reactive chemicals training presentation

Reactive Chemicals

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Session ObjectivesYou will be able to:• Identify reactive chemical hazards• Understand the nature of chemical reactions• Detect and manage reactivity hazards• Respond safely to reactive chemical

emergencies

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What You Need to Know•What reactive chemicals are• How they can endanger health and safety• Potential for hazardous chemical reactions

in the workplace• Hazard management program• Necessary precautions on the job• Emergency reporting and response

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What Is a Reactive Chemical?• Solid or liquid• Reactive to air, water,

or other chemicals• Sensitive to shock,

heat, or friction• Corrosive, poisonous,

or flammable by-products

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Health Hazards• Burn skin, eyes,

nose, throat• May be poisonous• Irritate eyes, skin,

and respiratory tract• Cause dizziness

and vomiting• Cause asphyxiation and

death• Consult the MSDS

for health hazard information

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Fire Hazard• Friction• Absorption of moisture• Spontaneous chemical

changes• Retained heat• Readily ignited

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Factors That Create Reactivity Hazards• Intentional chemistry• Physical processing• Hazardous substance

storage• Processes that involve

combustion• Heat generating

processes

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Factors That Create Reactivity Hazards (cont.)

The presence of:• Spontaneously

combustible chemicals• Peroxide-forming

chemicals• Water-reactive

chemicals• Oxidizing chemicals• Self-reactive chemicals• Materials that are

incompatible

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Detecting Hazards • Sight• Smell• Air monitoring

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Intentional Reactions• Exothermic and

endothermic reactions• Heat generation• Addition of heat• Losing control of the

intended reaction

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Spontaneously Combustible Substances• React with oxygen to

ignite or burn without ignition• DOT Hazard Class 4.2• ‘4’ in red part of NFPA

diamond label• Avoid exposure to air• Examples

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Peroxide Formers• React with oxygen,

may explode• Inhibitor or stabilizer

may be added• Often labeled by

another characteristic• Avoid prolonged

storage • Examples

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Water Reactives• Heat, toxic gases,

ruptured containers• DOT Hazard Class 4.3• ‘W’ in NFPA label• Avoid inadvertent

contact with water• Examples

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Oxidizers• Yield oxygen or

promote combustion• DOT Hazard Class 5.1• ‘OX’ in NFPA label• Avoid contact with

combustible materials• Examples

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Self-Reactive Materials• Polymerizing, decomposing, rearranging• DOT Hazard Class 1

or 5.2• ‘1’ to ‘4’ in yellow part of NFPA label• Avoid shock, friction, heat

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Incompatible Materials• Results of uncontrolled reactions• Potential mixing scenarios• Consult a chemical compatibility chart• Examples

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Reactivity HazardsDo you understand:• What a reactive

chemical is? • The health and fire

hazards? • Factors that could

cause chemical reactivity hazards in the workplace and the form those reactions could take?

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Hazard Management Program• Active monitoring• Audits of procedures

and practices• Management of

change• Keeping abreast of

new technology• Corrective action

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PPE • Gloves• Goggles and face

shield• Chemical-resistant

clothing• Air-supplied respirator

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Investigating Incidents • Report all incidents and near misses• Investigate root causes• Identify unrecognized hazards• Identify measures to eliminate or reduce

hazards• Communicate findings

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First Aid • Skin—flush with water• Eyes—flush with water

for 15 minutes• Inhalation—move

to fresh air• Ingestion—seek

medical attention

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Emergency Procedures • Leave the area• Notify others• Limit access to area• Don’t return until it’s

safe• Don’t try to clean up

large spills unless authorized

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Emergency Equipment • First-aid kit• Spill response supplies• Safety showers• Eyewash stations• Fire extinguishers

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Hazard ManagementDo you understand: • All information that has

been presented in the previous slides? • All the precautions we

must take to effectively manage chemical reactivity risks and prevent accidents?

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Key Points to Remember• Know the hazards of reactive chemicals• Be able to identify different types of reactive

chemicals in the workplace•Wear appropriate PPE• Follow safe handling and storage

procedures• Learn emergency procedures