chloromethane; methyl chloride

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

General advice:

Take affected person to fresh air and keep warm and at rest. Remove immediately contaminated, soaked clothing including shoes and dispose of safely. Consult a physician if health symptoms develop or persist. Show safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance. Do not drink alcoholic beverages.

Inhalation:

Remove the affected person to fresh air and keep warm and at rest. If breathing problems persist or patient feels unwell, consult a physician.

If breathing has ceased or shows signs of failing, apply artificial respiration and resuscitation, call and immediately the emergency doctor!

Skin contact:

Liquid splashes or spray may cause freeze burns to skin and yes.

In case of frostbite, rinse with plenty of warm water. Do not remove clothing. Obtain medical attention immediately.

The gas has no adverse effects on the skin.

Eye contact:

Liquid splashes or spray may cause freeze burns to skin and eyes. Irrigate immediately with eyewash solution or plenty of clean water, holding the eyelids apart, for at least 15 minutes. Obtain immediately medical attention.

The gas has no adverse effects on the eye.

Ingestion:

No relevant way of exposure.

Protection of first aiders:

Gas has no odour and only weak acute symptoms in case of inhalation!

Oxygen level in surrounding air can be lowered by leaking gas. If contaminated air is inhaled, risk of sudden loss of consciousness!

If entering an area with high or unknown airborne concentration, wear a self-contained breathing ap-paratus.

Notes to physician:

Hazards: Danger of reduced reaction capability, risk of deterioration due to consumption of alcohol.

Symptoms: Headache, dizziness, unconsciousness, coughing, CNS depression.

Treatment: Do not administer any preparations of the adrenaline-ephedrine group (e. g. catechola-mines) because of the cardiac effect caused by the product.

Apply oxygen if breathing problems persist.

Fire-fighting measures

Suitable extinguishing media: water spray jet, foam, carbon dioxide (CO2), dry powder

If considered safest, allow fire to exhaust itself.

Use water spray to cool fire endangered containers, if these cannot be removed (risk of rup-ture/explosion due to overpressure).

Specific hazards: / Special exposure hazards arising from the substance or preparation itself, its combustion products, or released gases:

Extremely flammable gas, forms explosive mixture with air.

Gas is heavier than air and can travel along ground to remote ignition sources.

Toxic and corrosive combustion products: hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, phosgene.

Gas has no odour and only weak acute symptoms if inhaled. Gas can  

Special protective equipment for fire-fighters:

Wear full protective suit. Use self-contained breathing apparatus.

Further information:

Collect contaminated fire extinguishing water separately. This must not be discharged into drains.

Accidental release measures

Call the emergency brigade.

Evacuate personnel to safe areas (keep upwind).

Do not smoke. Stop engines and machinery in the surrounding from the remote, if this can be done safely.

Stop the leakage by shutting valves, if this can be done safely.

Suppress leaking gas with water spray jet.

Personal precautions:

Use personal protection equipment.

Environmental precautions:

Do not allow to enter drains or waterways.

In case of gas escape or of entry into waterways, soil or drains, inform the responsible authorities.

Methods for cleaning up:

Ventilate area well.

Handling and storage

Handling

Advice on safe handling:

Handle container with care.

Handle the substance only in enclosed systems.

Perform filling operations indoors only at stations with exhaust ventilation facilities.

Advice on protection against fire and explosion:

Apply explosion protection measures in areas were substance is stored and used.

Keep away from sources of ignition - no smoking.

Take measures to prevent the build of electrostatic charge.

Provide sufficient air exchange exhaust in work rooms.

Storage

Advice on storage:

Keep container tightly closed in a dry, cool and ventilated place.

Keep away from sources of heat and ignition.

Prevent cylinders from falling over.

Storage space and container requirements:

Use carbon steel or stainless steel containers.

Do not store or transport in containers made of aluminium, zinc, magnesium or light metal alloys.

(VCI storage category: 2A (Gases)

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

1063

Shipping

Labels:

2.1

SpecialProvisions

Inland waterway transport (UN RTDG/ADN(R))

UN number:

1063

Shipping

Labels:

2.1

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

1063

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Methyl chloride

Labels:

2.1

Remarks

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

1063

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Methyl chloride

Labels:

2.1

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Passenger aircraft: forbidden

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Occupational exposure limits

[to be provided after country regulation]

Personal protective equipment

Respiratory protection:

Short term (max 15 min): Self-contained breathing apparatus or fresh air supplied helmet certified for gases (filter masks with filter AX are not suitable)

Long term: self-contained breathing apparatus.

Hand protection:

When contact to cold, thermally liquified substance is possible, a thermal insulation glove should be worn to protect against frostbites.

When only brief skin contact with the liquid substance is expected (e.g. lab activities), gloves of butyl rubber, chloroprene, nitrile rubber, etc. are sufficient.

For virtually emission-free coupling/flanging activities mechanical protection gloves (e.g. made of leather) are sufficient.

Eye protection:

Safety glasses with side protection shield (EN 166) or goggles

Skin and body protection:

Protective overall, antistatic safety shoes or boots.

General protective and hygiene measures:

Do not inhale gas or aerosol.

Avoid contact with skin and eyes.

Apply PPE as required.

Remove soiled or soaked clothing immediately.

Wash hands immediately after handling chemicals and before breaks.

Do not eat, drink and smoke at work, keep away foodstuffs and beverages.

Stability and reactivity

Stability:

Stabile under normal usage conditions.

Thermal decomposition: > 400 °C

Materials to avoid:

Avoid contact with air and oxidising gases (oxygen, ozone, chlorine, nitrous oxides, etc.) and other strong oxidising agents (conc. HNO3, conc. H2O2, etc.)

Avoid contact with alkali metals, earth alkali metals, aluminium, zinc, magnesium and light metal al-loys.

Hazardous decomposition products:

Thermal decomposition giving toxic and corrosive hydrogen chloride.

In contact with water, it slowly hydrolyses with evolution of corrosive hydrochloric acid.

Disposal considerations

Product disposal:

Dispose as hazardous waste in accordance with waste regulations and plant permit.

Waste code no.: 16 05 04* (gases in pressure containers (including halons) containing dangerous substances)

Packaging disposal:

Dispose non-returnable cylinders in accordance with local waste regulations.  

Return transportable rent cylinders to supplier for re-use.

Consult the label or SDS or the supplier in case of doubt.