ACETYLENE

Following exposure to gas, remove the patient from the gas source or contaminated area. NOTE: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus may be required to assure the safety of the rescuer. Prostheses such as false teeth, which may block the airway, should be removed, where possible, prior to initiating first aid procedures. If the patient is not breathing spontaneously, administer rescue breathing. If the patient does not have a pulse, administer CPR. If medical oxygen and appropriately trained personnel are available, administer 100% oxygen. Summon an emergency ambulance. If an ambulance is not available, contact a physician, hospital, or Poison Control Centre for further instruction. Keep the patient warm, comfortable and at rest while awaiting medical care. MONITOR THE BREATHING AND PULSE, CONTINUOUSLY. Administer rescue breathing (preferably with a demand-valve resuscitator, bag-valve mask-device, or pocket mask as trained) or CPR if necessary.

If skin or hair contact occurs: Flush skin and hair with running water (and soap if available).

Symptoms: Irritation.

If product comes in contact with eyes remove the patient from gas source or contaminated area. Take the patient to the nearest eye wash, shower or other source of clean water. Open the eyelid(s) wide to allow the material to evaporate. Gently rinse the affected eye(s) with clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes. Have the patient lie or sit down and tilt the head back. Hold the eyelid(s) open and pour water slowly over the eyeball(s) at the inner corners, letting the water run out of the outer corners. It is important that the material is rinsed from the eyes to prevent further damage. Ensure that the patient looks up, and side to side as the eye is rinsed in order to better reach all parts of the eye(s).

Symptoms: The patient may be in great pain and wish to keep the eyes closed. Even when no pain persists and vision is good, a doctor should examine the eye as delayed damage may occur. If the patient cannot tolerate light, protect the eyes with a clean, loosely tied bandage.

If spontaneous vomiting appears imminent or occurs, hold patient's head down, lower than their hips to help avoid possible aspiration of vomitus.

Dry chemical, CO2 or water spray to extinguish gas (only if absolutely necessary and safe to do so) for small fires. For large fires, cool cylinder by direct flooding quantities of water onto upper surface until well after fire is out. Use water delivered as a fine spray to control fire and cool adjacent area.

DO NOT EXTINGUISH BURNING GAS UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED SAFELY; OTHERWISE: LEAVE GAS TO BURN. DO NOT use water jets. DO NOT direct water at source of leak or venting safety devices as icing may occur. DO NOT extinguish the fire until the supply is shut off otherwise an explosive re-ignition may occur. DO NOT approach cylinders suspected to be hot.

Avoid contamination with oxidising agents i.e. nitrates, oxidising acids, chlorine bleaches, pool chlorine etc. as ignition may result. WARNING: May EXPLODE on heating!!! HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Fire exposed containers may vent contents through pressure relief valves thereby increasing fire intensity and/ or vapour concentration. Vapours may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Containers may explode when heated - Ruptured cylinders may rocket. Fire may produce irritating, poisonous or corrosive gases. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard. May decompose explosively when heated or involved in fire. High concentration of gas may cause asphyxiation without warning. Closed containers may rupture due to pressure buildup under fire conditions.

Alert Fire Brigade and tell them location and nature of hazard. For fires involving many gas cylinders, specifically trained personnel may inert the atmosphere to reduce oxygen levels thus allowing the capping of leaking container(s). Reduce the rate of flow and inject an inert gas, if possible, before completely stopping the flow to prevent flashback. If the fire is extinguished and the flow of gas continues, use increased ventilation to prevent build-up of explosive atmosphere. Use non-sparking tools to close container valves. Be CAUTIOUS of a Boiling Liquid Evaporating Vapour Explosion, BLEVE, if fire is impinging on surrounding containers. Direct 2500 litre/min (500 gpm) water stream onto containers above liquid level with the assistance remote monitors. Fight fire from a safe distance, with adequate cover. If safe, switch off electrical equipment until vapour fire hazard removed. Use water delivered as a fine spray to control fire and cool adjacent area.

