Sheet Steel

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW WARNING! WELDING, SAWING, BRAZING, GRINDING, ABRASIVE BLASTING, MACHINING AND OTHER PROCESSES MAY CAUSE DUSTS, POTENTIALLY COMBUSTIBLE DUST, AND/OR FUMES TO BE RELEASED. MAY BE HARMFUL IF INHALED. MAY IRRITATE THE EYES, SKIN, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MOLTEN MATERIAL MAY CAUSE THERMAL BURNS

Potential health effects

Note: Steel products, as sold by Hubbell-RACO, do not present an inhalation, ingestion or skin hazard. However, individual customer processes, (such as welding, sawing, brazing, grinding, abrasive blasting, and machining) may result in the formation of fumes, dust (combustible or otherwise), and/or particulate formation that may present a variety of health hazards. Molten steel also is hazardous. Eye Contact Dusts or particulates may cause mechanical irritation including pain, tearing, and redness. Scratching of the cornea can occur if eye is rubbed. Fumes may be irritating. Contact with the heated material may cause thermal burns. Dusts or particulates may cause mechanical irritation due to abrasion. Coated steel may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals (see Section 16 for additional information.) Some components in this product are capable of causing an allergic reaction, possibly resulting in burning, itching and skin eruptions. Contact with heated material may cause thermal burns. Inhalation Dusts may cause irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Excessive inhalation of metallic fumes and dusts may result in metal fume fever, an influenza-like illness. It is characterized by a sweet or metallic taste in the mouth, accompanied by dryness and irritation of the throat, cough, shortness of breath, pulmonary edema, general malaise, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, blurred vision, fever and chills. Typical symptoms last from 12 to 48 hours. Ingestion Not expected to be acutely toxic via ingestion based on the physical and chemical properties of the product. Swallowing of excessive amounts of the dust may cause irritation, nausea, and diarrhea. Potential Fire and Explosion Hazards Under normal conditions, steel products do not present fire or explosion hazards, and dust generated by handling steel products is oxidized and not combustible. Processing of steel product by some individual customers may produce potentially combustible dust that may represent a fire or explosion hazard. Chronic or Special Toxic Effects Repeated exposure to fine dusts may inflame the nasal mucosa and cause changes to the lung. In addition, a red-brown pigmentation of the eye and/or skin may occur. Welding fumes have been associated with adverse health effects. Contains components that may cause cancer or reproductive effects. The following components are listed by NTP, OSHA, or IARC as carcinogens: Nickel, chromium (hexavalent), cobalt lead, cadmium, antimony (trioxide), arsenic, beryllium. See Section 11, for additional, specific information on effects noted above. Target Organs Overexposure to specific components of this product that are generated in dusts or fumes may cause adverse effects to the following organs or systems: eyes, skin, liver, kidney, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system,.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure

Diseases of the skin such as eczema may be aggravated by exposure. Also, disorders of the respiratory system including asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. Long-term inhalation exposure to agents that cause pneumoconiosis (e.g. dust) may act synergistically with inhalation of oxide fumes or dusts of this product.