Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 13:56:29 EDT
Reply-To: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
Subject: Re: Managing Chemicals with stench characteristics
Comments: To: mrsafetyman**At_Symbol_Here**JUNO.COM
Seal with "Great Stuff," eh?  Bad idea.  Although you can buy this product at
any good hardware store, it is seriously hazardous.  It releases isocyanates
some of which have a TLV-TWA of 0.005  ppm.

I did a pro buono workers' comp case for a non-union scenic artist/prop maker
who was disabled by the stuff.  She developed isocyanate asthma which is
usually fatal in time without further exposure to isocyanates.  She used Great
Stuff to repair the "Audrey" props from Little Shop of Horrors.   In her
thirties, her life is essentially over.

We also have two other scenic artists in New York and two more in Chicago
whose careers are severely limited by their sensitivities to isocyanates.

And don't be fooled by the MSDSs which say the isocyanates are "prepolymers"
that are unregulated.  In the UK where they have more shmartz than we do about
these things, they regulate isocyanates by the number of reactive isocyanates
in the compound, not what the isocyanates are attached to.

I know most people can get by with using this kind of stuff for a while, but
I would never suggest the use of this product.  If things go wrong, they are
not fixable.

Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A.,
industrial hygienist
Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
and
Safety Officer,
United Scenic Artist's, Local 829
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes (IATSE)
181 Thompson St., #23
New York NY 10012-2586     212/777-0062

artscraftstheatersafety.org

In a message dated 9/3/04 7:31:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
mrsafetyman**At_Symbol_Here**JUNO.COM writes:
> I would like to recommend the wax thing also but i would like to take it
> just a tad further and additionally recommend a technique similar to wineries.
> Try the utiliztion of a wax cork in addition to the screw cap or an ordinary
> wine bottle cork I have found has helped significantly reduce stench. The
> caps are CHEAP!
>
> I have also seen a chemical lab that utilized an expansive foam similar to
> "great stuff" that is sparyed in to the neck area and then the cap screw is
> applied and taped or waxed.
>
> UPS also list recommendations for stench packaging that you may want to
> refer to at www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/hazardous/resp....
>
>
>

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