For minor spills: Avoid breathing vapour and any contact with liquid or gas. DO NOT enter confined spaces where gas may have accumulated. Shut off all sources of possible ignition and increase ventilation. Clear area of personnel. Stop leak only if safe to so do. Remove leaking cylinders to safe place. For major spills: Clear area of all unprotected personnel and move upwind. Alert Emergency Authority and advise them of the location and nature of hazard. Consider evacuation. Shut off all possible sources of ignition and increase ventilation. Remove leaking cylinders to a safe place. Fit vent pipes. Release pressure under safe, controlled conditions. Burn issuing gas at vent pipes. DO NOT exert excessive pressure on valve; DO NOT attempt to operate damaged valve.

Avoid breathing vapour and any contact with liquid or gas. Protective equipment including respirator should be used. DO NOT enter confined spaces where gas may have accumulated. Shut off all sources of possible ignition and increase ventilation. Clear area of personnel. Stop leak only if safe to so do. Remove leaking cylinders to safe place.

Clear area of all unprotected personnel and move upwind. Alert Emergency Authority and advise them of the location and nature of hazard. May be violently or explosively reactive. Wear full body clothing with breathing apparatus. Prevent by any means available, spillage from entering drains and water-courses. Consider evacuation. Shut off all possible sources of ignition and increase ventilation. Remove leaking cylinders to a safe place. Fit vent pipes. Release pressure under safe, controlled conditions. Burn issuing gas at vent pipes. DO NOT exert excessive pressure on valve; DO NOT attempt to operate damaged valve.

Burn issuing gas at vent pipes.

The conductivity of this material may make it a static accumulator. A liquid is typically considered nonconductive if its conductivity is below 100 pS/m and is considered semi-conductive if its conductivity is below 10 000 pS/m. Whether a liquid is nonconductive or semi-conductive, the precautions are the same. A number of factors, for example liquid temperature, presence of contaminants, and anti-static additives can greatly influence the conductivity of a liquid. Ensure that any lines, piping are engineered to prevent backflow of oxygen gas to acetylene cylinders. Do not store undissolved acetylene gas or reticulate gas at pressures above 100 kPa as fire / explosion may result. Ensure hoses are not attacked by acetone. Steel, stainless steel, aluminium and wrought iron are recommended for use with acetylene. Open cylinder valve the minimum amount required - no more than 1 -1.5 turns - to deliver acceptable flow. This will enable closing the cylinder quickly in an emergency situation. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT FUSE PLUGS IN THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS OF ALL ACETYLENE CYLINDERS BE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED WHENEVER HANDLED. REMOVE AND QUARANTINE IN A SAFE LOCATION ANY DEFECTIVE CYLINDER. Never attempt to repair or alter cylinders. Containers, even those that have been emptied, may contain explosive vapours. Do NOT cut, drill, grind, weld or perform similar operations on or near containers. Electrostatic discharge may be generated during pumping - this may result in fire. Ensure electrical continuity by bonding and grounding (earthing) all equipment. Restrict line velocity during pumping in order to avoid generation of electrostatic discharge (<=1 m/sec until fill pipe submerged to twice its diameter, then <= 7 m/sec). Avoid splash filling. Do NOT use compressed air for filling discharging or handling operations. Wait 2 minutes after tank filling (for tanks such as those on road tanker vehicles) before opening hatches or manholes. Wait 30 minutes after tank filling (for large storage tanks) before opening hatches or manholes. Consider use in closed pressurised systems, fitted with temperature, pressure and safety relief valves which are vented for safe dispersal. Use only properly specified equipment which is suitable for this product, its supply pressure and temperature. The tubing network design connecting gas cylinders to the delivery system should include appropriate pressure indicators and vacuum or suction lines. Fully-welded types of pressure gauges, where the bourdon tube sensing element is welded to the gauge body, are recommended. Before connecting gas cylinders, ensure manifold is mechanically secure and does not containing another gas. Before disconnecting gas cylinder, isolate supply line segment proximal to cylinder, remove trapped gas in supply line with aid of vacuum pump. When connecting or replacing cylinders take care to avoid airborne particulates violently ejected when system pressurises. Consider the use of doubly-contained piping; diaphragm or bellows sealed, soft seat valves; backflow prevention devices; flash arrestors; and flow monitoring or limiting devices. Gas cabinets, with appropriate exhaust treatment, are recommended, as is automatic monitoring of the secondary enclosures and work areas for release. Avoid generation of static electricity. Earth all lines and equipment. DO NOT transfer gas from one cylinder to another.

