Document Kg83evoR4jeXk33DO6pjo19N

/ c. l,./' r ( Qitmlcoli in any form con be safely itorwi, handled or used if Hi* phyticai, diemical and hazardous properties aro fully under* food and the necessary precautions, including the use of proper safeguards and personal protective equipment, are observed. 3 *1^ lOmiiSViw-- V*` ^OCl.TlO*4' * Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. 1625 Eyo $tr*t, N. W., Washington 6, D. C. ~ 100067 VIoUAM'C- CHEMICAL SAFETY DATA SHEET VINYL CHLORIDE SUMMARY Vinyl chloride it a highly volatile extremely FLAMMABLE compressed gas which is ordinarily handled in liquefied form under pressure. It has o mild anesthetic action in concentrations above 500 ppm. and its vapors are irritating to the eyes. Precautions necessary in handling the material are detailed in the body of the Safety Data Sheet. Key points to consider for safe handling include: 1. Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame. 2. Provide adequate ventilation. 3. Ground equipment and containers before discharging to reduce danger of ignition from static sparks. 4. In discharging do not heat containers above 50*C. .(122*F.J. No heat should be applied to tank cars. 5. All equipment should be of steel and have a designed working pressure of at least 100-150 psi. 6. In the event of accidental leaks, spills or whenever excessive vapor con centrations may be encountered only personnel equipped with approved respiratory protection should be permitted in the contaminated area. 7. Chemical safely goggles should be worn when discharging containers or tank cars or whenever there is a danger of the liquid or saturated vapor coming in contact with the eyes. 8. Waste disposal should be away from any source of ignition. Dilute phenolic residues before discharging to sewer. In case of fire use carbon dioxide or dry chemical extinguishing equip ment. In the event of contact with the liquid remove contaminated clothing immediately. For eyes flush immediately with large quantities of water for at least 15 minutes while medical attention is being sought. 100068 1* Chemical Safety Data Sheet Manual Sheet SD-56 VINYL CHLORIDE Adopted February, 1954 1. NAME Chemical Names: Common Name: Formula: Vinyl Chloride Chloroethylene Chloroethene Vinyl Chloride CHjCHCl 2.1 Grade: 2. PROPERTIES Technical with inhibitor. (Purity of sample 99.42%) 2.2 Important Physical and Chemical Properties:* Boiling Point Color_______ Corrosivity.... Explosive Limits (Percent by Volume in Air) Flash Point--------------------------------------------Hygroscopicity--______ _______ _______ ___ Critical Pressure..................... ...... ................ Critical Temperature................ .................... Deliquescence................ ....................... ......... Ignition Temperature, Autogenous._______ Light Sensitivity_______________ _________ Melting Point.............. ...... ............................. (Freezing Point) Molecular Weight Odor.... ................................................. ........... Physical State................................................. Reactivity. Specific Gravity.... Vapor Density...... Vapor Pressure 13.8C. (+7F.) ...Colorless or water white ...Noncorrosive at normal atmospheric tem peratures when dry (moisture free). In con tact with water at elevated temperatures vinyl chloride accelerates corrosion of iron or steel. ... Lower 4%; Upper 22% ...--78C. (--108.4F.), Open-Cup ...No -52.7 Atmospheres _..158.4C. (317F.) ...No ... 472.22C. (882F.) (Vapors above --60F.) ...Not a factor in handling inhibited vinyl chloride 153.71C. (--246F.) ...62.50 ...Sweet smelling gas ..Gas at ordinary temperature and pressure. Liquid under pressure in cylinders or pres sure vessels at room temperature. .Polymerizes readily in presence of air, sun light, oxygen or heat. This behavior is due to the presence of a double bond. Otherwise vinyl chloride is quite stable. . .9121 @ 20/20C. (Water = 1.00) . 2.15 (Air = 1.00) 2580 mm. of mercury 20 C. (68F.) "Many of the date recorded under this paragraph were determined in the research laboratory of one of the large producers of vinyl chloride and are based on a technical grade material having a purity of 99.42%. Materials from other sources may vary in accordance with the nature of the impurities or the character of the inhibitor present. 5 4 * 100070 t Vinjl Chloride HuufuMrinC Cb*mi*U' AandtUoft. Inc. Manual Sheet SD-56 3.2.3 Each shipping container must bear the ICC red label for FLAMMABLE com pressed gases. 3.2.4 Tank cars and railroad cars carrying one or more containers of vinyl chloride must bear the ICC DANGEROUS placard. 3.3 Disposal and Return Precautions 3.3.1 Small containers (ICC-4B300 and ICC4BA300, without brazed seams, ICC-3A300, ICC-3AA300) should be drained free of liquid vinyl chloride and the valves closed tightly be fore they are returned to the supplier. No air should be permitted to enter the container (See 4.3). 