Acrylonitrile Safety Protocol: Regulated Areas and Emergency Procedures

1. Acrylonitrile

2. Regulated areas • Areas where acrylonitrile concentrations might exceed the permissible exposure limit • Job titles/functions allowed to access regulated areas 1a

3. Regulated areas • Tour regulated areas • Never store or use cosmetics, food items, beverages, or smoking items in regulated areas 1b

4. Definitions • Ceiling limit • 10 ppm as averaged over any 15-minute period • Action level • 1 ppm as an 8-hour TWA • Permissible exposure limit • 2 ppm as an 8-hour TWA 2a

5. Exposure control • Engineering controls • Work practice controls 2b

6. Monitoring • Detects presence of contaminants in work area • Available for all employees to observe 3a

7. Monitoring • Ongoing monitoring depends upon: • Exposure to contaminants at or above the action level, but below the PEL (quarterly) • Exposure to contaminants above the PEL (at least every month) • Changes in personnel, processes, controls 3b

8. Monitoring • Monitoring is required after clean-up operations • Monitoring may be stopped for individual employees under some conditions 3c

9. Monitoring • Employees are notified in writing of monitoring results within 5 working days • Written notification must include corrective actions to reduce exposures to the PEL 3d

10. Monitoring • Additional monitoring may be performed whenever there is a change in: • Processes • Equipment • Personnel • Work practices 3e

11. Physical and health hazards • Physical hazards • Flammable liquid • Moderate explosion hazard when exposed to flame • Can react vigorously with oxidizers 4a

12. Physical and health hazards • Physical hazards • Potential fire hazard • Releases nitrogen oxides and cyanide • Fight fire with carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or alcohol foam 4b

13. Physical and health hazards • Immediate (acute) health hazards • Eye irritation • Sleepiness • General loss of feeling - numbness • Cyanosis • Diarrhea 4c

14. Physical and health hazards • Immediate (acute) health hazards • Inhalation is poisonous • Skin contact is poisonous • Poisoning is immediate • Severe eye irritant 4d

15. Physical and health hazards • Chronic (long-term) effects • Carcinogen • Reproductive health changes • Mutagenic • Tumorigenic 4e

16. Work practices • Engineering controls and work practices are primary methods of exposure control • Supplement engineering controls and work practices with respirators if necessary 5a

17. Work practices • Storage and handling procedures include the following: • Keep containers tightly closed • Never store uninhibited acrylonitrile • Store in cool, well-ventilated place • Keep from incompatible materials • “EX” type forklifts may be required 5b

18. Work practices • Do not wear contact lenses when working with acrylonitrile • In areas where acrylonitrile exceeds the PEL, do not store or use cosmetics, lip balm, food items, or smoke 5c

19. Work practices • Keep all surfaces free of acrylonitrile • Inspect for leaks and spills • Workers must wear impermeable clothing, eye protection, face shields, etc. 5d

20. Work practices • Know location of washing facilities • Keep all sources of ignition away from acrylonitrile • Do not incinerate acrylonitrile cartridges, tanks, containers 5e

21. Emergency procedures • Written emergency action plan is required • Contact persons • Phone numbers • Remove all ignition sources 6a

22. Emergency procedures • Evacuate the area • Wear appropriate PPE until cleanup is complete • Properly dispose of waste 6b

23. Emergency procedures • Employees not involved in emergency procedures must be: • Notified with a general alarm • Evacuated from the area • Be aware of fire hazards when exposed to flame, heat, oxidizers 6c

24. Emergency procedures • Keep fire extinguishers and quick-drenching facilities available • Fight fires with carbon dioxide, dry chemical, or alcohol foam 6d

25. Emergency procedures • Acrylonitrile is considered a Class 1B hazard • Foam • CO2 • Dry chemical • NO water streams 6e

26. Emergency procedures • First aid measures include: • Flushing eyes with water, lifting the eyelids • Flushing skin with water, wash with soap • Moving victim to fresh air • Giving large quantities of water if swallowed 6f

27. Emergency procedures • Get medical attention immediately 6g