Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

WESTGATE TORCH COOLANT

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Coolant for HyperTherm plasma cutting system.

SYNONYMS

"plasma-arc coolant"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Not considered a normal route of entry.  Individuals vary greatly in their susceptibility to poisoning and symptoms may appear after a few weeks or many years of exposure.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  The vapour and liquid both produce eye discomfort. Tearing and reddening of the eyes are symptomatic of overexposure. Higher levels of vapour are generated with increased temperature and engineering controls should be introduced when any discomfort is experienced following exposure to mists or vapour.  The material may produce moderate eye irritation leading to inflammation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to irritants may produce conjunctivitis.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to produce adverse health effects or skin irritation following contact (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless, good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Excessive use or prolonged contact may lead to defatting, dryingand irritation of sensitive skin.  The material may cause skin irritation after prolonged or repeated exposure and may produce on contact skin redness, swelling, the production of vesicles, scaling and thickening of the skin.  

INHALED

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material, if inhaled, can irritate the throat and lungs of some persons.  Although inhalation is not thought to produce harmful effects, the material may still produce health damage, especially where pre-existing organ (e.g. liver, kidney) damage is evident. Present definitions of harmful or toxic substances are generally confined to doses producing mortality (death) rather than those producing morbidity (disease, ill-  health).  The vapor may produce discomfort of the upper respiratory tract. Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures.  High concentrations cause inflamed airways and watery swellingof the lungs with edema.  Prolonged exposure may cause headache, nausea and ultimately loss ofconsciousness.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Principal routes of exposure are usually by eye contact and skin contact / absorption of the material.  Toxicity of ethylene glycol to human (KB) cell cultures has been reported as  less than that of ethanol as performed by others. (NIOSHTIC)