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Hi all, I haven't done a lot of work with COSHH substances that have a WEL, during a COSHH assessment for an alcohol based product I have come accross on the msds a section which has WEL's under 'other occupational limit values' - I can't find the product itself on the HSE list of 500 chemicals either. I have attached a picture of this for reference. I wanted some advice on the following: 1) Does the product POLYCRAFT ISOPROPANOL indeed have a WEL or is this referring to something else? 2) Would I need to advise on air monitoring for this if this is the case?
 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DWUXDaNz-Ja9SfpE4BrJk95CPaPfXATI/view?usp=sharing
Edited by user 06 December 2021 09:20:53(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user
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I am not an expert by any means, but isn't that Isopropyl alcohol? Which is listed as Propan-2-ol on EH40 With limits of 400ppm / 999mg m³ for 8 hours (long term) and 500ppm / 1250mg m³ 15 minutes (STEL)
Obviously best to get a second opinion on this.
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 2 users thanked CptBeaky for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The Captain is right, isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol and propan-2-ol are all synonyms for the same chemical.
If in doubt about the identity of a chemical, look for the CAS number on the safety data sheet. This is a unique numerical identifier recognised by chemists worldwide. You don't necessarily need to do monitoring. That depends on the quantities and how you are using the material. Typically this stuff is used in small quantities as a degreaser. If you are doing that in a well ventilated area then the inhalation risk is low. But do think about skin risk. If you do inhale a lot of this stuff, you get symptoms of drunkenness just like with ethanol (drinking alcohol).
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3 users thanked Kate for this useful post.
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Isopropanol CAS Number 67-63-0 (also known as propan-2-ol) does have a WEL but like all WELS it refers to airborne exposure to the vapour not simply handling the liquid. You have to do the risk assessment to establish if there is a risk of exposure to the vapour and make a estimate if it is likely that the WEL might be exceeded during what ever process the substance is being used. Isopropanol is not that hazardous a substance, and to honest unless you are handling it on an industrial scale it is unlikely that that the exposure will be anywhere near the WEL.
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2 users thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
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Anton de Groot (Patch Testing, 4th edition) lists isopropyl alcohol as a skin sensitiser, with patch testing concentrations between 2 and 10%. He also states that there have been reports of contact urticaria. As a degreasant it is also, of course, a skin irritant. WHO differentiate between the use of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol in formulations for hand sanitisation. Permeation breakthrough time with the thin, single-use nitrile gloves can be relatively quick.
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1 user thanked chris.packham for this useful post.
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