SDS - FloraTech AquaFix Granualr Wetting Agent - 241201

Aquafix Granular Wetting Agent

Safety Data Sheet

1. Identification of Substance & Company

Product

**Emergency Telephone Number: ** Australian Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26

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2. Hazard Identification

Approval

This product is an approved substance under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO, Approval HSR002503, Fertiliser (Subsidiary Hazard) Group Standard 2020). The substance has been classified as hazardous according to the criteria in the Hazardous substances (Hazard Classification) Notice 2020.

SYMBOLS WARNING [Symbol: Exclamation mark inside a red diamond]

Other Classifications

No other classification are known to apply.

Australian Ghs Classification

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Precautionary Statements

3. Composition / Information on Ingredients

This is a commercial product whose exact ratio of components may vary. Trace quantities of impurities are also likely. The zeolite may contain traces of crystalline silica.

4. First Aid

General Information

If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand. You should call the National Poisons Centre if you feel that you may have been harmed or irritated by this product. The number is 0800 764 766 (0800 POISON) (24 hr emergency service).

Recommended first aid facilities: Ready access to running water is recommended.

Exposure

• Swallowed: Do NOT induce vomiting. Give a glass of water to drink. Contact a doctor.
• Eye contact: IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Apply continuous irrigation with water for at least 15 minutes holding eyelids apart. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice.
• Skin contact: IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water. If skin irritation occurs: get medical advice/attention. Take off contaminated clothing and wash before re-use.
• Inhaled: If coughing, dizziness or shortness of breath is experienced, remove the patient to fresh air immediately. If patient is unconscious, place in the recovery position (on the side) for transport and contact a doctor.

Advice to Doctor

Material is non-toxic but highly absorbent and may have dehydrating effects if large amounts ingested. Treat symptomatically.

5. Firefighting Measures

• Fire and explosion hazards: There are no specific risks for fire/explosion for this chemical. It is non-flammable.
• Suitable extinguishing substances: Carbon dioxide, extinguishing powder or water jet. Fight larger fires with water jet or alcohol resistant foam.
• Unsuitable extinguishing substances: Unknown.
• Products of combustion: Product does not burn. Dust may form irritating atmosphere.
• Protective equipment: No special measures are required.
• Hazchem code: NA

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6. Accidental Release Measures

• Containment: There is no current legal requirement for containment of this product.
• Emergency procedures: In the event of large spillage alert the fire brigade to location and give brief description of hazard. Wear protective equipment to prevent skin, eye and respiratory exposure. Clear area of any unprotected personnel. Sweep up the solid. Avoid creating dust. If appropriate, use a gentle water spray to wet material to minimise dust generation.
• Disposal: Carefully sweep up and collect recoverable material into labelled containers for recycling or salvage. This material may be suitable for approved landfill. Dispose of only in accord with all regulations.
• Precautions: Avoid the creation of dusts, Wear protective equipment to prevent skin and eye contamination and the inhalation of dusts. Work up wind or increase ventilation.

7. Storage & Handling

• Storage: Store in a cool dry well ventilated place. Keep out of direct sunlight. Keep away from food and feed. Keep away from reach of children and pets. Keep containers and packages closed after use and well away from water, strong acids and oxidising agents.
• Handling: Avoid dust formation. Keep exposure to a minimum, and minimise the quantities kept in work areas. See section 8 with regard to personal protective equipment requirements. Do not breathe dust.

8. Exposure Controls / Personal Protective Equipment

Workplace Exposure Standards

A workplace exposure standard (WES) has not been established by WorkSafe NZ for this product. There is a general limit of 3mg/m³ for respirable particulates and 10mg/m³ for inhalable particulates when limits have not otherwise been established.

*NOTES: carcinogen category 1; α-quartz and cristobalite are confirmed carcinogens. Significant risk to workers will remain at WES-TWA exposures of 0.025mg/m³. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has estimated the lifetime silicosis mortality risk for workers exposed at this level for 8 hours per day at between 4 and 22 deaths per 1,000 workers and the lifetime lung cancer mortality risk for workers exposed at this level for 8 hours per day at between 3 and 23 deaths per 1,000 workers.

Engineering Controls

In industrial situations, it is expected that employee exposure to hazardous substances will be controlled to a level as far below the WES as practicable by applying the hierarchy of control required by the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) and the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016. Exposure can be reduced by process modification, use of local exhaust ventilation, capturing substances at the source, or other methods. If you believe air borne concentrations of mists, dusts or vapours are high, you are advised to modify processes or increase ventilation.

