Common Name: METHYL ACETYLENE HAZARD SUMMARY
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Common Name: METHYL ACETYLENE CAS Number: 74-99-7 RTK Substance number: 1218 DOT Number: UN 1954 Date: May 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Methyl Acetylene can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Breathing Methyl Acetylene can irritate the nose and evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area throat. air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results * Breathing Methyl Acetylene can irritate the lungs causing from your employer. You have a legal right to this coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures information under OSHA 1910.1020. can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational breath. diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * Exposure to Methyl Acetylene can cause headache, dizziness, convulsions (fits) and unconsciousness. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Liquified Methyl Acetylene can cause frostbite. OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit * Methyl Acetylene is a HIGHLY FLAMMABLE and (PEL) is 1,000 ppm averaged over an 8-hour REACTIVE chemical and is a DANGEROUS FIRE and workshift. EXPLOSION HAZARD. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is IDENTIFICATION 1,000 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift. Methyl Acetylene is a colorless gas, which is shipped as a liquid, with a sweet odor. It is used as a simple anesthetic and ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is in the manufacture of other chemicals, and as a welding torch 1,000 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. fuel. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE REASON FOR CITATION * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Methyl Acetylene is on the Hazardous Substance List ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be DOT, NIOSH and NFPA. worn. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance * Wear protective work clothing. List because it is FLAMMABLE and REACTIVE. * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Methyl * Definitions are provided on page 5. Acetylene. * On skin contact with liquified Methyl Acetylene, HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING immediately submerse the affected body part in warm EXPOSED water. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public addition, as part of an ongoing education and training employers to provide their employees with information and effort, communicate all information on the health and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The safety hazards of Methyl Acetylene to potentially exposed federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, workers. requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. METHYL ACETYLENE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal potential and most severe health hazards that may result from right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to Mixed Exposures any of the potential effects described below. * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung --------------------------------------------------------------------------- cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health Acute Health Effects problems. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Methyl Acetylene: WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * Breathing Methyl Acetylene can irritate the nose and Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous throat. substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most * Breathing Methyl Acetylene can irritate the lungs causing effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is breath. less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * Exposure to Methyl Acetylene can cause headache, sometimes necessary. dizziness, convulsions (fits) and unconsciousness. * Liquified Methyl Acetylene can cause frostbite. In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the Chronic Health Effects substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls some time after exposure to Methyl Acetylene and can last should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when for months or years: significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Cancer Hazard In addition, the following controls are recommended: * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, * Where possible, automatically transfer Methyl Acetylene Methyl Acetylene has not been tested for its ability to or pump liquid Methyl Acetylene from drums or other cause cancer in animals. storage containers to process containers. * Before entering a confined space where Methyl Acetylene Reproductive Hazard may be present, check to make sure that an explosive * According to the information presently available to the concentration does not exist. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Methyl Acetylene has not been tested for its ability to Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous affect reproduction. exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Other Long-Term Effects * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Methyl Acetylene should change into clean clothing * Methyl Acetylene can irritate the lungs. Repeated promptly. exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of MEDICAL exposure to Methyl Acetylene. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate Medical Testing work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the shower facilities should be provided. following is recommended: * On skin contact with Methyl Acetylene, immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Methyl Acetylene is Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, damage already done are not a substitute for controlling smoking, or using the toilet. exposure. METHYL ACETYLENE page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT HANDLING AND STORAGE WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Prior to working with Methyl Acetylene you should be PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for trained on its proper handling and storage. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Methyl Acetylene is not compatible with OXIDIZING done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, controls are being installed), personal protective equipment PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, may be appropriate. CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); COPPER; and COPPER ALLOYS. OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and area away from HEAT and SHOCK. to train employees on how and when to use protective * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are equipment. prohibited where Methyl Acetylene is handled, used, or stored. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may * Metal containers involving the transfer of Methyl not apply to every situation. Acetylene should be grounded and bonded. * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially Clothing when opening and closing containers of Methyl * Avoid skin contact with Methyl Acetylene. Wear Acetylene. protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment * Wherever Methyl Acetylene is used, handled, suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electrical the most protective glove/clothing material for your equipment and fittings. operation. * Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS occur, employees should be provided with special clothing designed to prevent the freezing of body tissues. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic * All protective clothing