MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET LIQUID HELIUM Product Name 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE MATERIAL AND SU 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE MATERIAL AND SUPPLIER Supplier Name Global Gases Australia Pty Ltd Address 3 Halley Rd, Balcatta WA, 6021, AUSTRALIA Telephone +61 89240 8363 Fax +61 89240 8364 Emergency 0466 090 910 Synonyms LIQUEFIED HELIUM. Uses SITE REQUIREMENTS ONLY. 2. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION NOT CLASSIFIED AS HAZARDOUS ACCORDING TO NOHSC CRITERIA CLASSIFIED AS A DANGEROUS GOOD BY THE CRITERIA OF THE ADG CODE 3. COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS Ingredient Formula Conc. CAS No. HELIUM He >99.99% 7440-59-7 4. FIRST AID MEASURES Eye Inhalation Treatment for cold burns: Immediately flush with tepid water or with sterile saline solution. Hold eyelids apart and irrigate for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention. Remove from area of exposure immediately. If assisting a victim avoid becoming a casualty, wear an Air-line respirator or Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Be aware of possible explosive atmospheres. If victim is not breathing apply artificial respiration and seek urgent medical attention. Give oxygen if available. Keep warm and rested. Skin Cold burns: Remove contaminated clothing and gently flush affected areas with warm water (30 C) for 15 minutes. Apply sterile dressing and treat as for a thermal burn. For large burns, immerse in warm water for 15 minutes. DO NOT apply any form of direct heat. Seek immediate medical attention. Ingestion Advice To Doctor For advice, contact a Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia Wide) or a doctor. Due to product form and application, ingestion is considered unlikely. Treat symptomatically. Page 1 of 5
5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES Flammability Non flammable liquid and vapour. Fire and Non flammable. Temperatures in a fire may cause cylinders to rupture. Call fire brigade. Explosion Cool cylinders exposed to fire by applying water from a protected location. Do not approach cylinders suspected of being hot. Extinguishing Non flammable. Use water fog to cool containers from protected area. Hazchem Code 2R 6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES Spillage Release of liquid to atmosphere will generate vapour fog clouds which can travel considerable distances and affect visibility. These clouds should be treated as asphyxiating atmospheres as the evaporated liquid will have displaced air. Refer to vessel operating instructions. In an emergency allow liquid and gas to escape to atmosphere. Monitor oxygen concentration in confined spaces. Contact manufacturer for guidance. Leak checking may be done by pressure drop test or soapy water at joints and outlets. Shut liquid and gas supply valves to stop leak if possible and safe to do so. 7. HANDLING AND STORAGE Handling Before use carefully read the product label. Use of safe work practices are recommended to avoid eye or skin contact and inhalation. Observe good personal hygiene, including washing hands before eating. Prohibit eating, drinking and smoking in contaminated areas. Storage Do not store near sources of ignition or incompatible materials. Portable liquid container should be stored below 45 C in a secure area and upright to prevent from falling. Portable liquid containers should also be stored in a dry, well ventilated area constructed of non-combustible material with firm level floor (preferably concrete), away from areas of heavy traffic and emergency exits. CREATION OF ICE BLOCKAGES: If it is suspected that there product is in the dewar (the dewar has not been used before or because the actual weight of the dewar is greater than the stamped tare weight) AND there is no vent gas present when the top entry ball valve is open AND/OR the pressure gauge on the dewar reads zero, and ICE BLOCKAGE may be present. The safety relief system may be blocked. NOTE: ICE BLOCKAGE MAY RESULT IN PRESSURE BUILD UP WHICH MAY CAUSE THE DEWAR TO RUPTURE. Do not move or transport the dewar. Ensure you keep the area CLEAR of personnel. It is important that you contact Global Gases IMMEDIATELY on the Emergency Contact number. Page 2 of 5