Personal Protective Equipment

• General: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should not be used as the primary means of exposure protection, except in the event of an accident or emergency situation or where all other means of protection have proven to inadequate. Clean PPE after use or dispose of as appropriate. Store PPE for re-use in a clean place. Regular training on the correct use of PPE should be provided. In particular the correct fitting and use of respirators and where applicable the cleaning of respirators should be undertaken.
• Eyes: Avoid contact with eyes. Use safety glasses and or chemical splash goggles if splashes are possible. Select eye protection in accordance with AS/NZS 1337. [Icon: Safety glasses]

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• Skin: Protective gloves are recommended. Protective gloves or suitably resistant material must comply with AS 2161. Replace frequently. Gloves should be checked for tears or holes before use. Protective clothing must comply with AS 2919, AS3765.1 or AS3765.2. PVC or rubber boots must comply with AS/NZS 2210.2 and selected and maintained in accordance with AS/NS2210.1. Remove protective clothing and wash exposed areas with soap and water prior to eating, drinking or smoking. Wash hands after handling.
• Respiratory: To prevent irritation a well fitted dust mask should be used (this is not recommended when exposure is close to the WES). Use of a P2 dust mask or fine particulate half or full face respirator with an effective seal is recommended when airborne concentrations approach the WES (section 8). Fit testing and clear guidelines and training for use and maintenance of PPE are necessary.

WES Additional Information Not applicable

9. Physical & Chemical Properties

10. Stability & Reactivity

• Stability: This mixture is hygrospcopic, it may absorb moisture from the surrounding air.
• Conditions to be avoided: Containers should be kept closed in order to avoid contamination. Avoid the creation of dust. Avoid exposure to moisture, unless during use.
• Incompatible groups: Avoid contact with strong oxidsing agents and hydrogen fluoride.
• Hazardous decomposition products: None known
• Hazardous reactions: Zeolites will react with hydrogen fluoride (HF) acid. Avoid contact with strong oxidsing agents.

11. Toxicological Information

Summary

IF IN EYES: Fine dust may cause irritation when in direct contact. IF ON SKIN: Material may cause drying out of skin. IF INHALED: May cause respiratory irritation. Also see chronic effects. IF SWALLOWED: No adverse effects anticipated under normal use conditions. CHRONIC EFFECTS: The adverse health effects from respirable crystalline silica exposure-silicosis, cancer, scleroderma, tuberculosis, and nephrotoxicity- are chronic effects. This product is granular and wetted, but may become a respirable dust through processing.

Supporting Data

• Acute Oral: Not considered acutely toxic if swallowed.
• Dermal: Not considered acutely toxic by dermal contact.
• Inhaled: The substance is not considered acutely toxic if inhaled, however there may be irritation of the respiratory tract if dust is inhaled. Short term (acute) silicosis (see “systemic” below) can also occur with one-off exposures to extremely high levels of fine crystalline silica dust. Other short term effects include irritation, choking and difficulty breathing.

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• Eye: The mixture is considered to be an eye irritant. Dust may be an eye irritant (mechanical irritation). The surfactant is also considered an eye irritant.
• Skin: The mixture is considered to be a skin irritant.
• Chronic Sensitisation: No ingredient present at concentrations > 0.1% is considered a sensitizer.
• Mutagenicity: No ingredient present at concentrations > 0.1% is considered a mutagen.
• Carcinogenicity: Zeolites have been classed by IARC as group 3 – cannot be evaluated as to their carcinogenicity to humans. However, there is evidence that this material does contain quartz and cristobalite. Crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources is carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1). Crystalline Silica triggers carc 1 classification (confirmed carcinogen). The carcinogenicity of silica is related to long term (e.g., 10 years) inhalation of very fine particulate (e.g., from sand blasting or dry cutting of quartz containing substrates). Carcinogenicity of silica appears linked to development of silicosis (see systematic below) followed by complications and, eventually lung cancer
• Reproductive / Developmental: No ingredient present at concentrations > 0.1% is considered a reproductive or developmental toxicant or have any effects on or via lactation.
• Systemic: The respirable fraction of the dust of this product is not considered to be a target organ toxicant, because of the presence of crystalline silica less than 1%. Above 1% respirable crystalline silica triggers STOT RE cat 1 classification if it is in the form of a fine respirable dust in an occupational (chronic exposure) setting. This is due to the development of silicosis which can occur following exposure to extremely high levels of fine silica dust. Silicosis is a type of pneumoconiosis – a disease of the lung that causes inflammation, scar tissue, lesions and fibrosis in the lung (alveolar). Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, fever, loss of appetite and cyanosis (bluish skin). Silicosis can occur following prolonged exposure (e.g., 10 years) to relatively high levels of fine crystalline silica dust. Based on limited animal research, it is possible that repeated inhalation of cellulose fibre dust may lead to inflammation and scarring of the lung.
• Aggravation of existing conditions: None known

12. Ecological Data

Summary

This product is not considered ecotoxic.

