Adhesive safety measures

The climatization of the adhesive to the processing temperature is important in cold or hot seasons and in the case of its storing in nonconditioned rooms to ensure constant processing viscosities. In the case of watery adhesive dispersions, the risk of freezing has to be pointed out in this context, which results in a destruction of the dispersion and thus in uselessness - even after thawing. Independent of the kind of adhesive application, it is sensible to adhere to the safety measures described in Section 7.5. 

Due to the flammability and possible health hazards of solvent-based adhesives and majority of the chemically reactive adhesives, their storage usually requires special safety measures. 

Safety is a vital concern in aviation, and adhesives manufacturers are supporting the industry with flame-retardant materials. Regulatory inconsistencies are a problem, however, and a Flammability Task Group has been formed to work with the Federal Aviation Administration. Todd Holder of Huntsman Advanced Materials provides details regarding Measuring and Regulating Flammability on pp. 25-27. 

Safety aspects should partner the measures practised within a quality system, and they represent a vital part of the education and training of the personnel involved. The history of adhesive bonding has shown that accident and health problems associated with the technology are rare. Nevertheless, any material which is used without suitable precautions can become an unreasonable risk to health, safety, property, and the environment. The actual hazard presented by the use of materials depends not only on its potential hazard, but also on the conditions under which it is used. Concentration and duration of exposure to hazardous materials is generally the critical element in determining risk factors. 

Adhesives consist of a number of components as described in Chapter 6, usually containing reactive chemicals. Adequate precautions must be taken when working with adhesives to prevent harmful exposure. Adhesive manufacturers are required by law to provide a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each product that they sell. The MSDS must contain sufficient details about the composition, hazard rating, first aid measures, handling and storage, personal protection (exposure control), stability and reactivity, and toxicology of adhesives. 

Anyone who plans to handle an adhesive must be familiar with the measures required to prevent or minimize exposure of personnel. In addition to volatile organic solvents and resins, adhesives may contain pigments, catalysts, stabilizer, extenders, etc. Each of these components may possess hazardous properties individually or in combination with other materials. There are thousands of adhesive compounds on the market making it impractical to list the hazards of every one of them. The current system of communication required by law is described below to allow the reader to decipher the safety information provided by adhesive manufacturers. This system is applicable to all chemicals. 

Besides complying with international and national laws and regulations, institutional measures to ensure environmental protection and occupational health and safety must also be adhered to during adhesive storage. They are applicable throughout the supply chain, from... 

It is an international practice to include exposure controls and other measures in the safety data sheet, so as to ensure the safety of personnel handling the adhesives. The manufacturers are responsible for the compilation of the necessary documents and are required to provide them to customers at all times. 

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