3.3.2 In addition, the following precautions must be taken: 3.3.2.1 Return of Smalt Containers The cylinder valve protection cap or out let cap must be securely replaced. The lower portion of the ICC shipping tag, if attached to the cylinder, must be removed. In other cases, applicable to ICC Regulations, compliance is essential. Bill of lading should give the cylinder identification number (which appears on the shoulder of cylinder) for each cylinder shipped, show name of consignee and indicate that the cylinders are empty (See 3.3.5). Full or partly emptied cylinders should not be retumeirwithout permission of the sup plier. Such cylinders must be shipped as full cylinders and correspondingly labeled and tagged (See 3.2). All empty cylinders should be returned promptly. 3.3.3 Tank cars (ICC-106A600, ICC-106A500X, ICC-105AS00, and ICC-105A300W) should be drained free of liquid vinyl chloride, the valves should be securely closed and the valve plugs replaced. No air should be per mitted to enter the vessel The inert gas used for the unloading procedures (See 4.4 Tank Cars) should be left in the vessel at a pressure not to exceed the service pressure for which the car is authorized. 3.3.4 In addition, the following precautions must be taken: 3.3.4.1 Return of Tank Cars As soon as a tank car is completely un loaded, all valves must be made tight, the un loading connections must be removed and all closures made tight, except that heater coil inlet and outlet pipes (if any) must be left open for drainage. Heater coils must never be used in unloading vinyl chloride. Empty tank cars should be returned as promptly as possible, in accordance with instructions re ceived from shipper. 3.3.5 Follow ICC Regulations regarding the replacement of closures, condition and labeling of empty containers; condition of empty cars and placard requirements before returning to shipper. The ICC DANGEROUS placards on sides and ends of tank cars must be removed, or reversed (if in metal placard holders) by the party discharging the tank car. The empty car must be offered to the receiving carrier either without placards, or preferably with four (4) DANGEROUS-EMPTY placards. 4. UNLOADING AND EMPTYING 4.1 Health Hazards (See 8. Health Hazards and Their Control) 4.1.1 Aside from the risk of fire and explo sion, vinyl chloride presents no other very seri ous problem in general handling. The presently accepted upper limit of safety as a health, haz ard is 500 ppm. 4.2 Fire and Explosion Hazards 4.2.1 Vinyl chloride should always be handled with full recognition of its flamma bility. Precautions should be taken both to keep the material enclosed and to eliminate sources of ignition. Reliance must be placed upon the elimination of all sources of ignition and on the provision of sufficient ventilation to keep escaping vapors at nonflammable levels (See 6.2). 4.3 Cylinders 4.3.1 Precautions generally applied to use of cylinders (ICC-4B30 and ICC-4BA300, without brazed seams, ICC-3AS00, ICC-3AA300) for flammable liquefied gases should be used. 4.3.2 A water bath heated to a maximum of 50C. (122F.) may be used to empty cylinders by means of Hie vapor pressure of the vinyl chloride. 4.3.3 Check valves must be installed in feed lines from the cylinder to prevent the reactants from entering the cylinder. 4.3.4 When the cylinder is empty, the valve should be securely closed. Air should not be allowed to enter the container. 7 100072 > \Jo^! Vinyl Chloride Mmufictuiinc Cbmltti' Association. Inc Manual Sheet SD-56 valves should be of steel or a suitable alloy not bearing copper, designed for working pres sures of 150 psi or over. All-welded construc tion is preferred to riveted construction. It is recommended wherever possible that all liquid inlet lines enter the bottom or extend to the bottom of the vessel. This guards against the accumulation of static electricity. All equipment should be properly grounded with resistance to ground never exceeding 25 ohms. An efficient water spray system should be in stalled or made available. Adequate diking and drainage should be provided under tank area to confine and dispose of the liquid in case of vessel rupture. Any cylinders used to store vinyl chloride must meet ICC Specifications. 5.2.2 ISOLATION Storage areas should be selected in ac cordance with local codes or authorities having jurisdiction. (Assistance may be obtained from such organizations as National Board of Fire Underwriters, Factory Insurance Associa tion, Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies.) For highly volatile and flammable material, storage should be located outside of buildings. Cylinders containing vinyl chloride should be stored always in a vertical position, outside of buildings, and in an isolated and well ventilated area. It is preferable to store cylinders in the open, but provision should be made to shield them from the direct rays of the sun and prevent accumulation of dirt, snow, water, or ice on valves or safety devices. 5.2.3 COMPATIBLE AND DANGEROUS LY REACTIVE MATERIALS to the National Electrical Code (Class I, Divi sion II for storage; and Class I, Division I for use). 