Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 08:18:37 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Ernest Lippert <ernielippert**At_Symbol_Here**TOAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Phenol/cresol first aid question
In-Reply-To: <OF2CEAAFB7.1417F448-ON852578DF.003EC485-852578DF.003ECDCD**At_Symbol_Here**srs.gov>

At least one situation where water is not good is lithium. Many years ago I worked at an Oak Ridge installation where large quantities of lithium were used. There were buckets of graphite dispersed in oil available. I never wirnessed it, but if one somehow got lithium (whether burning or not) on their hands, etc., then immersion in the oil dag was the first action required. Ernie Lippert On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 7:25 AM, Fred Simmons wrote: > The take-home message that I've always used when it comes to cleansing the > skin after contact is: "The Solution is Dilution!" > > The assumption that phenol laden water is created is correct, however, the > concentration diminishes rapidly with rinsing and the total time where the > concentration of phenol is of concern also diminishes. The more water the > better. This is true doe almost anything, whether it is phenol, HF, etc. > Fred Simmons > Chemical Management Center > Savannah River Nuclear Solutions > > > > From: ILPI > To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU > Date: 07/29/2011 05:31 PM > Subject: [DCHAS-L] Phenol/cresol first aid question > Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List > ------------------------------ > > > > We had an email inquiry in our MSDS Questions mailbox today that I thought > would be worth discussing on the list. > > This person was contemplating the instructions for skin exposure on the > MSDS's for phenol, cresol and related materials. The MSDS's generally say > to flush immediately with water while removing affected clothing, but his > concern was that rinsing immediately with water would present more of a > health hazard because doing so would further spread phenol-laden water over > a larger area of the body, giving a wider/systemic exposure. He was > suggesting that spilled material should first be wiped off the skin using a > towel/tissue and then use water. > > My thoughts on this are > 1. His proposal adds an extra step, and with phenols any delay is > dangerous. > 2. The person is either going to have to stop and put on gloves (see item > 1) or else risk further skin exposure on the hands. > 3. The phenol-laden rinse water is going to be very quickly flushed away > and have little chance to absorb. It does not > seem likely that rinsate could pose a serious systemic threat, and any > threat it does pose pales in comparison to a delay. > > Does anyone have any thoughts/comments to add for our reply to this > question? > > Thanks, > > Rob Toreki > > ===================================================== > Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names > you know and trust. Visit us at *http://www.SafetyEmporium.com* > *esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com* or toll-free: > (866) 326-5412 > Fax: (856) 553-6154, PO Box 1003, Blackwood, NJ 08012 > >

At least one situation where water is not good is lithium. Many years ago I worked at an Oak Ridge installation where large quantities of lithium were used. There were buckets of graphite dispersed in oil available. I ne ver wirnessed it, but if one somehow got lithium (whether burning or not) o n their hands, etc., =A0then immersion in the oil dag was the first action required.
Ernie Lippert

On Mon, Aug 1, 2 011 at 7:25 AM, Fred Simmons <fred.simmons**At_Symbol_Here**srs.gov> wrote:
The take-home message that I've al ways used when it comes to cleansing the skin after contact is: =A0"The Solution is Dilution!"

The assumption that phenol laden water is created is correct, however, the concentration diminishes rapidly with rinsing and the total time where the concentration of phenol is of concern also diminishes. =A0The more water the better. =A0This is true doe almost anything, whether it is phenol, HF, etc.

Fred Simmons
Chemical Management Center
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions


From: =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0ILPI <info**At_Symbol_Here**ILPI.COM>
To: =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date: =A0 =A0 =A0 =A007/29/2011 05:31 PM
Subject: =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0[DCHAS-L] Phenol/cresol first aid question
Sent by: =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here** LIST.UVM.EDU>



We had an email inquiry in our MSDS Questions mailbox today that I thought would be worth discussing on the list.

This person was contemplating the instructions for ski n exposure on the MSDS's for phenol, cresol and related materials. =A0The MSDS's generally say to flush immediately with water while removing aff ected clothing, but his concern was that rinsing immediately with water would present more of a health hazard because doing so would further spread pheno l-laden water over a larger area of the body, giving a wider/systemic exposure. =A0 He was suggesting that spilled material should first be wiped off the skin using a towel/tissue and then use water.

My thoughts on this are
1. His proposal adds an extra step, and with phenols a ny delay is dangerous.
2. The person is either going to have to stop and put on gloves (see item 1) or else risk further skin exposure on the hands.
3. The phenol-laden rinse water is going to be very qu ickly flushed away and have little chance to absorb. =A0It does not
=A0 =A0 =A0seem likely that rinsate could pose a serious systemic threat, and any threat it does pose pales in comparison to a delay.

Does anyone have any thoughts/comments to add for our reply to this question?

Thanks,

Rob Toreki

=A0 ================ ========================= =============
Safety Emporium - Lab & Safety Supplies featuring brand names
you know and trust. =A0Visit us at http://www.SafetyEmporium.com
esales**At_Symbol_Here**safetyemporium.com =A0or toll-free: (866) 326-5412
Fax: (856) 553-6154, PO Box 1003, Blackwood, NJ 08012< /font>


Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.