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Diss Factsheets

Guidance on Safe Use

Guidance on Safe Use

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Administrative data

First-aid measures

Product-Specific hazards and other issues :

- Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.

- Irritating to eyes and respiratory system

- May cause skin sensitization

-Vapors may cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat as well as CNS depression (fatigue, dizziness,

 loss of concentration, with collapse, coma and death possible in cases of severe overexposure).  High

 vapor concentrations may be irritating to the upper respiratory tract.

- Ingestion may cause discomfort and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and CNS depression (fatigue,

 dizziness, collapse, coma and death).

- Substance can bind to and, under certain conditions, damage genetic material.

- May cause cancer if swallowed.

- May cause cancer by inhalation.

General advice :

- Always observe self protection methods.

- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, avoid direct contact.

- Move out of dangerous area.

- Remove contaminated clothing and shoes.

- Get medical attention immediately.

- Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.

Inhalation :

- Remove to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.

- Do not leave the victim unattended.

- Keep patient warm and at rest.

- Immediately seek medical attention.

- If breathing is difficult, give oxygen.

- If unconscious place in recovery position and seek medical advice.

- In the event of unconsciousness, apnea or cardiac arrest (no pulse) apply cardiopulmonary

 resuscitation.

Skin contact:

- Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.

- In case of contact, immediately flush skin with soap and plenty of water.

- Seek medical attention if ill effect or irritation develops.

- Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.

Eye contact :

- In case of eye contact, remove contact lens and rinse immediately with plenty of water, also under the

 eyelids, for at least 15 minutes.

- Get medical attention immediately.

Ingestion :

- Clean mouth with water and drink afterwards plenty of water.

- DO NOT induce vomiting.

- Call a physician or poison control center immediately.

- Do not give milk or alcoholic beverages.

- Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

Advice to Physician :

- There is no specific antidote available.

- Treat symptomatically.

- Treatment of overexposure should be directed at the control of symptoms and the clinical condition of

 the patient.

- The results of cancer studies in laboratory animals indicate that propylene oxide is able to produce site

 of contact tumors by certain inhalation or oral exposures.  The mode of action for the tumorigenic  

responses indicates chronic irritation, cytotoxicity, and consequential cellular proliferation may play a role in tumor development with the presence of a practical threshold significantly above environmental and work-place exposure levels.  

- Do NOT induce vomiting because of possible severe irritant side effects.

- In case of ingestion, the stomach should be emptied by gastric lavage under qualified medical

 supervision.

Fire-fighting measures

Suitable extinguishing media:

Small fires :

- Use dry chemicals, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant  foam.

Large fires :

- Use water spray, water fog or alcohol-resistant foam.

- Test results indicate that alcohol resistant foam is most effective in fighting propylene oxide fires.

Unsuitable extinguishing media :

- Do not use solid water stream.

Specific hazards during fire-fighting :

- Extremely flammable liquid and vapor.

- Releases flammable vapors below normal ambient temperatures.

- When mixed with air and exposed to ignition source, vapors can burn in open or explode if confined.

- Vapors may be heavier than air.

- Vapors may travel long distances along the ground before reaching a source of ignition and flashing

 back.

- Diluting with water may not suffice to raise flash point above ambient temperatures.

- Heat may build enough pressure to rupture closed containers/spreading fire/increasing risk of  

 burns/injuries.

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

 Blanket with alcohol-resistant foam.

- Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank.

- Always stay away from tanks engulfed in fire.

- For massive fire, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from

 area and let fire burn.

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

- Notify authorities immediately if liquid enters sewer/public waters.

- Fire residues and contaminated fire extinguishing water must be disposed of in accordance with local

 regulations.

Special protection equipment for fire-fighters :

- Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

- Structural firefighters protective clothing will only provide limited protection.

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions :

- Use personal protective equipment.

- Ensure adequate ventilation.

- Eliminate all sources of ignition.

- Evacuate personnel to safe areas.

Land spillage :

- Prevent product from entering drains.

Spillages in water or at sea :

- If the product contaminates rivers and lakes or drains inform respective authorities.

Methods for cleaning up :

- Extremely flammable liquid and vapor.

- Highly reactive material.

- Release causes immediate fire/explosion hazard.

- Eliminate all sources of ignition.

- Evacuate/limit access.

- Ensure adequate ventilation.

- All equipment used when handling this 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.

- A vapor suppressing foam may be used to reduce vapors.

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

- Clay-based absorbants may react with propylene oxide.

- Use clean non-sparking tools to collect absorbed material.

- Dike large spills and place materials in salvage containers.

- Water spray may reduce vapor; but may not prevent ignition in closed spaces.

Handling and storage

Handling :

Advice on safe handling :

- For industrial use only.

- Use only non-sparking tools.

- Wear recommended personal protective equipment.

- Extinguish all ignition sources.

- Containers must be properly grounded before beginning transfer.

- Isolate, vent, drain, wash and purge systems or equipment before maintenance or repair.