5.2.5 VENTING REQUIREMENTS An adequate system for normal and emer gency venting should be installed. All vent lines should extend to a safe area free of any source of ignition. The point of outlet should be equipped with an approved flame arrestor. Relief valves should be installed in pairs, par allel, using transflow valving to facilitate periodic testing and repairing. 5.2.6 VENTILATION All storage areas should be provided with continuous ventilation. Pits, depressions and basements should be avoided. 5.2.7 PROTECTION FROM ELECTRICAL STORMS Storage tanks for vinyl chloride should be protected from electrical storms and induced static electricity by grounding of all equip ment. 5.2.8 PROTECTION FROM INTERNAL EXPLOSIVE MIXTURES Storage tanks and other vessels should be maintained under positive pressure utilizing an inert gas when necessary or vapor pressure of the vinyl chloride. Vessels should be pro vided with bottom inlets under the liquid, or dip pipe extending from the top of the vessel to within inches of the bottom of the vessel to protect against a static discharge. Tanks in vinyl chloride service should be used only for the storage of vinyl chloride (See 6.8). Before vinyl chloride is placed in a tank, the vessel should be purged with an inert gas until free of air. Vinyl chloride is generally noncorrosive at normal atmospheric tempera tures when dry (moisture free). However, mild to appreciable corrosion has been noted even at ordinary temperature. This may be due to the presence of impurities. In contact with water at elevated temperatures vinyl chloride accelerates corrosion of iron or steel. Acetylene as an impurity in vinyl chloride may form an explosive compound (acetylide) when exposed to copper or possibly copper alloys. 5.2.4 VAPOR-PROOF OR EXPLOSIONPROOF REQUIREMENTS All electrical equipment, motors, lights, and flashlights used in an area in which vinyl chloride is stored or handled should conform 6. HANDLING 6.1 Health Hazards (See 8. Health Hazards and Their Control) 6.1.1 Aside from the risk of fire and explo sion, vinyl chloride presents no other very seri ous problem in general handling. The presently accepted upper limit of safety as a health haz ard is 500 ppm. 6.2 Fire, Explosion, and Polymerization Haz ards 6.2.1 FIRE HAZARDS Vinyl chloride should always be handled with full recognition of its volatility and its flammability. In general, precautions should be taken both to keep the material enclosed and to eliminate all sources of ignition. In small 100074 3 ' `J Vinyl Chloride Miututartat AmocUUou. Inc. Manual Sheet SD-56 6.4.2 The education and training of em ployees to work safely and to use the personal protective equipment or other safeguards pro vided for them is a responsibility of supervision. ment, the use of it should be supervised. In all cases, the type of protective equipment selected should depend upon the nature and degree of the hazards existing. 6.4.3 Employee education and training The following personal protective equip should emphasize the need of handling vinyl ment should always be used for the purposes chloride according to the methods outlined in mentioned and as specified in Section 8. Health this data sheet. Hazards and Their Control, and in other sec 6.4.4 Before being placed on the job, new tions of this data sheet: or transferred employees should be thoroughly 6.6.2 EYE PROTECTION ( instructed and questioned in respect to the proper handling of vinyl chloride. Employees on the job should be reinstructed periodically. 6.5.2.1 Chemical Safety Goggles: cuptype or rubber-framed goggles, equipped with approved impact resistant glass or plastic 6.4.5 Each employee should know the loca lenses, should be worn whenever there is danger tion, purpose, use and maintenance of personal of the vinyl chloride (in liquid or saturated protective equipment and be thoroughly trained vapor form) coming in contact with eyes. Gog in when and how to use the equipment (See gles should be carefully fitted by adjusting ( 6.5). the nose piece and head band to ensure maxi 6.4.6 Each employee should know the loca mum protection and comfort tion of safety showers, eye baths, bubbler 6.5.2.2 Spectacle-type Safety Goggles: drinking fountains, faucets or fire extinguish metal or plastic rim safety spectacles with per ing equipment. forated side shields which can be obtained with 6.4.7 Only reliable, properly trained em ployees should be given the responsibility of operating valves which control the flow of vinyl chloride to and from storage tanks, tank cars, and cylinders, or drawing samples and venting prescription safety lenses or suitable all plastic safety goggles may be used where continuous eye protection is desirable. These types, how ever, should not be used where complete eye protection against chemicals is needed. to the atmosphere. 