Plywood Concrete Forms

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

OSHA 2.1 Emergency Overview: Under normal use this product does not present any type of emergency conditions. If the product is in contact with strong oxidizers or exposure to temperatures greater than 400 degrees F a fire may be caused. Fire smoke contains hazard chemicals such as carbon monoxide, aldehydes and other toxic materials. Airborne wood and resin dust may explode if in high concentrations and combined with an ignition source. 2.2 OSHA regulatory status: This product is generally an article but is regulated under OSHA for the release of wood dust and total dust cured resins during mechanical operations releasing dust. The free formaldehyde levels are below OSHA reporting requirements.

Potential health effects

See section 11 Toxicology Information for further details)

Principle Routes of Exposure

Inhalation and skin contact Target Organs: Eyes, skin, mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract. Acute: Wood dust may cause dryness, irritation, coughing and sinusitis. Dust may irritate the eyes. Some wood species may cause skin and respiratory irritation. The irritation is generally caused by mechanical action on the skin or mucous membranes. Chronic: Wood dust, depending on the species, may cause allergic contact dermatitis and respiratory sensitization with prolonged, repetitive contact or exposure to elevated dust levels. Prolonged exposure to dust from some wood species has been reported to be associated with nasal cancer. Cancer Listing Wood dust NTP known to be a Human Carcinogen (10th Report), IARC Monographs Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans; sufficient evidence of carinogenicity. Formaldehyde: NTP and OSHA – Probable Human Carcinogen, IARC Group 1 for sufficient evidence that formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal, a rare cancer in humans, and “limited evidence” for cancer of nasal cavity and sinuses, and a “strong but not sufficient evidence” for leukemia. Formaldehyde off-gas levels based on ASTM E-133 have shown range concentrations of 0.04 ppm to 0.14 ppm. Medical Conditions That May Be Aggravated by Exposure: Wood dust may aggravate preexisting respiratory conditions or allergies. Formaldehyde may aggravate existing respiratory problems and cause allergies to susceptible persons.

Environmental effects

These wood products are not expected or known to pose an ecological hazard as the result of their intended uses.