HIGH SILVER BRAZING ALLOYS

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW: These products are odorless, solid rods that have a metallic luster which may have a flux coating. These products are neither flammable nor reactive. If involved in a fire, these products may generate irritating fumes and a variety of metal oxides. Emergency responders must wear personal protective equipment suitable for the situation to which they are responding.

HMIS® ratings

HEALTH 0 (BLUE) FLAMMABILITY 0 (RED) REACTIVITY 0 (YELLOW) PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT X (USE RESPIRATORY APPARATUS AND BODY PROTECTION SEE SECTION 8) SYMPTOMS OF OVER-EXPOSURE BY ROUTE OF EXPOSURE: During brazing operations, the most significant route of over-exposure is via inhalation of fumes. INHALATION: Inhalation is not anticipated to be a significant route of over-exposure to the rod form of this product. Inhalation of large amounts of particulates generated by the rods during metal processing operations may be physically irritating and cause deposits of dust in nasal passages. Inhalation of dusts of Silver (a constituent of these products) can cause discoloration of eyes, nasal septum, throat, and skin. Inhalation of dusts and fumes of Copper, Manganese, and Zinc (constituents of these products) can cause metal fume fever. Symptoms can include a metallic or sweet taste in the mouth, sweating, shivering, headache, throat irritation, fever, chills, thirstiness, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. If dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products are inhaled, they will irritate the nose, throat, and lungs. Dusts and particulates of the flux coating on the flux coated products may destroy mucous membranes and may cause pneumonitis. 3. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION (CONTINUED) CONTACT WITH SKIN or EYES: Contact of the rod form of these products with the skin is not anticipated to be irritating. Contact with the rod form of these products can be physically damaging to the eye (i.e., foreign object). Fumes generated during brazing operations may be irritating to the skin and eyes. Symptoms of skin over-exposure may include irritation and redness; prolonged or repeated skin over-exposures may lead to dermatitis. Contact with the molten core rods will burn contaminated skin or eyes. Eye contact with dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products will cause irritation, pain, tearing, and reddening. Brief contact may cause eye damage and prolonged contact may cause permanent damage. Depending on the duration of over-exposure, skin contact with dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products may cause irritation and burns. Chronic over-exposure to dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products may cause borism (dry skin, eruptions, and gastrointestinal disturbances) or pustular dermatitis (visible collections of pus). SKIN ABSORPTION: In some situations, one of the decomposition products of the flux coating may be hydrogen fluoride. Hydrogen fluoride can penetrate the skin and produce burns that may not be immediately painful or visible; the burns impact the lower layers of skin and bone tissue. Hydrogen fluoride exposures involving 20 percent of the body or more can be fatal through systemic fluoride poisoning. INGESTION: Ingestion of rods is not a likely route of exposure. INJECTION: Though not a likely route of occupational exposure for any of these products, injection (via punctures or lacerations in the skin) may cause local reddening, tissue swelling, and discomfort in addition to the wound. HEALTH EFFECTS OR RISKS FROM EXPOSURE: An Explanation in Lay Terms. Symptoms associated with overexposure to these products and the fumes generated during brazing operations are as follows: ACUTE: The chief acute health hazard associated with these products would be the potential for irritation of contaminated skin and eyes when exposed to fumes during brazing operations. Inhalation of large amounts of particulates generated by these products during metal processing operations may be physically irritating and cause deposits of dust in nasal passages. Inhalation of dusts and fumes of Copper, Manganese, and Zinc (constituents of these products) can cause metal fume fever. Symptoms can include a metallic or sweet taste in the mouth, sweating, shivering, headache, throat irritation, fever, chills, thirstiness, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Contact with the molten material will burn contaminated skin or eyes. If particulates or fumes, generated during brazing operations, are ingested (i.e., through poor hygiene practices), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, degeneration of blood and liver cells, gastro-intestinal bleeding, decreased urine output, listlessness, rapid heartbeat, convulsions, and coma may occur. Severe ingestion over-exposure may be fatal. Depending on the duration of over-exposure, dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products may be irritating or damaging to the entire respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. In some situations, one of the flux coating’s decomposition products may be hydrogen fluoride. Hydrogen fluoride can penetrate the skin and produce burns that may not be immediately painful or visible; the burns impact the lower layers of skin and bone tissue. If dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products are swallowed, they may burn the mouth, throat, esophagus, and other tissues of the digestive system. CHRONIC: Chronic skin over-exposure to the fumes of these products during brazing operations may produce dermatitis (red, inflamed skin). Chronic skin over-exposure to dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products may cause borism (dry skin, eruptions, and gastrointestinal disturbances) or pustular dermatitis (visible collections of pus). Chronic ingestion of the fluoride component of the flux coating may cause osseous fluorosis (increased radiographic density of the bones). Symptoms of chronic ingestion of dusts or particulates generated by the flux coating on the flux coated products may include kidney damage, asthma, and pain in the joints and muscles. TARGET ORGANS For fumes Skin, eyes, respiratory system. What should I do if a hazardous situation occurs?