Chromium trioxide

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Inhalation:

Get medical attention immediately. Move exposed person to fresh air. If it is suspected that fumes are still present, the rescuer should wear an appropriate mask or self-contained breathing apparatus. Keep person warm and at rest. If not breathing, if breathing is irregular or if respiratory arrest occurs, provide artificial respiration or oxygen by trained personnel. It may be dangerous to the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If unconscious, place in recovery position and get medical attention immediately. Maintain an open airway. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. In the event of any complaints or symptoms, avoid further exposure.

Ingestion:

Get medical attention immediately. Allow the patient to drink 5 - 10 g ascorbic acid (not effervescent tablets) dissolved in water. This dose can be repeated several times.

Skin contact:

In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water. Get medical attention immediately. If the skin becomes scratched or wounded, dab it with saturated gauze pads or compresses using a freshly made up ascorbic acid solution (10 g in 100 g water). Seek medical advice immediately. Give the patient 2 g ascorbic acid (vitamin C) immediately.

Eye contact:

Get medical attention immediately. Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Check for and remove any contact lenses. Continue to rinse for at least 10 minutes. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician.

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing media

Suitable:

In case of fire, use water spray (fog), foam, dry chemical or CO2.

Not suitable:

None known.

Special exposure hazards:

Explosive when mixed with combustible material. This material increases the risk of fire and may aid combustion.

Promptly isolate the scene by removing all persons from the vicinity of the incident if there is a fire. No action shall be taken involving any personal risk or without suitable training. Move containers from fire area if this can be done without risk. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. This material is very toxic to aquatic organisms. Fire water contaminated with this material must be contained and prevented from being discharged to any waterway, sewer or drain.

Hazardous combustion products:

Decomposition products may include the following materials: metal oxide/oxides

Special protective equipment for fire-fighters:

Fire-fighters should wear appropriate protective equipment and selfcontained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with a full face-piece operated in positive pressure mode.

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions:

Avoid exposure - obtain special instructions before use. No action shall be taken involving any personal risk or without suitable training. Evacuate surrounding areas. Keep unnecessary and unprotected personnel from entering. Do not touch or walk through spilt material. Shut off all ignition sources. No flares, smoking or flames in hazard area. Provide adequate ventilation. Put on appropriate personal protective equipment.

Environmental precautions:

Avoid dispersal of spilt material and runoff and contact with soil, waterways, drains and sewers. Inform the relevant authorities if the product has caused environmental pollution (sewers, waterways, soil or air). Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

Large spill:

Move containers from spill area. Prevent entry into sewers, water courses, basements or confined areas. Vacuum or sweep up material and place in a designated, labelled waste container. Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment. Dispose of via a licensed waste disposal contractor.

Small spill:

Move containers from spill area. Vacuum or sweep up material and place in a designated, labelled waste container. Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment. Dispose of via a licensed waste disposal contractor.

Handling and storage

Handling:

Avoid exposure - obtain special instructions before use. Put on appropriate personal protective equipment (see EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION). Eating, drinking and smoking should be prohibited in areas where this material is handled, stored and processed. Workers should wash hands and face before eating, drinking and smoking. Persons with a history of skin sensitisation problems or asthma, allergies or chronic or recurrent respiratory disease should not be employed in any process in which this product is used. Do not get in eyes or on skin or clothing. Do not ingest. Avoid release to the environment. Use only with adequate ventilation. Wear appropriate respirator when ventilation is inadequate. Keep in the original container or an approved alternative made from a compatible material, kept tightly closed when not in use. Keep away from combustible material. Empty containers retain product residue and can be hazardous.

Storage:

Store in accordance with local regulations. Store in original container protected from direct sunlight in a dry, cool and wellventilated area, away from incompatible materials and food and drink. Separate from reducing agents and combustible materials. Keep container tightly closed and sealed until ready for use. Containers that have been opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Do not store in unlabelled containers. Use appropriate containment to avoid environmental contamination.

