Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet Common Name: KETENE Synonyms: Carbomethene; Keten CAS Number: 463-51-4 Chemical Name: Ethenone RTK Substance Number: 1092 Date: June 2011 Revision: September 2016 DOT Number: None Description and Use EMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGE Ketene is a colorless gas with a sharp, penetrating odor. It is Hazard Summary used to make other chemicals such as aspirin, acetates and Hazard Rating NJDHSS NFPA Acetic Anhydride. HEALTH 3 - FLAMMABILITY 3 - REACTIVITY 1 - FLAMMABLE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE Reasons for Citation POLYMERIZER Ketene is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH and NIOSH. 4=severe This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List. Ketene can affect you when inhaled. Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Exposure to Ketene can irritate the nose and throat. Inhaling Ketene can irritate the lungs. Higher exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency. Ketene is a FLAMMABLE GAS and a DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. Ketene can POLYMERIZE resulting in uncontrolled SEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5. reactions. These reactions may be explosive. FIRST AID Eye Contact Workplace Exposure Limits Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. lenses, if worn, while rinsing. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is Skin Contact 0.5 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash 1.5 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. work period. Inhalation ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 1.5 ppm as a STEL Remove the person from exposure. (short-term exposure limit). Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. EMERGENCY NUMBERS Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 KETENE Page 2 of 6 Determining Your Exposure Other Effects Read the product manufacturer’s Material Safety Data Repeated exposure may lead to permanent lung damage. Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture. Medical For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New Medical Testing Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services For frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK greater), the following are recommended before beginning Program website work and at regular times after that: (http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/ri ght-to-know) or in your facility’s RTK Central File or Lung function tests Hazard Communication Standard file. If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the You have a right to this information under the New Jersey following is recommended: Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for are a private worker. damage already done are not a substitute for controlling The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most exposure. employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with You have a legal right to request copies of your medical testing under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical information concerning chemical hazards and controls. Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020). The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication Mixed Exposures Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide Smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer, similar information and training to their employees. emphysema, and other respiratory problems. It may worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. Even if This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will reduce regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. your risk of developing health problems. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below. Health Hazard Information Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Ketene: Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. Exposure to Ketene can irritate the nose and throat. Inhaling Ketene can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. Chronic Health Effects The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Ketene and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Ketene has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in animals. Reproductive Hazard According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Ketene has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. KETENE Page 3 of 6 Workplace Controls and Practices Eye Protection Very toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or Wear non-vented goggles when working with liquids that sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less splash or when vapors and/or fumes are present. A face toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures shield is also required if the liquid is severely irritating or include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely corrosive to the skin and eyes. irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust Do not wear contact lenses when working with this ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single substance. exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on Respiratory Protection workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control Improper use of respirators is dangerous. Respirators Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/. should only be used if the employer has implemented a written program that takes into account workplace conditions, The following work practices are also recommended: requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory Label process containers. Provide employees with hazard information and training. Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. Use engineering controls if concentrations exceed Where the potential exists for exposure over 0.5 ppm, use a recommended exposure levels. NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardous mode. For increased protection use in combination with an material. auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an Always wash at the end of the workshift. emergency escape air cylinder. Change into clean clothing if clothing becomes Exposure to 5 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and contaminated. health. If the possibility of exposure above 5 ppm exists, Do not take contaminated clothing home. use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals are positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape being handled, processed or stored. air cylinder. Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking, applying cosmetics or using the toilet. Fire Hazards In addition, the following may be useful or required: If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard Before entering a confined space where Ketene may be (29 CFR 1910.156). present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Ketene is a FLAMMABLE GAS. Where possible, transfer Ketene from cylinders or other Ketene can POLYMERIZE resulting in uncontrolled containers to process containers in an enclosed system. reactions. These reactions may be explosive. Use dry chemical or CO2 as extinguishing agents. USE WATER carefully as Ketene reacts with WATER. Personal Protective Equipment POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate Vapors may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train Ketene may form an ignitable vapor/air mixture in closed employees on how and when to use protective equipment. tanks or containers. The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. Gloves and Clothing Avoid skin contact with Ketene. Wear personal protective equipment made from material that can not be permeated or degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove and clothing material for your operation.