The Prez Sez
Hi Folks!
For this month’s article
I will focus on safety related issues. I recently came across an article
written by Terry Booth of the Lexington Model Airplane Club, Lexington
Kentucky, which really hit home. As those of you who have spent any time
in the military know, Commanders and Directors frequently are required
to give their folks safety pep talks. Well, here is mine to you, as it
relates to chemicals:
Safety in the
Shop by Terry Booth:
With building season
at full 'throttle', I would like to take a little time to talk about chemical
safety. Specifically, we'll take into account the glues, paint, solvents,
fuel, etc. If your building area is anything like mine, it's full of all
these things! Most of them are harmful, even if used correctly, but even
more harmful if they are improperly used or stored.
Among the many hazards,
inhalation is very common. Breathing the fumes can cause a multitude of
health problems, some felt immediately, and some may not become evident
until later, such as headaches that just come on "for no reason." Most
CyA glues cause a runny nose and watery eyes, as most of us have already
experienced! Other allergic reactions are also possible. In consideration
of inhalation, we must also consider some of the smaller "creatures" that
live in, or near, your building area. |
If you have small animals, especially pet birds, you should be very careful
because they cannot tolerate nearly as much as we can. It is best to use
solvents and paint outdoors whenever possible. If you must use them indoors,
it is of great benefit to open a window and/or turn on a fan to exhaust
them out of smaller areas.
Skin contact should
also be avoided whenever possible. Besides burns, rashes and just pure
discomfort, chemicals can enter the bloodstream by absorption through the
skin. If occurring frequently, these can build up in the body over time.
Never wash your hands in solvents! These solvents can overwork the oil
glands, which can lead to dermatitis. It is best to use rubber gloves when
you can.
(Continued next month)
I hope I have not talked
too strongly about this subject, but it really does have potential to be
deadly.
Build safely.
Bill
From Plane Talk
Lexington Model Airplane Club
Gerry Wagner, editor
Lexington KY
Next MMRCC Club
Meeting
The next meeting of
the MMRCC is scheduled for April 4, 2002 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will
be held at the TRW facility (Highway 90 Bypass). Personnel are required
to sign-in and sign out for security purposes. |
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
The Mall Show was a rip roaring success. Eleven members
brought 30 aircraft, ranging from a 34 inch to a 105 inch wingspan..
Trainers, sport, aerobatic, helicopters and even a para-wing. See
web site for pictures. Thanks to all, especially Pete Haring, who
coordinated all.
On April 6 & 7, Wings Over The Desert IMAA Fly-In
and swap meet at the TRCC Field.
We can fly at Libby Field on March 30 and April 20.
Any non-internet users contact me or club officers and we can relay all
pertinent ground rules that must be followed or we can lose this privilege.
Climb and Guide for Duration will be at our field on May
12. Also scheduled is another Combat over the Mesquites on May 19.
Contact Tom Fenn or Randy Wegner (520-954-0021) for additional info.
Bart Bergman received his solo certificate at the March
meeting. That was the high point, but the low point is he is heading
back to the wilds of Canada the end of the month to build and fly float
planes from his own private dock. See him next fall.
That is it for this month. Any comments or suggestions,
please contact me. Also if you have an article or anything else you
would like me to insert in the letter, we can negotiate. Happy flying and
keep the pointy end forward. Will |
