Common Name: DIMETHYL ETHER CAS Number: 115-10-6 RTK Substance number: 0758 DOT Number: UN 1033 Date: June 1996 Revision: July 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS * Dimethyl Ether can affect you when breathed in. No occupational exposure limits have been established for * Vapor can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. Dimethyl Ether. This does not mean that this substance is * High exposure can cause headache, dizziness, not harmful. Safe work practices should always be followed. lightheadedness, and even loss of consciousness. * Skin contact with liquid Dimethyl Ether can cause severe WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE frostbite. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Dimethyl Ether is a HIGHLY FLAMMABLE LIQUID or ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust GAS and a DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn. IDENTIFICATION * Wear protective work clothing. Dimethyl Ether is a colorless compressed gas or liquid. It is * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Dimethyl used as a refrigerant, solvent, propellant for aerosol sprays, Ether and at the end of the workshift. and in making certain plastics. * On skin contact with Dimethyl Ether, immediately submerse the affected body part in warm water. REASON FOR CITATION * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In * Dimethyl Ether is on the Hazardous Substance List addition, as part of an ongoing education and training because it is cited by DOT and NFPA. effort, communicate all information on the health and * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance safety hazards of Dimethyl Ether to potentially exposed List because it is FLAMMABLE. workers. * 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. * 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. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. DIMETHYL ETHER page 2 of 6 This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES potential and most severe health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most potential effects described below. effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to --------------------------------------------------------------------------- enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Acute Health Effects sometimes necessary. The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Dimethyl Ether: In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the * Vapor can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether * High exposure can cause headache, dizziness, harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls lightheadedness, and even loss of consciousness. should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * Skin contact with liquid Dimethyl Ether can cause severe significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. frostbite. In addition, the following controls are recommended: Chronic Health Effects * Where possible, automatically transfer Dimethyl Ether The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at from cylinders or other storage containers to process some time after exposure to Dimethyl Ether and can last for months or years: containers. * Before entering a confined space where Dimethyl Ether Cancer Hazard may be present, check to make sure that an explosive * According to the information presently available to the New concentration does not exist. Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Dimethyl * Specific engineering controls are required for this chemical Ether has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in by OSHA. Refer to the OSHA Standard: 29 CFR 1910.101 animals. on Compressed Gases. Reproductive Hazard Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Dimethyl * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Ether has not been tested for its ability to affect Dimethyl Ether should change into clean clothing reproduction. promptly. Other Long-Term Effects * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by individuals who have been informed of the hazards of * Dimethyl Ether has not been tested for other chronic exposure to Dimethyl Ether. (long-term) health effects. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. MEDICAL * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. Medical Testing * On skin contact with Dimethyl Ether, immediately wash or There is no special test for this chemical. However, if illness shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the occurs or overexposure is suspected, medical attention is workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have recommended. contacted Dimethyl Ether, whether or not known skin contact has occurred. Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Dimethyl Ether is present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be damage already done are not a substitute for controlling swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, exposure. smoking, or using the toilet. * Do not smoke in the work area. Even a little vapor inhaled Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right through a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe will be converted to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. into more highly toxic substances. DIMETHYL ETHER page 3 of 6 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT STRONG ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and NITRIC); and HALOGENS. WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for area, and prevent AIR from entering container. some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace prohibited where Dimethyl Ether is used, handled, or controls are being installed), personal protective equipment stored. may be appropriate. * Metal containers involving the transfer of Dimethyl Ether should be grounded and bonded. OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and when opening and closing containers of Dimethyl Ether. to train employees on how and when to use protective * Peroxide formation may occur in containers that have been equipment. opened and remain in storage for more than six months. Peroxides can be detonated by friction, impact or heating. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Clothing Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic * Avoid skin contact with Dimethyl Ether. Wear solvent- health effects? resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most repeated exposures to a chemical. protective glove/clothing material for your operation. * Where exposure to cold equipment, vapors, or liquid may Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short- occur, employees should be provided with special clothing designed to prevent the freezing of body tissues. term effects? * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated should be clean, available each day, and put on before exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make work. you immediately sick. Eye Protection Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been * Wear non-vented, impact resistant goggles when working exposed to chemicals? with fumes, gases, or vapors. A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is when working with liquids.