Flammable aerosols are Category 1 liquids of four categories , which have a flashpoint below A lower flashpoint means higher flammability. Flammable liquids in containers of 60 gallons or less of flammable liquids including flammable aerosol cans, paint thinners, etc.
Category 1 liquids may not be handled where vapors could encounter an ignition source. Your workers should be trained and encouraged to check the safety data sheet SDS for handling and storage information specific to the aerosol that are using.
Cleaners, paints, lubricants, and polishes come in aerosol cans spray cans. All aerosols have a pressurized propellant that helps to distribute the product. Most propellants in spray cans are mixtures of ignitable gases, such as propane and butane. Due to their flammability, these gases can cause fires and explosions if they are sprayed or are released unintentionally due to puncture or damage to the can, or if the contents are exposed to an open flame, pilot light, spark, or static electricity.
To ensure compliance with hazardous waste regulations, non-empty aerosol cans are collected and managed as hazardous waste.
Follow the Chemical Waste Management instructions. Oil-based paints use thinner petroleum-basel distillate as a solvent. Solvents keep the paint flowing and act as a "carrier" for the binders and pigments.
Solvents in paints can be hazardous due to their toxicity, flammability or both. Linseed oil, tung oil or alkyd resins are also used as primary binders for oil-base paints and are hazardous by inhalation. But what are aerosol cans really? And why are they dangerous? In short, an aerosol can is a self-contained dispensing system where a substance is stored inside a small metal canister and pushed out as a fine mist, a spray, or a foam. This mini dispensing system consists of five key elements which work together to deliver a consistent product.
Despite the small size, each aerosol can actually contains a complex ecosystem, and this is the reason that many aerosol cans need to be shaken before you can use them. Shaking the can mixes the active ingredient with the propellant and solvent. But it is also the combination of each of the five elements that compounds the risks and hazards of the cans. All of this stuff is going to be released if the can explodes. Aerosol cans are dangerous because of the unusual mix of substances stored under pressure inside THE metal canister.
Even if the active ingredient is not a hazardous chemical eg, food products the can is still capable of exploding or turning into a dangerous projectile. The biggest problem with aerosol cans in the workplace is their potential to ignite or explode other Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances. Here are four ways aerosol cans present a dangerous hazard in the workplace:.
Adhesives, insecticides, automotive sprays, solvents, cleaners, paints, and varnishes are all hazardous substances and capable of causing injury if a workers inhales or absorbs the chemicals.
It is so important for supervisors to check the Safety Data Sheets SDSs before allowing any new chemical into the workplace, sometimes this practice is forgotten when the substance arrives packaged in a neat little aerosol can. Many workplace accidents involving aerosols occur when the cans are left in the sun, in a car, or placed next to a hot machine. Two Australian workers were injured when they tried to use a can of spray paint which had been left in the sun.
As one of the worker shook the can it exploded in his hand. Other workers have suffered burns and shrapnel injuries from exploding cans of cooking oil, adhesives, and electrical contact cleaner. A piece of molten metal fell onto the spray can which ruptured and the paint inside ignited. The worker was showered in burning paint and suffered terrible burns, but he was lucky the acetylene and O2 cylinders did not explode as well. Even empty cans must never be punctured or pierced as chemical residues can still present an explosion hazard.
A worker transferring unopened cartons of aerosol whipped cream was seriously injured when a can burst through the cardboard carton and hit him in the face. Aerosol cans or bulk cartons can be easily knocked over, dropped, or impacted by passing machinery and vehicles; potentially leaving the contents active ingredients, propellant, and solvent in a volatile state. The most important thing to remember about aerosol cans in the workplace is to always treat them as you would treat other Dangerous Goods.
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