METHYL CHLOROFORMATE CAS Number
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Common Name: METHYL CHLOROFORMATE CAS Number: 79-22-1 RTK Substance number: 1238 DOT Number: UN 1238 Date: June 1999 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Methyl Chloroformate can affect you when breathed in. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely * Methyl Chloroformate is a HIGHLY CORROSIVE evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area CHEMICAL and contact can severely irritate and burn the air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results skin and eyes with possible eye damage. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Breathing Methyl Chloroformate can irritate the nose information under OSHA 1910.1020. and throat. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Breathing Methyl Chloroformate can irritate the lungs problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS shortness of breath. No occupational exposure limits have been established for * Methyl Chloroformate may cause a skin allergy. If Methyl Chloroformate. This does not mean that this allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause substance is not harmful. Safe work practices should always itching and a skin rash. be followed. * Methyl Chloroformate is a HIGHLY FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust IDENTIFICATION ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust Methyl Chloroformate is a colorless liquid with an ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be unpleasant, odor. It is used as a chemical intermediate in the worn. production of insecticides and as a solvent in the photographic * Wear protective work clothing. industry. It was used in the past as a tear producing military * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Methyl warfare agent. Chloroformate and at the end of the workshift. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In REASON FOR CITATION addition, as part of an ongoing education and training * Methyl Chloroformate is on the Hazardous Substance effort, communicate all information on the health and List because it is cited by DOT, HHAG and EPA. safety hazards of Methyl Chloroformate to potentially * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance exposed workers. List because it is FLAMMABLE and CORROSIVE. * Definitions are provided on page 5. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information and training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide similar training and information to their employees. METHYL CHLOROFORMATE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all * Evaluation by a qualified allergist, including careful potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure history and special testing, may help diagnose exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the skin allergy. substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and --------------------------------------------------------------------------- present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION exposure. Acute Health Effects Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. immediately or shortly after exposure to Methyl Chloroformate: Mixed Exposures * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung * Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may with possible eye damage. worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical * Breathing Methyl Chloroformate can irritate the nose exposure. Even if you have smoked for a long time, and throat. stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health * Breathing Methyl Chloroformate can irritate the lungs problems. causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most Chronic Health Effects effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at some time after exposure to Methyl Chloroformate and can the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also last for months or years: reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Cancer Hazard sometimes necessary. * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Methyl Chloroformate has not been tested for its ability (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the to cause cancer in animals. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Reproductive Hazard should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * According to the information presently available to the significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Methyl Chloroformate has not been tested for its ability In addition, the following controls are recommended: to affect reproduction. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Methyl Other Long-Term Effects Chloroformate from drums or other storage containers to * Methyl Chloroformate may cause a skin allergy. If process containers. allergy develops, very low future exposure can cause * Before entering a confined space where Methyl itching and a skin rash. Chloroformate may be present, check to make sure that * Methyl Chloroformate can irritate the lungs. Repeated an explosive concentration does not exist. exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: MEDICAL * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Medical Testing Methyl Chloroformate should change into clean clothing promptly. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by following are recommended: individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Methyl Chloroformate. * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. METHYL CHLOROFORMATE page 3 of 6 * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate * Where the potential for overexposure exists, use a work area for emergency use. MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- shower facilities should be provided. pressure mode. For increased protection use in * On skin contact with Methyl Chloroformate, combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing immediately wash or shower to remove the chemical. At apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- the end of the workshift, wash any areas of the body that pressure mode. may have contacted Methyl Chloroformate, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. HANDLING AND STORAGE * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Methyl Chloroformate is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be * Prior to working with Methyl Chloroformate you should swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, be trained on its proper handling and storage. smoking, or using the toilet. * Methyl Chloroformate must be stored to avoid contact with ALKALI METALS and ETHERS since violent PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT reactions occur. * Methyl Chloroformate is not compatible with STRONG WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for NITRIC); STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace ALCOHOLS; OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as controls are being installed), personal protective equipment PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, may be appropriate. CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); DIMETHYL SULPHOXIDE; and OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the DIMETHYL FORMAMIDE. appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and * Methyl Chloroformate will react with WATER to form to train employees on how and when to use protective poisonous Hydrogen Chloride gas. equipment. * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from SPARKS, FLAME and MOISTURE.