6.5.2.S Face Shields: plastic shields (full 6.4.8 Employees should be trained to report to the proper authority all suspected leaks or equipment failures and any signs of illness of personnel. length, eight inch minimum) with forehead protection may be worn in lieu of, or in addition to, chemical safety goggles where complete face protection is desirable. Chemical safety goggles should always be worn as added protection 6.4.9 Each employee should know what to where there is danger of vinyl chloride striking ( do in case of an emergency, in rendering first aid measures, and should realize the necessity the eyes from underneath or around the sides of the face shield. for prompt administration of artificial resusci tation when overcome by vinyl chloride vapors (See 8.4.2.1). 6.S.2.4 Each employee should know the location of safety showers, eye baths, and bubbler drinking fountains for flushing the l 6.5 Personal Protective Equipment eyes. 6.5.3 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION 6.5.1 AVAILABILITY AND USE Personal protective equipment is not an adequate substitute for good, safe, working conditions, adequate ventilation, and intelligent conduct on the part of employees working with vinyl chloride. Such equipment may protect the individual wearing it while others in the Respiratory protective equipment must be carefully maintained, inspected, cleaned, and sterilized at regular intervals, and always be fore use by another person. Personnel wearing such equipment must be carefully instructed as to its operation and limitations. area may be exposed to danger. The correct 6.5.3.1 Air or Oxygen Supplied Masks usage of personal protective equipment requires the education of the worker in the proper em 6.5.3.1.1 Air or oxygen supplied masks, ployment of the equipment available to him equipped with full face pieces and approved by (See 6.4). Under conditions which are suffi the U. S. Bureau of Mines for this purpose, ciently hazardous to require protective equip should be used under the following conditions, TO?vtt> l li 100076 \t^u ( ( 4 ( Vinyl Chloride Ifuuftcturinc Ch*miau' Anoditiu. lac. Manual Sheet SD-56 belts, rescue harness, lifeline, clothing and gas masks should be worn as required by the speci fic nature of the work and the hazards involved. 6.5.6.3 Frequent inspections and neces sary repairs should be made to all personal protective equipment so that it is always ready to give proper protection to the wearer. 6.5.6.4 Facilities for personal cleanliness should be provided and time allowed for thor ough washing before lunch and at the end of the work day. 6.6 Engineering Controls 6.6.1 Selection of a site or location for ap paratus or equipment to ship, handle, store or manufacture vinyl chloride should be made by the direction of chemical engineers or mechani cal engineers fully aware of the hazards en countered in dealing with vinyl chloride (See 5.2.2). 6.6.2 Processes should be designed so that the operating personnel will not be exposed to direct contact with vinyl chloride or its vapor. The technical problems of designing equipment, providing adequate ventilation, and formulating operational procedures which promise maximum security and economy, can be handled best by engineers or other competent personnel. The manufacturers of vinyl chloride, and of the equipment in which it is to be used, are always prepared to help with these prob lems (See 5.2.1). 6.6.3 In the handling of vinyl chloride or operation of any type of vinyl chloride system, ail valves, pipe lines, vents, safety devices, etc., should be so located that they can be readily in spected and repaired. They should always be in proper order and condition before the opera tion is started. All handling and storage equip ment should be located away from any source of sparks, flames, heated surfaces and all sources of ignition which might cause fires or explosions. All charging and discharging pipes should enter through, or extend to, the bottom of all containers to minimize vaporization of the liquid and possible generation of static electricity. 6.6.4 It is essential for safety that equip ment will be used and maintained as recom mended by the manufacturer and that a periodic test schedule of the equipment, including safety devices, should be followed. All vent lines should extend outdoors to an area free of any source of ignition for discharge. 6.6.5 All electrical installations should con form with the National Electrical Code. All equipment should be properly grounded to pre vent accumulation of static. 6.7 Ventilation 6.7.1 If the workroom or operating area is separate from vinyl chloride storage or pro cessing equipment, general ventilation is ade quate. For emergencies, however, the area should be provided with mechanical exhaust ventilation to maintain concentrations below flammable limits. 6.7.2 In the processing or storage area, if outside location is impracticable, special emer gency equipment for ventilation is necessary under abnormal conditions, such as leaks or spills. 