- Observe precautions pertaining to confined space entry.

- Check atmosphere for explosiveness and oxygen deficiencies.

- Handle empty containers with care; vapor residue may be flammable/explosive.

- Carefully vent any internal pressure before removing closure.

Fire-fighting class :

- Extremely flammable.

Storage :

Requirements for storage areas and containers :

- Store only in tightly closed, properly vented containers away from heat, sparks, open flame and strong

 oxidizing agents.

- Store closed drums with bung in up position.

- Vapor space above stored liquid may be flammable/explosive unless blanketed with inert gas.

- Keep in properly labeled containers.

Container Advice :

- Stainless steel <100 m3, Carbon steel >100m3

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:
UN-Number : 1280
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Labels:
Labels : 3
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Inland waterway transport (UN RTDG/ADN(R))

UN number:
UN-Number : 1280
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Labels:
Labels : 3
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Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:
UN-Number : 1280
Shipping information
Proper shipping name and description:
Description of the goods : PROPYLENE OXIDE
Chemical name:
methyloxirane
Labels:
Labels : 3
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Remarksopen allclose all
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Exposure controls / personal protection

Engineering measures :

- Electrical equipment should be grounded and conform to applicable electrical code.

- Use only where ventilation can control exposures to within occupational exposure limit(s).

- Use explosion-proof ventilation equipment.

Personal protective equipment:

Respiratory protection :

- Use appropriate respiratory protection where atmosphere exceeds recommended limits.

- If needed, wear a supplied air respirator conforming to a European norm standard such as EN 139 or

 equivalent.

- Wear a respirator conforming to EN 371 with Type AX filter designed for low boiling compounds.

- Consider the maximum period for wear.

Hand protection :

- Wear chemical resistant gloves such as:

- Butyl rubber; material thickness 0.6 mm; break through time = 240 min. Gloves must be replaced after 4

 hours of wear.  

- The selected protective gloves have to satisfy the European norm standard EN 374.

- The suitability for a specific workplace should be discussed with the producers of the protective gloves.

- Gloves should be discarded and replaced if there is any indication of degradation or chemical

 breakthrough.

Eye protection :

- Eye protection, including both chemical splash goggles and face shield, must be worn when possibility

 exists for eye contact due to splashing/spraying liquid, airborne particles, or vapor.

- The selected goggles or glasses must satisfy the European norm standard EN 166.

Skin and body protection :

- Complete suit protecting against chemicals.

- The equipment must be cleaned thoroughly after each use.

- The selected clothing must satisfy the European norm standard EN 533.

Hygiene measures :

- Selection of appropriate personal protective equipment should be based on an evaluation of the

 performance characteristics of the protective equipment relative to the task(s) to be performed,

 conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and/or potential hazards that may be encountered

 during use.

- Emergency eye wash fountains and safety showers should be available in the immediate vicinity of any

 potential exposure.

- Use good personal hygiene practices.

- Wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking, or using toilet facilities.

- Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.

Environmental exposure controls :

- If necessary, all contaminated waste water must be treated in a municipal or industrial wastewater

 treatment plant before release to surface water.

- Chemical removal by air and water pollution control devices must meet the minimum efficiency

 requirements needed to reduce exposures to an acceptable level.

- The discharge of treatment plant effluent to rivers and oceans must achieve the dilution ratio needed to

 reduce exposures to an acceptable level.

- The size and capacity of wastewater treatment plants must meet the minimum requirements needed to

 reduce exposures to an acceptable level.

- Waste management practices such as incineration, recycling, reuse must be enforced as needed to

 reduce exposures to an acceptable level.

- External treatment and disposal of waste should comply with applicable local and/or national

 regulations.

- The maximum allowable site tonnage and days of use should be below the number needed to maintain

 exposures at an acceptable level.

Stability and reactivity

Conditions to avoid :

- Heat, sparks, open flame, other ignition sources, and oxidizing conditions.

Materials to avoid :

- Reacts with anhydrous metal chlorides and peroxides.

- Acetylide forming metals.

- Bronze.

- Brass.

- Clay based absorbents.

- Severe oxidizing conditions.

- Strong acids and strong bases.

Hazardous decomposition products :

- Incomplete combustion may produce carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.

Thermal decomposition :

- Note: Thermal decomposition may produce carbon monoxide and other toxic vapors.

Hazardous reactions :

- Note: This material is stable when properly handled and stored.

Disposal considerations

- Contaminated product, soil, water, container residues and spill cleanup materials may be hazardous

 wastes.

- The product should not be allowed to enter drains, water courses or the soil.

- Burn concentrated liquids in systems designed for low flash point material.

- Dilute aqueous waste may biodegrade.

- Concentrated/raw liquid waste may require 100 fold dilution or more to raise flash point to safe level

 before discharge to treatment facility.

- Comply with applicable local, state or international regulations concerning solid or hazardous waste

 disposal and/or container disposal.

- Avoid overloading/poisoning plant biomass.

- Assure effluent complies with applicable regulations.