor is hazardous in various ways: you can slip in it; it can conduct electricity; mould, bacteria and even mosquitos can breed in it. There are several anecdotes of growers who have been seriously ill after contracting Legionnaires’ Disease, which thrives in aquatic systems (including areas of condensation) between 25 – 45 degrees centigrade, and in soil, making it all too easy to accidentally cultivate in a grow room, especially one with high humidity.

b.      Dripping water is even more dangerous, as it can get into your wiring systems and electrical outlets, and will eventually accumulate somewhere and cause further problems (see above). However, condensation from humidity can be a less visible but equally problematic threat. Whenever you are running cables, whether for electricity or hydroponics and especially towards the upper part of the room, be sure to leave a ‘drip loop’, or bend, in the cable. This curve allows condensation to collect at the lowest point of the cable rather than running along it and reaching the plug or the bulb.

c.       Although it sounds obvious, always check that your taps are off and your feed tank (if you’re using hydroponics) is full before you leave. Floods, along with fires, are the two major hazards for growers’ health and safety – and also for grows being discovered. However, feed tanks running on empty can be hazardous too. If your pump is on an automatic timer and your tank has run dry, the resulting loud thumping noise can be annoying for neighbours, and eventually burn out your pump, which can lead to a fire.
We hope you find this information useful, and that it helps to keep you – and your plants – safe. Please let us know if you have further hints and ideas, and share them in the comments; it’s by pooling our knowledge that we can all move forward quickly and effectively, and in this case, more safely!

SOURCE: This information was adapted from SensiSeeds.com, Cannafo.com Does not intend to produce a profit from any educational resources and is intended for nonprofit educational purposes only!.
As Such, this resource falls under United States Federal "Fair Use" Law Section 1 - Click Here To View 17 U.S. Code § 107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

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Co2 Safety

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General hazards of Carbon Dioxide

For over a century CO₂ has been recognised as a workplace hazard at high concentrations. However, CO₂ is naturally present in the air we breathe at a concentration of about 0.037% and is not harmful to health at low concentrations. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure CO₂ is a colourless and odourless gas and, because of this, people are unable to see it or smell it at elevated concentrations. CO₂ is not flammable and will not support combustion.  As the concentration CO₂ in air rises it can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and loss of consciousness. Since CO₂ is heavier than air, fatalities from asphyxiation have occurred when, at high concentrations, it has entered confined spaces such as tanks, sumps or cellars and displaced Oxygen. It is also possible for CO₂ to accumulate in trenches or depressions outside following leaks and this is more likely to occur following a pressurised release where the released CO₂ is colder than the surrounding air.

In GB, CO2 is classed as a ‘substance hazardous to health’ under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). The HSE publication ‘EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits^[1]’ provides workplace exposure limits (WELs) for CO₂. WELs are limits to airborne concentrations of hazardous substances in the workplace and are set in order to help protect the health of workers. Workplace exposure is calculated by taking an average over a specified period of time. The WELs for CO₂ are:

• Long-term exposure limit (8-hr reference period) of 5000 ppm
• Short-term exposure limit (15 minute reference period) of 15000 ppm

SOURCE: This information was adapted from Health and Safety Executive, Cannafo.com Does not intend to produce a profit from any educational resources and is intended for nonprofit educational purposes only!.
As Such, this resource falls under United States Federal "Fair Use" Law Section 1 - Click Here To View 17 U.S. Code § 107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

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Pesticides Safety

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Safe Use Practices for Pesticides

Using pesticides safely depends on many things. Some of the most important factors include selecting the appropriate product, and using that product according to the label directions. The label directions are written to minimize the risk of problems and to define the legal uses for the product.

In addition to reading and following the label directions, consider these tips when using pesticides:

• Make sure kids, pets, and anyone non-essential to the application is out of the area before mixing and applying pesticides.
• Be sure to wear clothing that will protect you when using pesticides. Consider wearing a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and closed-toe shoes in addition to any other protective clothing or equipment required by the label.
• Mix pesticides outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
• Mix only what you need to use in the short term to avoid storing or disposing of excess pesticide.
• Be prepared for a pesticide spill. Have paper towels, sawdust or kitty litter, garbage bags, and non-absorbent gloves on hand to contain the spill. Avoid using excessive amounts of water, as this may only spread the pesticide and could be harmful to the environment.
• Read the first aid instructions on the label before using the product. Have the telephone number for the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) available in case you have additional questions.
• Remove personal items, such as toys, clothing, or tools from the spray area to avoid contamination.
• When spraying pesticides indoors, make sure the area is well ventilated.
• When applying pesticides as a spray or dust outside, avoid windy conditions and close the doors and windows to your home.
• After using pesticides, wash your hands before smoking or eating.

To learn more about the safe use of pesticides, choose from the following topics:

• Reading Pesticide Labels
• Understanding Pesticide Risks
• Minimizing Pesticide Risks
• Minimizing Exposure at Work
• Pesticide Storage
• Pesticide Disposal
• Poison Prevention
• Choosing and Using Insect Repellents

If you have questions about this, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (8:00am - 12:00pm PST), or email us at [email protected].

SOURCE: This information was adapted from National Pesticide Information Center, Cannafo.com Does not intend to produce a profit from any educational resources and is intended for nonprofit educational purposes only!.
As Such, this resource falls under United States Federal "Fair Use" Law Section 1 - Click Here To View 17 U.S. Code § 107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

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Herbicide Safety

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Safe Use Herbicide for Pesticides

Correct use is essential to ensure that chemical residues on crops do not exceed the limits set by law. Recommended herbicides do not generally injure people, livestock, wildlife, or crops if used properly and if recommended precautions are observed. However, any herbicide is potentially dangerous if improperly handled or used.

Follow these basic pesticide safety procedures:

• Make sure that you are familiar with current federal and state pesticide laws and regulations and that you have a license, if required.
• Avoid drift of spray or dust that may endanger other crops or animals. Cover feed pans, troughs, and watering tanks in livestock areas; protect beehives.
• To protect yourself and others, follow all safety precautions on the label. Know and observe the general rules for safe pesticide use, and record the date, time, location, and amount of each pesticide used.
• Wear protective clothing and use protective equipment according to instructions on the pesticide label.
• Never eat, drink, or smoke while applying pesticides.
• Avoid spilling spray materials on skin or clothing. If such an accident occurs, wash immediately with soap and water.
• Bathe after applying pesticides and change into freshly laundered clothing. Wash clothing after applying pesticides, keeping in mind that, until laundered, such clothing must be handled according to the same precautions as the pesticide itself. Wash pesticide-contaminated clothing apart from other laundry, and take care in disposing of the wash water.
• Store pesticides in their original containers in a locked, properly marked cabinet or storeroom, away from food or feed.
• Do not store herbicides with other pesticides; avoid the danger of cross-contamination.
• Be sure to triple-rinse all empty containers before recycling (in a special recycling program only through the Pa. Dept. of Agriculture; this is different from typical household curbside recycling programs) or disposing of them in an approved landfill.
• If you suspect poisoning, contact your nearest Poison Control Center, hospital emergency room, or physician. Take the pesticide label and, if possible, the MSDS sheet with you and give it to the attending physician.

Always wear the proper safety equipment when working with herbicides or other pesticides.

SOURCE: This information was adapted from Pen State Extension, Cannafo.com Does not intend to produce a profit from any educational resources and is intended for nonprofit educational purposes only!.
As Such, this resource falls under United States Federal "Fair Use" Law Section 1 - Click Here To View 17 U.S. Code § 107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.