Styrene

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves.

Following inhalation:

If a person breathes in large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Keep the affected person at rest. Get medical attention.

Following skin contact:

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin and then wash skin with water and soap. Get medical attention.

In case of burns, immediately cool affected skin for as long as possible with cold water. Do not remove clothing if adhering to skin.

Following eye contact:

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if easily possible. Get medical attention.

Following ingestion:

Important: never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person!

Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting. Get medical attention.

Fire-fighting measures

Suitable extinguishing media:

Use foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide.

Unsuitable extinguishing media:

Do not use water jet (straight streams) to extinguish. Solid streams of water may spread fire.

Fire and Explosion Hazards:

Flammable liquid: will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames.

Heating of containers will cause pressure rise with risk of bursting and subsequent explosion.

Exposure to heat, light, mechanical shock or contact with other chemicals lead to spontaneous rise in pressure or self-ignition.

May form explosive mixture with air at elevated ambient temperature.

Unusual fire and explosion hazards:

When heated or burning, this substance emits toxic and irritant fumes.

Vapours may form explosive mixtures with air.

Vapours may travel to source of ignition and flash back.

Vapours are heavier than air. They may spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks).

Vapour explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers.

Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard.

Heat may destroy stabiliser Seek specialist advice.

Subject to polymerisation. May polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire.

If the polymerisation takes place inside a closed container, the container may rupture violently.

Special fire fighting procedures:       

Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles.

Keep containers cool with water.

Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out.

Water spray may reduce vapour, but may not prevent ignition in closed spaces.

Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk.

Avoid unnecessary run-off of extinguishing media which may cause pollution.

Personal protection:

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with a chemical protection suit where personal (close) contact is likely.

Fire fighter’s clothing conforming to European standard EN469.

Accidental release measures

Protective equipment:

Wear suitable protective equipment (including personal protective equipment referred to under Section 8 of the safety data sheet) to prevent any contamination of skin, eyes and personal clothing.

Emergency Response in case of Spill and Leak:

Evacuate and restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete.

Remove all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area).

All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded.

Do not touch or walk through spilled material.

Stop leak if you can do it without risk.

Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.

Vapour suppressing foam may be used to reduce vapours.

Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible material and transfer to containers.

Use clean non-sparking tools to collect absorbed material.

If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Contact the responsible authority in your country/region for specific recommendations.

If employees are required to clean up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped.

Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard.

Handling and storage

Training:

Any person who comes into contact with the substance needs to be trained in proper handling and safety per applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Employers must advise employees of all areas and operations where exposure to the substance might occur.

All workers who may be potentially exposed to this substance shall be kept informed of the hazards, relevant symptoms, effects of overexposure to, and proper precautions concerning safe use and handling of this chemical.

The hazard information shall be readily available to workers at all places of employment where this substance is manufactured, used, transported or stored.

Measures to prevent fire:

Standard measures for preventive fire protection when handling flammable liquid substances. Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. No smoking. Take measures to prevent the build up of electrostatic charge.

Handling:       

Avoid contact with skin and eyes.

Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.

Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands before eating, after handling the substance, before breaks and at the end of workday.

Wash skin: The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Technical measures and storage conditions:       

Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Separate from oxidizing materials, peroxides, and metal salts.

Keep away from heat, sparks, and flames.

Store separated from incompatible substances.

Copper or copper containing alloys should be avoided as containers.

Protect containers against physical damage.

Further information on storage conditions:       

Store only if stabilized.

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

2055

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

STYRENE MONOMER, STABILIZED

SpecialProvisions

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

Shipping

Remarks

Shipping

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Additional transport information

Additional information

Special provisions / remarks / other:

A number of restrictions may apply to substances subject to transport classifications. Please refer to the appropriate regulation for specific details regarding classification requirements and restrictions.

Exposure controls / personal protection

Appropriate engineering controls:

Should be sufficient to reduce exposures below the workplace standards for this chemical established by the national regulations to the lowest level achievable.

Hazard communication:

The transmittal of hazard information to workers is to be accomplished by such means as container labelling and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee training.

Housekeeping and Hygiene Facilities:

The workplace should be kept clean, orderly, and in a sanitary condition. Adequate washing facilities shall be provided and maintained in a sanitary condition.

Comply with principles of good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands before eating, before breaks and at the end of workday.

Personal Protection:

Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be in conformity with the specifications of EU Directive 89/686/EEC (on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment) and the standards derived from it.

Eye/face protection:

Face shield and safety glasses tested and approved under appropriate government standard such as EN166 (EU).

Skin protection:

Handle with appropriate gloves tested and approved under appropriate government standard such as EN374 (EU).

Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal method –without touching glove’s outer surface –to avoid skin contact with this product.

Body protection:

Wear complete suit protecting against chemicals (flame retardant antistatic protective clothing).

The level of protection selected should be based on the potential substance concentration and likelihood of contact/ exposure.

It could range from no chemical protective clothes being required, such as when styrene is handled in closed systems and there is no personnel exposure, to fully encapsulating suits with supplied-air respirators in certain spill situations.

Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard.

Respiratory protection:

Respiratory Protection: should be used in accordance with company and applicable national regulatory requirements.

Respiratory protection should be used to supplement the engineering controls and work practices.

Persons should not be assigned to tasks requiring the use of respirators unless it has been determined they are physically able to perform the work and are trained to use the equipment.

Stability and reactivity

Reactivity Hazards:

Styrene can react with air to form explosive peroxides.

Styrene may polymerize due to warming, under the influence of light, oxidants oxygen, and peroxides, causing fire and explosion hazard.

Reacts violently with strong acids, strong oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard.

Attacks rubber, copper and copper alloys.

Stability/ Shelf-life:       

Stable under recommended storage conditions.

Stable if stored and applied as directed.

Special precautions:

Store separated from incompatible materials.

Store only if stabilized.

Disposal considerations

This substance, when discarded or disposed of, is a hazardous waste. The transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal of this waste material must be conducted in compliance with local regulations for hazardous wastes.

Disposal can occur only in properly permitted facilities. Check state and local regulation of any additional requirements for disposal conditions.