Packaging materials

Recommended: Use original container.

Transport information

Shipping

SpecialProvisions

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

Shipping

Remarks

Shipping

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Exposure limit values: Not available officially, though tehre are different expoure limitvalue in some European countries which shall be complied with.

chromium (VI) trioxide: No workplace limit value(OEL) fixed. Additional protective measures must be complied with, in particular:

- Measurements for the early detection of increased exposure as a result of an unforeseen incident;

- Cordoning off of the hazardous areas and display of warning and hazard signs, including a sign

saying "Smoking prohibited", in areas where exposure is possible;

- Extracted air must not be returned to the system without being treated first.

Recommended monitoring procedures:

If this product contains ingredients with exposure limits, personal, workplace atmosphere or biological monitoring may be required to determine the effectiveness of the ventilation or other control measures and/or the necessity to use respiratory protective equipment. Reference should be made to European Standard EN 689 for methods for the assessment of exposure by inhalation to chemical agents and national guidance documents for methods for the determination of hazardous substances.

Risk management measures-Occupational exposure controls

Technical measures:

Use only with adequate ventilation. Use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation or other engineering controls to keep worker exposure to airborne contaminants below any recommended or statutory limits.

Risk management measures-Personal protection measures

Respiratory protection:

Use a properly fitted, air-purifying or air-fed respirator complying with an approved standard if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. 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. Recommended: In case of dust formation particle filter P3.

Hand protection:

Chemical-resistant, impervious gloves complying with an approved standard should be worn at all times when handling chemical products if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. After contamination with product change the gloves immediately and dispose of them according to relevant national and local regulations

<1 hours (breakthrough time): Butyl rubber - IIR, Fluorinated rubber - FKM, Polychloroprene - CR, Polyvinyl chloride - PVC.

Eye protection:

Safety eyewear complying with an approved standard should be used when a risk assessment indicates this is necessary to avoid exposure to liquid splashes, mists, gases or dusts. Recommended: Tightly fitting safety goggles.

Skin protection:

Personal protective equipment for the body should be selected based on the task being performed and the risks involved and should be approved by a specialist before handling this product. Recommended: chemical-resistant protective suit

Hygiene measures:

Wash hands, forearms and face thoroughly after handling chemical products, before eating, smoking and using the lavatory and at the end of the working period. Appropriate techniques should be used to remove potentially contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated clothing before reusing. Ensure that eyewash stations and safety showers are close to the workstation location.

Environmental exposure controls

Technical measures:

Emissions from ventilation or work process equipment should be checked to ensure they comply with the requirements of environmental protection legislation. In some cases, fume scrubbers, filters or engineering modifications to the process equipment will be necessary to reduce emissions to acceptable

levels.

Stability and reactivity

Stability:

The product is stable.

Possibility of hazardous reactions:

Hazardous reactions or instability may occur under certain conditions of storage or use.

Conditions may include the following:

-contact with combustible materials

Reactions may include the following:

-risk of explosion

Decomposition temperature:

196°C

Conditions to avoid:

Avoid exposure - obtain special instructions before use. Avoid release to the environment.

Materials to avoid:

Highly reactive or incompatible with the following materials: combustible materials reducing materials

Hazardous decomposition products:

Under normal conditions of storage and use, hazardous decomposition products should not be produced.

Disposal considerations

Methods of disposal:

Examine possibilities for re-utilisation. Product residues and uncleaned empty containers should be packaged, sealed, labelled, and disposed of or recycled according to relevant national and local regulations. Where large quantities are concerned, consult the supplier. When uncleaned empty containers are passed on, the recipient must be warned of any possible hazard that may be caused by residues. For disposal within the EC, the appropriate code according to the European Waste List (EWL) should be used. It is among the tasks of the polluter to assign the waste to waste codes specific to industrial sectors and processes according to the European Waste List (EWL).

Hazardous waste:

The classification of the product may meet the criteria for a hazardous waste.