8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION Ventilation Do not inhale vapours. Use in well ventilated areas. In poorly ventilated areas, mechanical explosion proof extraction ventilation is recommended. Exposure HELIUM (7440-59-7) Standards ES-TWA : Asphyxiant WES-TWA : Asphyxiant PPE Wear splash-proof goggles, safety boots and leather or insulated gloves. Where an inhalation risk exists, wear Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) or an Air-line respirator. A faceshield is recommended if there is the possiblity of splashing. 9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES Appearance: COLOURLESS LIQUID AND GAS Odour: ODOURLESS ph: NOT AVAILABLE Vapour Pressure: NOT AVAILABLE Vapour Density: NOT AVAILABLE Boiling Point: - 268.9 C Melting Point: NOT AVAILABLE Evaporation Rate: NOT AVAILABLE Solubility (water): NOT AVAILABLE Specific Gravity: NOT AVAILABLE % Volatiles: NOT AVAILABLE Flammability: NON FLAMMABLE Flash Point: NOT RELEVANT Upper Explosion Limit: NOT RELEVANT Lower Explosion Limit: NOT RELEVANT Autoignition Temperature: NOT AVAILABLE Density: 0.138 (Air = 1) Critical Temperature: -268 C Critical Pressure: 229 kpa 10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY Reactivity Incompatible with oxidising agents, acids, heat and ignition sources. Do not use natural rubber flexible hoses. Also incompatible (potentially violently) with oxygen, halogens and metal halides. Decomposition May evolve toxic gases if heated to decomposition. Products Page 3 of 5
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION Health Hazard Asphyxiant. Non irritating vapour, however direct contact with eyes or skin may cause severe frost Summary bite. Symptoms of exposure are directly related to displacement of oxygen from air. As the amount of oxygen inhaled is reduced from 21-14% volume, the pulse rate will accelerate and the rate and volume of breathing will increase. The ability to maintain attention and think clearly is diminished, muscular co-ordination is somewhat disturbed. As oxygen decreases from 14-10% volume, judgement becomes faulty, severe injuries may cause no pain. Muscular effort lead to rapid fatigue. Further reduction to 6% may cause nausea and vomiting. Ability to move may be lost. Permanent brain damage may result even after resuscitation from exposure to this low level of oxygen. Below 6% breathing is in gasps and convulsions may occur. Inhalation of a mixture containing no oxygen may result in unconsciousness from the first breath and death will follow in minutes. Eye Non irritating. However, direct contact with evaporating liquid may result in severe cold burns with possible permanent damage. Inhalation Asphyxiant. Effects are proportional to oxygen displacement. Skin Non irritating. Contact with evaporating liquid (eg. cold vessels or pipes containing low pressure liquid) may result in frost-bite with severe tissue damage. Ingestion Exposure considered unlikely. Due to product form, ingestion is considered highly unlikely. 12. E COLOGICAL 12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION Environment Limited ecotoxicity data was available for this product at the time this report was prepared. Ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent this product from entering the environment. 13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS Waste Disposal Cylinders should be returned to the manufacturer or Global Gases for disposal. Legislation Dispose of in accordance with relevant local legislation. 14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION Transport Transport on open top vehicles in accordance with local legislation. UN Number 1963 Shipping Name HELIUM, REFRIDGERATED LIQUID DG Class 2.2 Subsidiary None Allocated Risk(s) Packing Group None Allocated Hazchem Code 2R Page 4 of 5
15. REGULATORY INFORMATION AICS All chemicals listed on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS). Poison A poison schedule number has not been allocated to this product using the criteria in the Standard Schedule for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP). 16. OTHER INFORMATION Additional Information PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES: The recommendation for protective equipment contained within this Global Gases Material Safety Data Sheet is provided as a guide only. Factors such as method of application, working environment, quantity used, product concentration and the availability of engineering controls should be considered before final selection of personal protective equipment is made. HEALTH EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE: It should be noted that the effects from exposure to this product will depend on several factors including: frequency and duration of use; quantity used; effectiveness of control measures; protective equipment used and method of application. Given that it is impractical to prepare a Global Gases Material Safety Data Sheet which would encompass all possible scenarios, it is anticipated that users will assess the risks and apply control methods where appropriate. ABBREVIATIONS: mg/m3 - Milligrams per cubic metre ppm - Parts Per Million TWA/ES - Time Weighted Average or Exposure Standard. CNS - Central Nervous System NOS - Not Otherwise Specified ph - relates to hydrogen ion concentration - this value will relate to a scale of 0-14, where 0 is highly acidic and 14 is highly alkaline. CAS# - Chemical Abstract Service number - used to uniquely identify chemical compounds. M - moles per litre, a unit of concentration. IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer. Report 11 May 2010 (Revision 1) Reviewed Report 17 September 2009 (Revision 0) Compiled Page 5 of 5