Manganese

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

> Eye contact: If product gets into eyes:

- Check for and remove any contact lenses.

- Do not rub eyes as this may lead to corneal damage.

- Hold eyelids apart and flush immediately with plenty of clean water for at least 10 minutes.

- Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or are severe.

NOTE: In a smelting environment, hot metal or metal fragment in the eye will require medical assessment and treatment.

> Skin contact: If skin contact occurs:

- Remove contaminated clothing and shoes.

- Flush skin with plenty of running water.

- Clean contaminated shoes and clothing before re-use.

No symptoms are expected, however, if irritation occurs contact a doctor/physician.

Skin contact with hot metal must be assessed immediately. If outer layer of skin is burned, first aid or further medical treatment may be necessary.

> Inhalation: If inhaled and breathing is difficult:

- Remove exposed person from contaminated area to fresh air. Keep the person warm and at rest.

- Apply oxygen on the advice of trained medical personnel.

If not breathing:

- Contact medical support immediately.

- Respiratory support in the form of artificial respiration on the advice of medical personnel.

> Ingestion: If swallowed:

- Rinse mouth with water.

- Remove dentures if any. Move exposed person to fresh air and keep exposed person warm and at rest.

If the exposed person is conscious:

- Give small quantities of water to drink. Stop if the exposed person feels sick as vomiting may be dangerous. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. If vomiting occurs, the head should be kept low so that vomit does not enter the lungs.

If exposed person is unconscious:

- Get medical attention immediately.

- Initiate emergency first aid measures for an unconscious person.

- Maintain an open airway.

- Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.

> Notes to physician: No specific treatment. Treat symptomatically. Contact poison treatment specialist immediately, if large quantities are ingested or inhaled.

Fire-fighting measures

> Suitable extinguishing media: dry chemicals, dry sand or carbon dioxide.

Use an extinguishing agent suitable for the surrounding materials, e.g. foam, carbon dioxide, extinguishing powder, water mist.

Avoid using water on hot metal, particularly in a confined environment.

 

> Special exposure hazards arising from substance or preparation: The product is a non-flammable solid. Any fine suspended particles of dust in the cloud have the potential to form explosive mixtures with air. If there is a fire, promptly isolate the scene by removing all persons from the vicinity of the incident. No action shall be taken involving any personal risk, or without suitable training. If fire occurs, metallic oxides may evolve.

 

> Hazardous thermal decomposition products: The material can produce decomposition products – mainly metal oxide/oxides and non-metallic gases.

 

> Special protective equipment for fire-fighters: Fire-fighters should wear appropriate protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with a full face-piece operated in positive pressure mode. This is particularly relevant when large amounts of fine dust and fume are present.

Accidental release measures

> Personal precautions: The substance in its solid form poses minimal risk if spilled on land. The main purpose of personal protective measures is to prevent inhalation, ingestion, contamination and spread of fine material:

- Cordon off spill area.

- Render area safe by removing ignition sources and assessing physical and chemical risks.

- No unauthorised persons to breach cordon.

- Trained spill management team to deal with spill remediation.

- Suitable personal protective equipment to be used – SCBA in confined spaces.

Substance in its molten form poses serious safety hazards if spilled. A molten material spill management plan should include the above elements with a wider cordon radius to prevent personal injury.

> Environmental precautions: Avoid dispersal of spilled product and prevent product coming into contact with soil, waterways, drains and sewers. Vacuuming of dry spillages is preferred. Avoid dust generating and handling operations where possible.

> Cleaning up Methods:

- Small spill: vacuum or sweep up spilled product and place in a designated, labelled waste container. Dispose of in accordance with local laws and regulations

- Large spill: Trained personnel can vacuum or sweep up product and place in a designated, labelled waste container. Avoid creating dusty conditions and prevent wind dispersal where possible. Dispose of in accordance with local laws and regulations.

NOTE: Molten material should not be cleaned up until cooled to a state that allows physical handling. Care must be taken to prevent contact with ignition sources.

Uncontaminated product can be re-used after careful cleaning. Any resulting solid waste that cannot be re-used should be disposed of according to the local laws and regulations. Also see Directive 2008/50/EC.

Handling and storage

> Handling: Avoid personal contamination:

- Use protective clothing – also ensure proper cleaning of protective clothing after use.

- Respiratory protection is essential.

- Wash face, hands and forearms thoroughly after handling product.

Avoid dust generation:

- Minimise physical handling as far as possible.

- Use dust extraction or suppression at source of dust generation.

- Avoid high pressure cleaning.

- Maintain a clean work environment.

Handling of molten material should be avoided. If absolutely necessary, the correct equipment must be used.

> Storage:

- Storage must be designed to prevent ingress into environment.

- Separate from incompatible materials.

- Adequate ventilation to prevent build-up of noxious gases.

- Storage containers/areas must have clear product labels.

Storage areas for hot metal must be clearly demarcated and access to these areas should be restricted.

> Packaging and Transport:

- Conventional bulk handling techniques should be used when packaging and transporting the product.

- International Maritime Organisation conventions should be complied with when transporting in the marine environment.

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

Not regulated for transport

Shipping

SpecialProvisions

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

UN number:

Not regulated for transport

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

Not regulated for transport

Shipping

Remarks

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

Not regulated for transport

Shipping

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

> Occupational exposure controls:

Prevention of occupational exposure should follow a hierarchy of controls with emphasis on engineering out exposure:

Prevention of dust generation

- Dust extraction technologies.

- Dust suppression technologies.

Limitation of personnel access to product or high dust product areas

> Personal Protective Equipment

- Respiratory: Properly fitted, particulate filter respirator complying with an approved standard. Respirator selection must be based on known or anticipated exposure levels, the hazards of the product and the safe working limits of the selected respirator. In the interest of good industrial hygiene, ensure containment of gaseous/dusty product, (e.g. Gas filter: EN 136).

- Eye: Use safety eyewear to comply with any approved standard when a risk assessment indicates this is necessary to avoid exposure to product in the eyes. (e.g. EN 166).

- Clothing: In a smelter environment, protective clothing should be made of flame resistant material. Clothing should be cleaned after shift to minimise spread of hazardous material.

- Handling: The use of protective hand gloves is recommended as the product has sharp edges that can injure hands.

> Environmental exposure controls:

Control principles:

- Re-use of uncontaminated product.

- Use LEV to prevent/reduce air emissions.

- Emissions from LEV should be re-used where possible.

- Liquid waste to be treated in on-site or offsite waste water treatment plants.

- Any resulting solid waste that cannot be re-used should be disposed of in accordance with local laws and regulations. Also see Directive 2008/50/EC.

Stability and reactivity

> Conditions to avoid: During storage and handling, avoid generating dust where possible as this could ignite in the presence of air/oxygen.

In molten form, product must not come in contact with water.

> Materials to avoid: In the interest of good industrial practice, avoid contact with open flames. Also avoid moisture. May react with water to release small amounts of potentially hazardous metallic and non-metallic gases.

> Hazardous decomposition products: In the bulk state, no hazardous decomposition products are generated when/if in contact with water. Fine material may generate hydrogen gas when in contact with water.

Extreme heat may generate some potentially hazardous metallic fumes/metallic oxides.

Disposal considerations

The generation of waste should be avoided or minimized wherever possible. Where waste is generated, it should be recycled if possible.

Dispose of surplus and non-recyclable products in accordance with local laws and regulations. The constituents in this product are chemically bonded within the preparation matrix, hence leaching is not expected. However, in the unlikely event that this happens, the individual constituents do not meet the criteria for environmental classification.