Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

WELDBRITE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Thickened stainless steel pickling paste.

SYNONYMS

"weld scale remover", "stainless steel pickling paste", "Callington Haven", "Weldbright
(misspelling)"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Causes severe burns.
Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Severely toxic effects may result from the accidental ingestion of the material; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 5 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  The material can produce severe chemical burns within the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract following ingestion.  Considered an unlikely route of entry in commercial/industrial environments.  

EYE

  The material can produce severe chemical burns to the eye following direct contact. Vapors or mists may be extremely irritating.  If applied to the eyes, this material causes severe eye damage.  Eye contact is extremely painful and may cause rapid corneal damage.  The vapor may produce pronounced discomfort of the eyes when present at higher concentrations and this generally gives warning of excessive exposure and the need for control measures to ensure safe working conditions.  The material may produce moderate eye irritation leading to inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may produce severely toxic effects; systemic effects may result following absorption and these may be fatal.  The material can produce severe chemical burns following direct contactwith the skin.  Fluorides are easily absorbed through the skin and cause death of soft tissue and erode bone. Healing is delayed and death of tissue may continue to spread beneath skin.  The material may cause skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin.  Bare unprotected skin should not be exposed to this material.  

INHALED

  If inhaled, this material can irritate the throat andlungs of some persons.  Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  Acute effects of fluoride inhalation include irritation of nose and throat, coughing and chest discomfort. A single acute over-exposure may even cause nose bleed. Pre-existing respiratory conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis may be aggravated by exposure. Occupational asthma may result from exposure.  Reactions may not occur on exposure but response may be delayed with symptoms only appearing many hours later.  The material may produce respiratory tract irritation, and result in damage to the lung including reduced lung function.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Considered toxic by all exposure routes.  Principal routes of exposure are usually by skin contact, eye contact with the material and inhalation of vapor.  Hydrogen fluoride easily penetrates the skin and causes destruction and corrosion of the bone and underlying tissue. Ingestion causes severe pains and burns in the mouth and throat and blood calcium levels are dangerously reduced. Symptoms include spasm and twitching of the muscles, high fever, convulsions and general extreme pain. Inhalation may cause corrosion of the throat, nose and lungs, leading to severe inflammation and lung swelling.  Prolonged or repeated overexposure to low concentrations of nitric acid  vapour may cause chronic bronchitis, corrosion of teeth, even chemical  pneumonitis.