Common Name: CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE CAS Number: 7778-54-3 DOT Number: UN 1748 (Dry or with more than 39% Chlorine) UN 2880 (Hydrated) UN 2208 (Dry with between 10% to 39% RTK Substance number: 0323 Chlorine) Date: December 1996 Revision: April 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Calcium Hypochlorite can affect you when breathed in. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Contact can severely irritate and burn the eyes and skin. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Breathing Calcium Hypochlorite can irritate the nose and diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. throat. * Breathing Calcium Hypochlorite can irritate the lungs WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher No occupational exposure limits have been established for exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs Calcium Hypochlorite. This does not mean that this (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe substance is not harmful. Safe work practices should always shortness of breath. be followed. IDENTIFICATION WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE Calcium Hypochlorite is a white powder, granule, or pellet * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust with a strong Chlorine-like odor. It is used to kill algae and ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust bacteria, in bleach and in pool chemical products. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. REASON FOR CITATION * Wear protective work clothing. * Calcium Hypochlorite is on the Hazardous Substance * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Calcium List because it is cited by DOT, NFPA and EPA. Hypochlorite. * Definitions are provided on page 5. * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING effort, communicate all information on the health and EXPOSED safety hazards of Calcium Hypochlorite to potentially exposed workers. 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. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure. potential effects described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Mixed Exposures Acute Health Effects * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may immediately or shortly after exposure to Calcium worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Hypochlorite: Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce your risk of developing health problems. * Contact can severely irritate and burn the eyes and skin. * Breathing Calcium Hypochlorite can irritate the nose and WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES throat. * Breathing Calcium Hypochlorite can irritate the lungs Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at shortness of breath. the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is Chronic Health Effects less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at sometimes necessary. some time after exposure to Calcium Hypochlorite and can last for months or years: In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the Cancer Hazard substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * According to the information presently available to the New harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Calcium should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when Hypochlorite has not been tested for its ability to cause significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. cancer in animals. In addition, the following control is recommended: Reproductive Hazard * According to the information presently available to the New * Where possible, automatically transfer Calcium Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Calcium Hypochlorite from drums or other storage containers to Hypochlorite has not been tested for its ability to affect process containers. reproduction. Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Other Long-Term Effects exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * Calcium Hypochlorite can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. Calcium Hypochlorite should change into clean clothing promptly. MEDICAL * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family members could be exposed. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by Medical Testing individuals who have been informed of the hazards of Before beginning employment and at regular times after that, exposure to Calcium Hypochlorite. the following are recommended: * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. * Lung function tests. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * On skin contact with Calcium Hypochlorite, immediately following is recommended: wash or shower to remove the chemical. * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Calcium Hypochlorite * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. is handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the toilet. CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE page 3 of 6 * Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- is still good. If it is, replace the filter or cartridge. If the up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. seal is no longer good, you may need a new respirator. * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT workplace. You may need a combination of filters, prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for chemicals. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace MSHA/NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full controls are being installed), personal protective equipment facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- may be appropriate. pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and mode. to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment. HANDLING AND STORAGE The following recommendations are only guidelines and may * Prior to working with Calcium Hypochlorite you should not apply to every situation. be trained on its proper handling and storage. * Calcium Hypochlorite may ignite or explode on contact Clothing with COMBUSTIBLES (such as wood, paper and oil). * Avoid skin contact with Calcium Hypochlorite. Wear * Calcium Hypochlorite must be stored to avoid contact protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment with STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on SULFURIC and NITRIC); AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS the most protective glove/clothing material for your (such as AMMONIA and AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE); operation. AMINES; METAL SALTS; METALS; METAL OXIDES; * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM HYDROXIDE and should be clean, available each day, and put on before POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE); ORGANIC FUELS; work. HALOCARBONS; and SULFUR since violent reactions occur. Eye Protection * Calcium Hypochlorite in contact with WATER or * Wear