Explosives respiratory protection

Personnel involved in the handling of methanol require eye and skin protection from the irritating properties of methanol in the event of a spill. Contact lenses should not be worn, since plastic lens materials may absorb and concentrate methanol against the eye. Additional respiratory protection is not required with adequate local explosion-proof ventilation. 

IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health levels indicate that exposure to the listed concentrations of airborne contaminants is likely to cause death, immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects, or prevent escape from the contaminated environment. IDLH levels are established to ensure that the worker can escape from the contaminated environment in the event of a failure of respiratory protection. An indication of "10% LEL" indicates that, for safety considerations, the IDLH was based on an atmospheric concentration of ten percent of the lower explosive limit even though toxicological impacts might not appear until higher concentrations are reached. 

Composition C is a powerful plastic explosive. It is one of the predecessors to modern C4. Military C4 uses 10% poly-isobutlene as a plasticizer and would be difficult to manufacture in the field. WARNING As was stated in the safety section of this book, respiratory protection must be used when performing this procedure. RDX dust is toxic. 

In the event of a leak, remove aU ignition sources and ventilate the area of the leak. Respiratory protection and protective clothing may be necessary in the event of a large spill or release in a confined area. If a cylinder is the source of the leak and the leak cannot be stopped, if possible remove the leaking cylinder to a fume hood or a safe place in the open air, and repair the leak or allow the cyhnder to empty. If the leak has resulted in a fire, water spray can be used to cool the container and to reduce corrosive vapors, keeping in mind that if flames are extinguished, explosive reignition can occur. 

If you are a public safety responder, you should be familiar with the personal protective equipment (PPE) that you may need to wear to perform your duties in a dangerous environment. Your first line of defense is the protective equipment you wear. Do not enter a hazardous materials scene (which includes many terrorist attack scenes) without appropriate protective clothing and respiratory protection. Not only are you in danger from toxic material at the scene, but you also may be cross-contaminated by patients who have toxic material on their clothes or skin. This is particularly true at a terrorist attack scene if chemical, radiological, or conb ous biological scents are involved. Because a bomb may be used to disperse any of tbe above, aU unknown explosion scenes require wearing PPE until contamination is ruled out. 

Respiratory protection is the most critical aspect of all protective clothing. The most common exposure route is the respiratory system. Most chemical agents are dispersed as an aerosol vapor or, in the case of biological or radiological agents, as small particles suspended in an aerosol. The atmosphere at explosion scenes will be very dusty (fine airborne particles). Working at an explosion scene requires respiratory protection, as this dust may contain asbestos or other toxic materials. 

Chemical safety data sheets for individual compounds should be consulted for detailed information. Precautions for the higher aldehydes are essentially those for most other reactive organic compounds, and should include adequate ventilation in areas where high exposures are expected fire and explosion precautions and proper instmction of employees in use of respiratory, eye, and skin protection. 

Nitric acid (Coned) etches the skin causing a yellow stain which remains for a considerable time. The vapor is a serious respiratory poison-Use of a face shield or goggles, protective clothing, and adequate ventilation is imperative Nitric acid is also a powerful oxidant, causing fire and explosion hazards when mixed with combustible materials (Refs 59 60). Mixtures of the coned acid with an organic substance such as acetone, acetic anhydride, alcohol, or aniline, may detonate. Traces of an-organic substance with HNO and mercury may form a highly explosive fulminate... 

The lead employee, or other appropriately qualified person, should supervise cleanup of the spill. The persons involved in this cleanup must be thoroughly trained, protected and supervised. Each person present should wear appropriate PPE, including respiratory equipment, if necessary. The spill should be approached from the edges only. At no time should any employee be allowed to work inside a spill area. Spilled material and any absorbents used should be transferred into properly identified containers using scoops and shovels. If spills create a fire or explosion hazard, only approved vacuums and other powered equipment... 

Masterbatches, concenttates, and the NDB example also address worker health and safety, a major concern when handling polymer additives. In their raw forms, for example some light stabilizers and antadds can be skin irritants, while fine particulates from common additives can create respiratory problems or the risk of explosion. Using non-combustible, non-dusting versions of these additives is just one approach, along with adequate ventilation, fume-exttaction, dust-collection, static-dissipation, and other common factory protections,... 

Toxicology LD50 (oral, rat) > 20 g/kg irritating to eyes, skin, mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract may be harmful by inh., ing., or skin absorp. TSCA listed Precaution Flamm. vapor may flash back incompat. with strong acids/bases/oxidizers container explosion can occur may dec. to form flamm./explosive mixts. in air potentially explosive protect against static discharges Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Toxic fumes of CO, CO2, silicon oxide emits toxic fumes underfire conditions... 

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