I wear a face shield and nitrile gloves if I’m doing a roof, but downstreaming never…
And never a mask. Is it really that bad?
Oxalic I hate doing with anything but a roller. I’ll put on a face shield for that if I have to pump spray it on. Atomized oxalic is awful.
As far as environmentally safe, I always tell people it’s commercial grade bleach diluted down. It’s going to smell like a pool and it’s about as harmful as pool water if the process is adhered to.
Out of curiosity now that you have been at this for years. Have you changed your ideas on PPE or stuck to your guns? I’m new and curous. Thanks
I know this is an old post, but I see that it has some traction so I’m adding my $0.02:
The claim that SH is “safe” often relies on the idea that it breaks down into salt and water, but this comically oversimplifies the chemistry. In reality, SH degrades into various intermediate compounds, many of which are persistent and hazardous to living organisms.
When rinsed into soil, storm drains, or “out into the woods,” SH doesn’t simply disappear or magically turn into table salt—it breaks down into harmful byproducts such as chlorinated compounds and free chlorine, which can disrupt natural ecosystems and kill beneficial microorganisms. Even low concentrations can be toxic to fish and amphibians. And as we all know, SH exposure can stunt plant growth or outright kill vegetation if not properly managed.
But that’s only half of it. How about what it does to us schmucks cleaning the roof? If you smell it, it’s scarring your lung tissue. Look up COPD, kids. Masking it with synthetic fragrances does absolutely zero to make it safer… probably the opposite, because folks think its a pleasant smell and so they don’t protect themselves from it. Listen up, those of you who are sending out crews in pickups to carpet-bomb suburbia with SH: repeated exposure without proper PPE causes chronic health problems. As the employer, this is your issue (and liability) to be on top of.
Just because something is commonly used doesn’t mean it’s environmentally benign. Just because some old-timer says “I’ve been doing this forever” doesn’t mean it’s safe. The responsible approach is to treat SH with the same respect you’d give any industrial chemical—limit its use, prevent runoff, and never downplay the risks it poses to ecosystems, property, and people.