Consider storage under inert gas. Cylinders should be stored in a purpose-built compound with good ventilation, preferably in the open. Such compounds should be sited and built in accordance with statutory requirements. The storage compound should be kept clear and access restricted to authorised personnel only. Cylinders stored in the open should be protected against rust and extremes of weather. Cylinders in storage should be properly secured to prevent toppling or rolling. Cylinder valves should be closed when not in use. Where cylinders are fitted with valve protection this should be in place and properly secured. Cylinder must be properly secured either in use or in storage. Cylinder valve must be closed when not in use or when empty. Segregate full from empty cylinders.

Do not store undissolved acetylene gas or reticulate gas at pressures above 100 kPa as fire / explosion may result. Electrostatic discharge may be generated during pumping - this may result in fire. Ensure electrical continuity by bonding and grounding (earthing) all equipment. Restrict line velocity during pumping in order to avoid generation of electrostatic discharge (<=1 m/sec until fill pipe submerged to twice its diameter, then <= 7 m/sec). Avoid splash filling. Do NOT use compressed air for filling discharging or handling operations.

Engineering controls are used to remove a hazard or place a barrier between the worker and the hazard. Well-designed engineering controls can be highly effective in protecting workers and will typically be independent of worker interactions to provide this high level of protection. The basic types of engineering controls are: Process controls which involve changing the way a job activity or process is done to reduce the risk. Enclosure and/or isolation of emission source which keeps a selected hazard "physically" away from the worker and ventilation that strategically "adds" and "removes" air in the work environment. Ventilation can remove or dilute an air contaminant if designed properly. The design of a ventilation system must match the particular process and chemical or contaminant in use. Employers may need to use multiple types of controls to prevent employee overexposure.

When handling hot materials wear heat resistant, elbow length gloves. Rubber gloves are not recommended when handling hot objects, materials. When handling sealed and suitably insulated cylinders wear cloth or leather gloves.

Safety glasses with side shields. Chemical goggles. [AS/NZS 1337.1, EN166 or national equivalent]. Contact lenses may pose a special hazard; soft contact lenses may absorb and concentrate irritants. A written policy document, describing the wearing of lenses or restrictions on use, should be created for each workplace or task. This should include a review of lens absorption and adsorption for the class of chemicals in use and an account of injury experience. Medical and first-aid personnel should be trained in their removal and suitable equipment should be readily available. In the event of chemical exposure, begin eye irrigation immediately and remove contact lens as soon as practicable. Lens should be removed at the first signs of eye redness or irritation - lens should be removed in a clean environment only after workers have washed hands thoroughly.

Type AX Filter of sufficient capacity. (AS/NZS 1716 & 1715, EN 143:2000 & 149:2001, ANSI Z88 or national equivalent). Selection of the Class and Type of respirator will depend upon the level of breathing zone contaminant and the chemical nature of the contaminant. Protection Factors (defined as the ratio of contaminant outside and inside the mask) may also be important. Cartridge respirators should never be used for emergency ingress or in areas of unknown vapour concentrations or oxygen content. The wearer must be warned to leave the contaminated area immediately on detecting any odours through the respirator. Cartridge performance is affected by humidity. Cartridges should be changed after 2 hr of continuous use unless it is determined that the humidity is less than 75%, in which case, cartridges can be used for 4 hr. Used cartridges should be discarded daily, regardless of the length of time used. Positive pressure, full face, air-supplied breathing apparatus should be used for work in enclosed spaces if a leak is suspected or the primary containment is to be opened (e.g. for a cylinder change). Air-supplied breathing apparatus is required where release of gas from primary containment is either suspected or demonstrated.

Protective overalls, closely fitted at neck and wrist. Non-sparking protective boots. Static-free clothing. Non sparking safety or conductive footwear.

• Unstable in the presence of incompatible materials. • Product is considered stable. • Hazardous polymerisation will not occur. • Agitation or physical shock may cause violent rupture of containers

See section 7

See section 7

See section 7

See section 7

See section 5