If you refer to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) on the Brief Relief and DISPOSA-JOHN you will read that "...this substance and its ingredients are not considered hazardous as defined by OSHA, or EPA as previous. " The worst that will happen is your skin will feel dry.
2. Do the polymers and enzymes kill germs?
No, instead they change the composition of the waste so that it becomes safe for disposal as regular refuse. The purpose of the polymer component of the formulation is to immediately contain and encapsulate the waste. The enzyme component in the powder formulation is to ensure and accelerate the complete biological breakdown of the urine and stool to its most basic parts, thus allowing for safe disposal.
3. What if somebody else touches my used bag? (What if it punctures?)
Unless the bag has been soiled on the outside due to "aim" problems there is no risk in handling the bag. When properly used and sealed it can't leak. Inside, the gel is self-sealing and the enzymes break down the waste into simple salts and water, neutralizing them.
If the bag is punctured (as when your black refuse sack breaks), common sense says that you should avoid direct contact with the waste. However, it can be swept up and put into another container.
4. Where is it acceptable to throw Brief Relief away? (Is it really acceptable to throw them away in a waste bin?)
Brief Relief bags can be disposed of with normal refuse, not in recycle bins, The bags are landfill-friendly can be transferred for landfill disposal -- just like a baby disposable nappies.
5. (Particularly for DISPOSA-JOHN) What do I do with it once I've used it?
The answer to this may be company-specific, and the EHS officer needs to identify appropriate company requirements and practices.
6. Will the polymer/enzyme crystals work in extreme heat or cold?
The powder blend works best in the range of 40 - 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Since bodily waste is normally 98.6 degrees, encapsulation occurs immediately in spite of outside temperature, as does biological degradation. The biological degradation does begin to slow down when outside temperatures reach either very hot or very cold extremes. Note, however, that the growth of pathogens and other microorganisms also slows at extreme temperatures, so the slower degradation rate is not a problem.
7. What is the shelf life of an unused Brief Relief or DISPOSA-JOHN bag?
Virtually unlimited. The U.S. Marine Corps rated the shelf life of the product at ten years plus!
8. Is The Commode bucket and seat safe to use in extreme heat and cold?
The Commode bucket is manufactured from heavy duty polyethylene and with a thick wall to resist becoming brittle in extreme cold or soft in extreme heat. Buckets of this design are used to store and transport hazardous chemicals safely, which you can be sure would not be allowed if the buckets could crack or melt!
The Commode seat is manufactured from an industrial grade polyurethane to resist damage or degradation due to extreme temperatures.
9. How strong is the bucket?
The U.S. Marine Corps during their product approval process has tested the bucket at 133kg for twelve hours.
10. How durable is the Privacy Tent?
Although it weighs only 7 1/2 pounds it is water repellant, non-conductive, and fire retardant, meeting CPAI-84 standards. To show how durable the tent is, even in extreme conditions, six of them were used by the Everest 98 Environmental Expedition, where for four weeks at 18,500 feet they withstood below freezing temperatures, driving wind and snow, yak stampedes and intense radiation from the sun - with never a problem. In actual field conditions in both very hot and very cold weather, despite frequent use, to date there has been not one complaint of damage in normal handling,
11. Can people see me through the tent?
No. The grey opaque fabric was particularly selected to prevent this even in full sunlight conditions.
12. Does Brief Relief work for females? (How do females use Brief Relief?)
Actually, BRIEF Relief’s co-designer was a woman, and it was designed specifically because more and more women were entering utility/telecom OSP jobs. You simply need to find privacy (like the Brief Relief Privacy Tent), pinch the stiffener at the top of the bag to create a rounder shape, and hold it very close against your body.
13. Who else is using the Brief Relief products, and for how long?
The products are currently being used by utilities such as National Grid Transco. Disaster organisations as the Conflict and Humanitarian Department, International Rescue. Contractors in Rail, Fencing and Construction. The environment agency and Fire Rescue Services. Pacific Bell (USA) prompted the invention of the product some twelve years ago, and they have been a satisfied customer ever since.
Want to know more? - contact us here
