Rank: Forum user 
|
I'm a little confused with what to class silicone sealent as for a COSHH Assessment, either a solid, liquid or a solid in a liqui.
It's a paste where the liquid evapourates leaving a solid during the time of exposure, so I think it's a solid in a liquid.
Can any experienced professionals confirm this for me please?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
You can call it either one depending on which one you think is the more approptiate. The fact that solvent evaporates is beside the point.
You don't have to be a chemist to perform a COSHH assessment, as far as I know, so you just do as you've been trained.
Mick
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Surely a solvent evaporating is highly relevant to a COSHH assessment!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Assessment: 9530 Keyword: Sealant
Material/Process: UNIVERSAL SILICONE Data Sheet: CHIP SDS 07/94
Exposure Limit: Last Modified: 23/10/2008
Supplier: SEALOCRETE LTD Health Hazard: LOW HAZARD
Physical State: LIQUID Env Hazard: LOW HAZARD
UN No: N/A Pkg Group: N/A
Contents: Not classified as hazardous under CHIP regulations
IMC: Discontinued: No
Section taken from SYPOL where it's physical state is listed as a liquid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Perhaps not hazardous under CHIP regulations, but under COSHH?
Just consider item (e) in the defeinition of a substance dangerous to health. Any substance, even water, can become such given certain conditions.
Then take a look at para 13 of the COSHH ACoP. Note that substances that do not have risk phrases are not excluded from COSHH, even though later in the ACoP it suggests that risk assessments can be made using just risk phrases!
Chris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user 
|
Not too sure of my facts, but I seem to recall that silicone sealants do not have a solvent as such. The acetic acid (vinegar) smell that comes off is from the chemical reaction of the curing process.
Whether that is a significant COSHH hazard will depend on the amounts you're using.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
The sealent we would like to use is rapid setting and has acetone within the product.
The MSDS does not class the sealent as a health hazard but IMO should be assessed due to the individual components. Exposure time will be very short & qty's will be small, but need to ensure sufficient controls are in place if we have to use it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
All this conjecture is fine, but the COSHH assessment for this product should be fairly simple. I'm assuming that we're talking about trades' staff applying the sealant form a tube via a hand-held dispenser (gun). The exposure to the substance isn't therefore significant unless they're doing that for long periods and have prologned skin exposure.
Low hazard product and minimal exposure, coupled with user knowledge of how to use correctly and good hygiene practices = NO PROBLEM.
Have a good weekend all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
I agree Max.
I've still got to do the paperwork and just wanted to know if it's classed as a liquid/solid.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
The hazard (such as it is) is associated with the solvent, not the silicone material itself which is about as harmless a substance as you can find - so for COSHH purposes it makes sense to think of it as a liquid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.