Hazards??????

From time time you read about potential toxins in scrap. Beryllium oxide in magnetrons, lead in tv glass, freon, etc. I'd like to know what you are personally careful of, what hazards you think are exaggerated, and anything relatively unknown. Please comment.

If it stink's, leave it alone.

Just read a story where two people were injured in Austin tx doing e-scrap so watch out hazards are everywhere.

TV's don't bother me personally, I just smack it with a hammer and get my goodies. No health problems as of yet from it! I will NOT mess with freon, I'm chicken.

I'm normally just careful of not getting hurt, although my fingers tell a different story from my sledge hammer If I don't know, I don't mess with it.

And as drivemaster920 said if it stinks leave it alone! Passed up a fridge a couple days ago because all I could do is gag from the smell. And I have someone to do my fridge work for me

Oh come on, there isn't anything remotely toxic in scrap. I've been handling it for weeks without any special precautions...

It hasn't affected my wife either...

I dont like freon. its good for nobody. I think the fire depts should take freon to dispose of. Also like said, If it stinks keep goin.

Lead.

Freon

Hmm. Id have to say low grade boards from tv's. Out of the hundreds i handle every month, i always manage to rip my hand open 4 million different times. Usually it's when i'm holding the needle nose pliers, and ripping off a transformer or something. I rip back, and scrap my hand the whole length of the board. That **** solder will rip into a country boys hand like nothin' else.

Also i heard that alot of that solder is lead based. I dont wear gloves because i cant work with them on. So, that's fun.

Dont even get me started on electricity.

The wife after she finds out I loaded her vehicle up with scrap. Worse than Freon, Lead and Mercury together.

Seriously though, old needles. I almost popped myself on someones old hypo when doing a storage locker clean out. I always hated wearing gloves, but I always wear thick ones now. Also make sure you get all your vaccines up to date. There is some nasty stuff out there.

Originally Posted by eesakiwi

Theres ammonia gas in the camper fridges, the sort that run on Gas/ 12 V DC/110 V AC or 240V AC.
Theres no motors in these anyway, unless they are punchered they probably work as theres no moving parts inside them.

They look like this from the back side, sorta like metal tube intestines.


The ammonia gas will nearly clear a city block if it leaks out

Didn't know about the ammonia - thanks. We have an old rv fridge sitting outside from an rv we scrapped this summer and have no idea what to do with it. I don't scrap anything with freon, but have a guy that'll pay me a negotiated price if I bring fridges/airconditioners to him. Even he doesn't want the rv fridge, though. Now I know why...

Originally Posted by Midnight

Seriously though, old needles. I almost popped myself on someones old hypo when doing a storage locker clean out. I always hated wearing gloves, but I always wear thick ones now. Also make sure you get all your vaccines up to date. There is some nasty stuff out there.

I worry about this also! A major fear really!! I would rather see a snake before a needle. And I really hate snakes lol!