Supporting Data

• Aquatic: Not ecotoxic in the aquatic environment.
• Bioaccumulation: No data
• Degradability: No data
• Soil: No consided ecotoxic in the soil environment.
• Terrestrial vertebrate: Not toxic towards terrestrial vertebrates
• Terrestrial invertebrate: Not toxic towards terrestrial invertebrates
• Biocidal: Not biocidal
• Environmental effect levels: No EELs are available for this mixture or ingredients

13. Disposal Considerations

• Restrictions: There are no product-specific restrictions, however, local council and resource consent conditions may apply, including requirements of trade waste consents.
• Disposal method: Disposal of this product must comply with the requirements of the Resource Management Act for which approval should be sought from the Regional Authority. The substance must be treated and therefore rendered non-hazardous before discharge to the environment.
• Contaminated packaging: Disposal of contaminated packaging must comply with the Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Notice 2017 clause 12. Ensure that the package is rendered incapable of containing any substance and is disposed in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the substance it contained and the material of the package. If possible reuse or recycle packaging.

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14. Transport Information

Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005 - Nzs 5433:2007

There are no specific restrictions for this product (not a dangerous good).

• UN number: NA
• Proper shipping name: NA
• Class(es): NA
• Packing group: NA
• Precautions: NA
• Hazchem code: NA

Imdg

• UN number: NA
• Proper shipping name: Not regulated
• Class(es): NA
• Packing group: NA
• Precautions: NA
• EmS: NA

Iata

• UN number: NA
• Proper shipping name: Not regulated
• Class(es): NA
• Packing group: NA
• Precautions: NA
• ERG Guide: NA

15. Regulatory Information

This product is an approved substance under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO). Approval code: HSR002571, Fertiliser (Subsidiary Hazard) Group Standard 2020. All ingredients appear on the NZIoC.

Specific Controls

Key workplace requirements are:

• SDS: To be available within 10 minutes in workplaces storing any quantity.
• Inventory: An inventory of all hazardous substances must be prepared and maintained.
• Packaging: All hazardous substances should be appropriately packaged including substances that have been decanted, transferred or manufactured for own use or have been supplied
• Labelling: Must comply with the Hazardous Substances (Labelling) Notice 2017.
• Emergency plan: Not required.
• Certified handler: Not required.
• Tracking: Not required.
• Bunding & secondary containment: Not required.
• Signage: Not required.
• Location compliance certificate: Not required.
• Flammable zone: Not required.
• Fire extinguisher: Not required.

Note: The above workplace requirements apply if only this particular substance is present. The complete set of controls for a location will depend on the classification and total quantities of other substances present in that location.

Other Legislation

In New Zealand, the use of this product may come under the Resource Management Act and Regulations, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, local Council Rules and Regional Council Plans.

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16. Other Information

Abbreviations

• Approval Code: Approval HSR002571, Fertiliser (Subsidiary Hazard) Group Standard 2020, Controls, EPA.
• CAS Number: Unique Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number
• EC50: Ecotoxic Concentration 50% – concentration in water which is fatal to 50% of a test population (e.g. daphnia, fish species)
• EPA: Environmental Protection Authority (New Zealand)
• GHS: Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, 7th revised edition, 2017, published by the United Nations.
• HAZCHEM Code: Emergency action code of numbers and letters that provide information to emergency services, especially fire fighters
• HSNO: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Act and Regulations)
• IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer
• LEL: Lower Explosive Limit
• LD50: Lethal Dose 50% – dose which is fatal to 50% of a test population (usually rats).
• LC50: Lethal Concentration 50% – concentration in air which is fatal to 50% of a test population (usually rats)
• NZIoC: New Zealand Inventory of Chemicals
• STEL: Short Term Exposure Limit - The maximum airborne concentration of a chemical or biological agent to which a worker may be exposed in any 15 minute period, provided the TWA is not exceeded
• STOT RE: System Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated Exposure
• STOT SE: System Target Organ Toxicity – Single Exposure
• TWA: Time Weighted Average – generally referred to WES averaged over typical work day (usually 8 hours)
• UEL: Upper Explosive Limit
• UN Number: United Nations Number
• WES: Workplace Exposure Standard - The airborne concentration of a biological or chemical agent to which a worker may be exposed during work hours (usually 8 hours, 5 days a week). The WES relates to exposure that has been measured by personal monitoring using procedures that gather air samples in the worker’s breathing zone.

References

• Data: Unless otherwise stated comes from the EPA HSNO chemical classification information database (CCID).
• Controls: EPA notices, , Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017,
• WES: The latest NZ Workplace Exposure Standards, published by WorkSafe NZ and available on their web site – .
• Other References: EU ECHA, ingredients SDS‘s, ChemIDplus

Review

Disclaimer

This SDS was prepared by Fernland Agencies Pty Ltd and is based on our current state of knowledge, including information obtained from suppliers. The SDS is given in good faith and constitutes a guideline (not a guarantee of safety). The level of risk each substance poses is relevant to its properties (as summarised in the SDS) AND HOW THE SUBSTANCE IS USED. While guidelines are given for personal protective equipment, such precautions must be relevant to the use. The likely GHS 7 classifications for this SDS have been estimated based on general information from the supplier (e.g., hazard, toxicological).

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