6.7.3 Six or more changes of air per hour are considered adequate for buildings housing storage or processing equipment for flammable liquids, vapors, or gases under pressure. 6.7.4 Buildings of substantial construction should have at least one square foot of door, window, or nonrigid roof area for each 35 cubic feet of volume to prevent serious struc tural damage in the event of explosion within the building. 6.7.5 The most important consideration in ventilation is to ensure an adequate air flow away from the work area. 6.7.6 All ventilating systems should be in spected periodically and maintained in a safe and efficient working condition. 6.7.7 Under abnormal conditions, such as when leaks or spills occur, all available ventila tion should be used. 6.8 Tank and Equipment Cleaning and Repairs 6.8.1 The hazardous nature of tank or vessel inspections, cleaning, and repairs requires that the foreman and crew be selected, trained, and drilled carefully. They should be fully familiar with the hazards and safeguards necessary for the safe performance of the work. Use only spark-resistant tools. 6.8.2 Wherever, possible, vessels should be cleaned from the outside, using cleanout man holes or openings provided for this purpose. 6.8.3 First consideration in vessel entry work requires the vessel be properly isolated 'i r <r' 13 100078 Vinyl Chloride Mmufaetarine Chwnktt' Awoctetien. Inc. Manual Sheet SD-56 7.3 When a waste disposal problem arises as a result of a major spill or equipment rupture, only properly protected and qualified personnel should remain in the area (See 6.3 and 6.5). 7.4 Waste mixtures containing vinyl chloride should not be allowed to enter drains or sewers as serious explosion in such systems may re sult (See 6.3). 7.5 Removal of inhibitor, such as phenol in form of sodium phenolate, should be done by dilution to approximately 1% solution (See SD-4, Part 7. Waste Disposal). 8. HEALTH HAZARDS AND THEIR CONTROL 8.1 Hazards 8.1.1 GENERAL Aside from the risk of fire or explosion, vinyl chloride presents no other very serious problem in general handling. The presently ac cepted maximum allowable concentration is 500 ppm. 8.1.2 SYSTEMIC EFFECTS In concentrations well above 500 ppm. vinyl chloride acts as a mild general anesthetic. 8.1.3 LOCAL EFFECTS In contact with the skin vinyl chloride t> irritating. Prolonged contact will result in re frigeration and freezing. 8.2 Prevention and Control Vinyl chloride is not a serious industrial hazard provided precautions are taken to avoid leaks or spills which might provide a fire or explosion hazard. Where serious leaks or spills do occur, the workmen present in the area should be evacuated, and persons returning to the area to repair or clean up equipment should be provided with appropriate gas masks, selfcontained oxygen units, or air supplied hoods. 8.2.1 EMPLOYEE EDUCATION (See 6.4 Employee Education and Training) Employees working in areas where vinyl chloride is handled or stored should be thor oughly and repeatedly warned of the anes thetic properties of vinyl chloride gas and in structed as to what to do if anesthetic effects are detected in themselves or in others (See 8.4.2.1). Emphasis in training should be placed on: 1. The use of artificial respiration in cases where breathing has stopped because of deep anesthesia, 2. The necessity of immediate removal of contaminated clothing and shoes in case of liquid spills. 3. Repeated washing of the eyes with copious amounts of water in case of liquid splashes. 8.2.2 VENTILATION Work areas where vinyl chloride is handled or stored should be provided with adequate ventilation. The concentration of vinyl chloride should be kept below the upper safe limit of 500 ppm. at all times. 8.3 Personal Protective Equipment 8.3.1 No personal protective equipment is an adequate substitute for safe working condi tions and intelligent conduct on the part of employees who work with vinyl chloride. Furthermore, the correct usage of personal protective equipment requires education of the worker in the proper employment of the mate rials available to him. Under conditions which are sufficiently hazardous to require personal protective equipment, the use of it should be supervised. 8.3.2 Employees who may be subjected to severe exposure to vinyl chloride, as in tank and equipment cleaning and repairs, in decon taminating extensive areas after large spillage, or in cases of failure of piping or equipment, should be provided, when indicated, with proper eye, respiratory, skin, and mucous membrane protection as follows: (a) Suitable gas tight safety goggles. (b) Rescue harness and life line for those entering tank or enclosed storage space (See 6.7). (c) Hose masks with hose inlet in a vaporfree atmosphere, air line masks with proper reducing valve and filter, suitable for use only where conditions will permit safe escape in case of failure of the com pressed air supply, or self-contained breathing equipment with stored oxygen or air (such equipment allows greater mobility but usually requires more highly trained men). 15 100060