Cyclohexane

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Eye contact: In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes.  Eyelids should be held away from the eyeball to ensure thorough rinsing.  Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Get medical attention if irritation occurs.

Skin contact: Immediately wash exposed skin with soap and water.  Drench contaminated clothing with water before removing. This is necessary to avoid the risk of sparks from static electricity that could ignite contaminated clothing. Contaminated clothing is a fire hazard. Contaminated leather, particularly footwear, must be discarded.  Remove contaminated clothing and shoes.  Wash contaminated skin with soap and water. Wash clothing before reuse.  Get medical attention if irritation occurs.

Inhalation: If exposure to vapour, mists or fumes causes drowsiness, headache, blurred vision or irritation of the eyes, nose or throat, remove immediately to fresh air. Keep patient warm and at rest. If any symptoms persist obtain medical advice. Unconscious casualties must be placed in the recovery position.  Monitor breathing and pulse rate and if breathing has failed, or is deemed inadequate, respiration must be assisted, preferably  by the mouth to mouth method.  Administer external cardiac massage if necessary.  Seek medical attention immediately.

Ingestion: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting.  Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.  Aspiration hazard if swallowed. Can enter lungs and cause damage.  Get medical attention.

Notes to physician: Treatment should in general be symptomatic and directed to relieving any effects. Product can be aspirated on swallowing or following regurgitation of stomach contents, and can cause severe and potentially fatal chemical pneumonitis, which will require urgent treatment.  Because of the risk of aspiration, induction of vomiting and gastric lavage should be avoided.  Gastric lavage should be undertaken only after endotracheal intubation.  Monitor for cardiac dysrhythmias.

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing media: Suitable In case of fire, use water fog, foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide extinguisher or spray.

Not suitable: Do not use water jet.

Protection of fire-fighters:

Decomposition products may include the following materials: carbon monoxide (CO) carbon dioxide (CO2) other hazardous substances.

Highly flammable liquid and vapour.  Vapours can form explosive mixtures with air. Vapours are heavier than air and can spread along the ground or float on water surfaces to remote ignition sources.  Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard.

Promptly isolate the scene by removing all persons from the vicinity of the incident if there is a fire.  First move people out of line-of-sight of the scene and away from windows. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Fire water contaminated with this material must be contained and prevented from being discharged to any waterway, sewer or drain.

Fire-fighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full chemical protective clothing.

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions: No action shall be taken involving any personal risk or without suitable training.  Immediately contact emergency personnel. Evacuate surrounding areas.  Keep unnecessary and unprotected personnel from entering. Ensure good ventilation.  Do not breathe vapour or mist. Follow all fire-fighting procedures. Do not touch or walk through spilt material. Floors may be slippery; use care to avoid falling. Shut off all ignition sources. No flares, smoking or flames in hazard area.  Use suitable protective equipment. Entry into a confined space or poorly ventilated area contaminated with vapour, mist or fume is extremely hazardous without the correct respiratory protective equipment and a safe system of work.  Wear self-contained breathing apparatus.  Wear a suitable chemical protective suit. Chemical resistant boots.

Environmental precautions: Storage tanks must be positioned within a bunded area.  Avoid contact of spilt material with soil and prevent runoff entering surface waterways.  Inform the relevant authorities if the product has caused environmental pollution (sewers, waterways, soil or air).  Water polluting material.  May be harmful to the environment if released in large quantities.

Large spill: Stop leak if without risk. If emergency personnel are unavailable, contain spilt material. Approach the release from upwind. Prevent entry into sewers, basements or confined areas.  Dike spill area and do not allow product to reach sewage system and surface or ground water.  Avoid contact of spilt material with soil and prevent runoff entering surface waterways. Contain and collect spillage with non-combustible, absorbent material e.g. sand, earth, vermiculite or diatomaceous earth and place in container for disposal according to local regulations. Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment.  Use a method that can be used safely in an explosive atmosphere to transfer material to a sealed, appropriate container for disposal.  The method and equipment used must be in conformance with appropriate regulations and industry practice on explosive atmospheres. Contaminated absorbent material may pose the same hazard as the spilt product.  Dispose of via a licensed waste disposal contractor.  

Small spill: Stop leak if without risk. If emergency personnel are unavailable, contain spilt material. For small spills, add absorbent (soil may be used in the absence of other suitable materials) and use a non-sparking or explosion-proof means to transfer material to a sealable, appropriate container for disposal. The method and equipment used must be in conformance with appropriate regulations and industry practice on explosive atmospheres.  

Handling and storage

Handling:  Do not ingest.  Never siphon by mouth.  If ingested, do not induce vomiting.  Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing.  Use only with adequate ventilation.  Avoid breathing vapours, spray or mists.  When using do not eat, drink or smoke.  Keep away from heat, sparks and flame.  To avoid fire or explosion, dissipate static electricity during transfer by earthing and bonding containers and equipment before transferring material.  Use explosion-proof electrical (ventilating, lighting and material handling) equipment.  Avoid contact of spilt material and runoff with soil and surface waterways.

Storage: Store in a segregated and approved area.  Keep container in a cool, well-ventilated area.  Keep container tightly closed and sealed until ready for use.  Avoid all possible sources of ignition (spark or flame). Store and use only in equipment/containers designed for use with this product. Do not remove warning labels from containers. Do not enter storage tanks. If entry to vessels is necessary, follow permit to work procedures.  Entry to any tanks or other confined space requires a full risk assessment and appropriate control measures to be put in place in conformance with appropriate regulations and industry practice on confined space entry. When the product is pumped (e.g. during filling, discharge or ullaging) and when sampling, there is a risk of static discharge.  Ensure equipment used is properly earthed or bonded to the tank structure. Electrical equipment should not be used unless it is intrinsically safe (i.e. will not produce sparks). Explosive air/vapour mixtures may form at ambient temperature. If product comes into contact with hot surfaces, or leaks occur from pressurised fuel pipes, the vapour or mists generated will create a flammability or explosion hazard. Product contaminated rags, paper or material used to absorb spillages, represent a fire hazard, and should not be allowed to accumulate.  Dispose of safely immediately after use. Empty containers retain product residue and can be hazardous.

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

1145

Shipping

Labels:

3

SpecialProvisions

Inland waterway transport (UN RTDG/ADN(R))

UN number:

1145

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

1145

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Cyclohexane

Chemical name:

Cyclohexane

Marine pollutant

Remarks

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

1145

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Cyclohexane

Chemical name:

Cyclohexane

Labels:

Flammable liquid

Remarks

SpecialProvisions