|
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 |
