California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 16 - Control of Hazardous Substances › Article 110 - Regulated Carcinogens › Appendix A - Substance Safety Sheet for Acrylonitrile

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
I. Substance Identification
A. Substance: Acrylonitrile (CH2
						  = CHCN).
B. Synonyms: Acrylic nitrile; vinyl cyanide;
						  cyanoethylene; AN; VCN; Acrylon; Carbacryl; Fumigrain; Ventox;
						  propenenitrile.
C. Acrylonitrile can be found as a liquid or vapor, and
						  can also be found in polymer resins, plastics, polyols, and other polymers
						  having acrylonitrile as a raw or intermediate material.
D. AN is used in the manufacture of acrylic and
						  modacrylic fibers, acrylic plastics and resins, specialty polymers, nitrile
						  rubbers, and other organic chemicals. It has also been used as a
						  fumigant.
E. Appearance and Odor: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
						  with a pungent odor which can only be detected at concentrations above the
						  permissible exposure level, in a range of 13-19 parts AN per million parts of
						  air (13-19 ppm).
F. Exposure may not exceed either:
1. Two parts AN per million parts of air (2 ppm)
						  averaged over the eight-hour workday; or
2. Ten parts AN per million parts of air (10 ppm)
						  averaged over any 15-minute period in the workday.
3. In addition, skin and eye contact with liquid AN is
						  prohibited.
II. Health Hazard Data
A. Acrylonitrile can affect your body if you inhale the
						  vapor (breathing), if it comes in contact with your eyes or skin, or if you
						  swallow it. It may enter your body through your skin.
B. Effects of Overexposure:
1. Short-Term Exposure: Acrylonitrile causes eye
						  irritation, nausea, vomiting, headache, sneezing, weakness, and
						  lightheadedness. At high concentrations, the effects of exposure may go on to
						  loss of consciousness and death. When acrylonitrile is held in contact with the
						  skin after being absorbed into shoe leather or clothing, it may produce
						  blisters following several hours of no apparent effect. Unless the shoes or
						  clothing are removed immediately and the area washed, blistering will occur.
						  Usually there is no pain or inflammation associated with blister
						  formation.
2. Long-Term Exposure: Acrylonitrile has been shown to
						  cause cancer in laboratory animals and has been associated with higher
						  incidences of cancer in humans. Repeated or prolonged exposure of the skin to
						  acrylonitrile may produce irritation and dermatitis.
3. Reporting Signs and Symptoms: You should inform your
						  employer if you develop any signs or symptoms which may be caused by exposure
						  to acrylonitrile.
III. Emergency First-aid Procedures
A. Eye Exposure: If acrylonitrile gets into your eyes,
						  wash your eyes immediately with large amounts of water, lifting the lower and
						  upper lids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses
						  should not be worn when working with this chemical.
B. Skin Exposure: If acrylonitrile gets on your skin,
						  immediately wash the contaminated skin with water. If acrylonitrile soaks
						  through your clothing, especially your shoes, remove the clothing immediately
						  and wash the skin with water. If symptoms occur after washing, get medical
						  attention immediately. Thoroughly wash the clothing before re-using.
						  Contaminated leather shoes or other leather articles should be
						  discarded.
C. Inhalation: If you or any other person breathes in
						  large amounts of acrylonitrile, move the exposed person to fresh air at once.
						  If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep the affected
						  person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible.
D. Swallowing: When acrylonitrile has been swallowed,
						  give the person large quantities of water immediately. After the water has been
						  swallowed, try to get the person to vomit by having him touch the back of his
						  throat with his finger. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Get medical
						  attention immediately.
E. Rescue: Move the affected person from the hazardous
						  exposure. If the exposed person has been overcome, notify someone else and put
						  into effect the established emergency procedures. Do not become a casualty
						  yourself. Understand your emergency rescue procedures and know the locations of
						  the emergency equipment before the need arises.
F. Special First-Aid Procedures: First-aid kits
						  containing an adequate supply (at least two dozen) of amyl nitrite pearls
						  (ampules), each containing 0.3 ml, should be maintained at each site where
						  acrylonitrile is used. When a person is suspected of receiving an overexposure
						  to acrylonitrile, immediately remove that person from the contaminated area
						  using established rescue procedures. Contaminated clothing must be removed and
						  the acrylonitrile washed from the skin immediately. Artificial respiration
						  should be started at once if breathing has stopped. If the person is
						  unconscious, amyl nitrite may be used as an antidote by a properly-trained
						  individual in accordance with established emergency procedures. Medical aid
						  should be obtained immediately.
