What are the hazards of working with acrylonitrile and how can you protect your employees?

1 Exposure routes and effects

Acrylonitrile can enter the body through breathing, swallowing, or skin contact. Breathing acrylonitrile can cause irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs, as well as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. In high concentrations, it can damage the nervous system and cause unconsciousness or death. Swallowing acrylonitrile can cause severe poisoning, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, convulsions, and coma. Skin contact with acrylonitrile can cause burns, blisters, and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to acrylonitrile can increase the risk of developing cancer, especially of the lungs, liver, and prostate.

2 Exposure limits and monitoring

To prevent harmful effects of acrylonitrile, you should follow the exposure limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). OSHA sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for acrylonitrile at 2 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and 10 ppm as a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL). NIOSH sets the recommended exposure limit (REL) for acrylonitrile at 1 ppm as a 10-hour TWA and 10 ppm as a 15-minute STEL. You should also monitor the air quality in your workplace regularly to ensure that the levels of acrylonitrile are below the limits. You can use devices such as personal air samplers, colorimetric tubes, or infrared analyzers to measure the concentration of acrylonitrile in the air.

3 Engineering controls and work practices

Reducing exposure to acrylonitrile can be achieved through engineering controls and work practices. Examples of engineering controls include using closed systems or ventilation systems to capture and remove vapors, explosion-proof equipment and wiring, leak detection and repair systems, and automatic or remote-controlled valves and pumps. In terms of work practices, it is important to follow standard operating procedures and safety rules when working with acrylonitrile, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), wash hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics, store and dispose of containers and waste properly and safely, and report any incidents or accidents involving acrylonitrile.

4 Medical surveillance and emergency response

Protecting employees from acrylonitrile is essential, and can be done through medical surveillance and emergency response. Medical surveillance involves monitoring the health of workers exposed to acrylonitrile, with tests such as blood tests to measure levels of acrylonitrile and its metabolites, urine tests to measure thiocyanate levels, chest X-rays to detect signs of lung damage or cancer, and liver function tests. Emergency response involves having a plan ready to deal with any situations that may arise from acrylonitrile exposure, such as fires, explosions, spills, leaks, or poisoning. This could include evacuating the area and calling for help, using fire extinguishers or water sprays to put out fires, using absorbents or barriers to contain spills or leaks, providing first aid and medical treatment to affected workers, and decontaminating the area. Following these guidelines can help create a safer and healthier workplace.