Control of Substances Hazardous
to Health Regulations 1994
Third Party Assessed May 1995 Material Safety Data
Visqueen Building Products HDPE, LDPE, MDPE & Polypropylene films.
2.4. Eye Contact: HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, Polythene and
Background Polypropylene flake dust or particles are not dangerous,
This data sheet describes the precautions that should however may cause eye irritation. In the event of flake
be taken to safeguard Health & Safety when handling or dust particles entering the eye, flush with cold water.
Visqueen Building Products Polythene & Polypropylene If eye irritation continues or develops, medical assistance
Film Products. Its scope does not include the suitability should be called.
of these products for specific applications.
All publications are subject to revision and the latest edition
should be consulted.
Introduction
HDPE, MDPE and LDPE Polythene & Polypropylene Films 2.5. Skin Contact: Isolated cases of dermic symptoms
do not present any specific hazards to health and safety have been associated with personnel handling plastic films,
when used for their intended purpose in accordance with which have been attributed to very rare forms of allergy.
good standards of industrial hygiene and safe working The use of barrier creams and/or protective gloves can
practice. usually eliminate such problems, however, in extreme cases,
the personnel concerned may need to be removed from
such an environment.
1) Scrap or Waste Polythene
2.6. Smoking, Eating & Drinking: Smoking, eating and
Scrap lengths of polythene & Polypropylene film should
drinking in working areas are not desirable practices and
always be placed in an appropriate receptacle and not
should be prohibited.
left lying on the ground as this could cause people to lose
their footing, which may lead to injury. Discarded scrap
2.7. Static: Polythene & Polypropylene film can acquire
Polythene & Polypropylene left loose will blow away and
static electrical charges under certain conditions. The rapid
cause a litter problem. Unsecured scrap Polythene and
leaking of such charges to earth in the form of static sparks
Polypropylene film could, if placed over the head,
is potentially dangerous in areas where flame or explosion
constitute a suffocation hazard to young children.
hazards exist.
2) Potential Hazards 3) Transportation, Handling
2.1. Food Contact: If the film is required to come into
contact with food, then the materials used in the and Storage
manufacture of these grades of film must meet the
3.1. Handling: Polythene & Polypropylene films do not
requirements for food contact usage of EEC, USA.
present an unusual hazard in handling. It is recommended
All countries outside these areas, please refer to Visqueen that, when handling large reels, adequate lifting equipment
Building Products Technical Services Department, for be used.
additional information.
3.2. Transportation: Reels in bulk should be strapped
2.2. Toxicity: HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, Polythene and and/or stretch wrapped securely on pallets.
Polypropylene are chemically non-reactive and are
regarded as being biologically inert. 3.3. Working & Storage Areas: Working and storage
areas should be kept clean and tidy. Spillage of loose
2.3. Ingestion: Although HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, Polythene & Polythene and Polypropylene on to the floor should be
Polypropylene are inert and can be regarded as harmless, cleared immediately, so as to reduce the risks of falls.
certain films do contain additives that may be harmful and Polythene films should be stored dry and shielded from
ingestion is not recommended. In the unlikely event of direct sunlight. Indoor, unheated storage areas with
accidental ingestion of Polythene & Polypropylene film, natural ventilation are adequate. Badly stacked reels,
flake or dust, it is recommended that medical assistance pallets, etc may slip and cause injury to personnel.
be called. Regular inspection is recommended.
3.4. Footwear: Safety shoes should be worn at all times Under these conditions, carbon monoxide (TLV 50 p.p.m),
by all personnel involved in the handling and movement of formaldehyde (TLV 2 p.p.m) and acrolein (TLV 0.1 p.p.m)
film reels. can be evolved
3.5. Ventilation: Adequate ventilation of workshops is The irritant factor of the aldehydes, which is not noticeable
essential in order to minimise the concentration of any even at levels TL provides a good warning of excessive
fumes evolved. Local exhaust ventilation should also be exposure. The self-ignition temperature of HD polythene
provided in the vicinity of processing machinery. as measured by A.S.T.M D 1929-77 is 349°C.
6.2. EVA Polythene (Effect of Heat): EVA Polythene is
4) Fire more heat sensitive than HD Polythene and the upper
Should fire involving polythene occur, any commonly temperatures should be limited to 230°C. At higher
available fire extinguishers may be used. Powder
temperatures, in addition to fumes mentioned in 6.1, EVA
extinguishers are very effective in quenching flames,
film will decompose, with evolution of acetic acid, which
although they do not have the cooling ability required in a
deep-seated fire, but the use of solid jets of water from fire is also an irritant.
hoses in the early stages of fire is not recommended since
they could help to spread the flames. 6.3. Ventilation: When heat sealing Polythene and
Polypropylene film, involving the use of a heated wire or
It is recommended that advice be sought from the local
Fire Authority on fire-fighting equipment and procedures. blades with surface temperatures in the range of 400 -
Polythene & Polypropylene film is unlikely to be the only 600°C, it is possible that small quantities of the film may
factor involved in a total fire situation and other materials adhere to the surface of the heat sealing instruments,
will have there own particular hazards. giving rise to the decomposition products described in 5,
and cleanliness of the instruments and adequate ventilation
are again essential.
5) Flammability
When Polythene & Polypropylene film is heated, melting will
occur at 105°C - 115°C and decomposition will commence 7) Waste Disposal
at about 300°C. When heated above this temperature in Scrap Polythene & Polypropylene may be disposed of at
poorly ventilated areas, polythene films will pylorus approved landfill sites or by incineration under approved
oxidatively to produce carbon monoxide and water plus a
conditions.
small amount of various hydrocarbons and aldehydes. The
evolved gases may ignite and provide heat that will Polythene & Polypropylene film is recyclable and should
accelerate pyrolysis and allow combustion of more be segregated and contact Visqueen Building Products
polythene or any other combustible material in the vicinity.
on 01685 846154, who will provide advice on its suitability
Burning is accompanied by the release of flaming molten
and condition of storage.
droplets of polythene that could ignite adjacent flammable
material. Carbonisation also occurs and some of the If in doubt about your legal requirements for the handling
carbon is released as a soot.
and storage of all controlled wastes under the
The main combustion product in flaming conditions is Environmental Protection Act 1990, 'Duty of Care
generally carbon dioxide, though lack of oxygen or rapid Regulations', contact your local Waste Disposal Authority.
extinguishing of fire often leads to the smoke still containing
appreciable quantities of carbon monoxide, acrolein and
other toxic aldehydes. 8) Summary
These comments can only be of a general nature; since the The information contained in this Health and Safety Data
conditions experienced in a fire cannot be fully predicted
Document relates only to the material described and is
and will depend on many factors.
not valid for such material used in combination with any
other materials or in any other process. Such information
6) Additional Precautions is, to the best of the Company's knowledge and belief,
accurate and reliable. However, no representation,
6.1. HD Polythene (Effect of Heat): HD Polythene can be
used in all normal applications. Small quantities of fumes warranty or guarantee is made to its accuracy, reliability
are evolved at about 230°C; these gradually increase until, or completeness. It is the responsibility of the user to
at about 300°C, the heat of oxidation may produce a rapid satisfy himself as to the suitability and completeness of
rise in temperature that accelerates the pyrolysis. such information for his own particular use.
Publication Date: 03/04