IV. Respirators and Protective Clothing
A. Respirators: You may be required to wear a
						  respirator for non-routine activities, in emergencies, and while your employer
						  is in the process of reducing acrylonitrile exposures through engineering
						  controls. If respirators are worn, they must have a label issued by the
						  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the
						  provisions of 42 CFR part 84 stating that the respirators have been approved
						  for use with organic vapors. For effective protection, respirators must fit
						  your face and head snugly. Respirators should not be loosened or removed in
						  work situations where their use is required.
Acrylonitrile does not have a detectable odor except at
						  levels above the permissible exposure limit. Do not depend on odor to warn you
						  when a respirator cartridge or canister is exhausted. Cartridges or canisters
						  must be changed daily. Reuse of these may allow acrylonitrile to gradually
						  filter through the cartridge and cause exposures which you cannot detect by
						  odor. If you can smell acrylonitrile while wearing a respirator, the respirator
						  is not working correctly. Go immediately to fresh air. If you experience
						  difficulty breathing while wearing a respirator, tell your employer.
B. Supplied-Air Suits: In some work situations, the
						  wearing of supplied-air suits may be necessary. Your employer should instruct
						  you in their proper use and operation.
C. Protective Clothing: You must wear impervious
						  clothing, gloves, face shield, or other appropriate protective clothing to
						  prevent skin contact with liquid acrylonitrile. Where protective clothing is
						  required, your employer is required to provide clean garments to you as
						  necessary to assure that the clothing protects you adequately. Replace or
						  repair impervious clothing that has developed leaks. Acrylonitrile should never
						  be allowed to remain on the skin. Clothing and shoes which are not impervious
						  to acrylonitrie, should not be allowed to be contaminated with acrylonitrile,
						  and if they do, the clothing and shoes should be promptly removed and
						  decontaminated. The clothing should be laundered or discarded after the AN is
						  removed. Once acrylonitrile penetrates shoe leather, or other leather articles,
						  the article should not be worn again.
D. Eye Protection: You must wear splash-proof safety
						  goggles in areas where liquid acrylonitrile may contact your eyes. In addition
						  contact lenses should not be worn when working with acrylonitrile.
V. Precautions for Safe Use, Handling, and
						  Storage
A. Acrylonitrile is a flammable liquid and its vapors
						  can easily form explosive mixtures in air.
B. Acrylonitrile must be stored in tightly-closed
						  containers in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sparks, flames,
						  strong oxidizers (especially bromine), strong bases, copper, copper alloys,
						  ammonia, and amines.
C. Sources of ignition such as smoking and open flames
						  are prohibited wherever acrylonitrile is handled, used, or stored in a manner
						  that could create a potential fire or explosion hazard.
D. You should use non-sparking tools when opening or
						  closing metal containers of acrylonitrile, and containers must be bonded and
						  grounded when pouring or transferring liquid acrylonitrile.
E. You must immediately remove any non-impervious
						  clothing that becomes contaminated with acrylonitrile, and this clothing must
						  not be reworn until the acrylonitrile is removed from the clothing.
F. Impervious clothing wet with liquid acrylonitrile
						  can be easily ignited. This clothing must be washed down with water before you
						  remove it.
G. If your skin becomes wet with liquid acrylonitrile,
						  you must promptly and thoroughly wash or shower with soap or mild detergent to
						  remove any acrylonitrile from your skin.
H. You must not keep food, beverages, or smoking
						  materials nor are you permitted to eat or smoke in regulated areas where
						  acrylonitrile concentrations are above the permissible exposure limits.
I. If you handle acrylonitrile, you must wash your
						  hands thoroughly with soap or mild detergent and water before eating, smoking,
						  or using toilet facilities.
J. Fire extinguishers and quick drenching facilities
						  must be readily available, and you should know where they are and how to
						  operate them.
K. Ask your supervisor where acrylonitrile is used in
						  your work area and for any additional plant safety and health rules.
VI. Access to Information
A. Each year, your employer is required to inform you
						  of information contained in this Substance Safety Data Sheet for acrylonitrile.
						  In addition, your employer must instruct you in the proper work practices for
						  using acrylonitrile, emergency procedures, and the correct use of protective
						  equipment.
B. Your employer is required to determine whether you
						  are being exposed to acrylonitrile. You or your representative has the right to
						  observe employee exposure measurements and to record the results obtained. Your
						  employer is require to inform you of your exposure. If your employer determines
						  that you are being overexposed, he or she is required to inform you of the
						  actions which are being taken to reduce your exposure to within permissible
						  exposure limits.
C. Your employer is required to keep records of your
						  exposures and medical examination. These records must be kept by the employer
						  for at least forty (40) years or for the period of your employment plus twenty
						  (20) years, whichever is longer.
D. Upon the request of either you or your collective
						  bargaining agent, if any, your employer is required to release your exposure
						  records, or a copy thereof. Upon your request, your employer is required to
						  provide a copy of your medical records to you or to any individual or
						  organization designated by you.