Airbag Inflator - Handling Procedure
BULLETIN NUMBERSB92-04-010
ISSUE DATE
September 17, 1992
GROUP
ELECTRICAL
SIR INFLATOR HANDLING
AFFECTED VEHICLES
1990-92 Impulse (JT) and Stylus (JS) models.
SERVICE INFORMATION
The Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) module (air bag) installed on affected vehicles contains an inflator which requires special handling. The inflator is a sealed canister of sodium azide pellets which produce nitrogen gas when ignited.
The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by Morton International, contains SIR module inflator handling information. The instructions in the Material Safety Data Sheet should be strictly adhered to.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
MSDS D0083
Latest Revision: January 15, 1992
MORTON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY PRODUCTS
3350 Airport Road
Ogden, Utah 84405
Emergency Phone No. (800) 424-9300
Product Information (801) 625-4823
I. PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
Trade Name and Synonyms:
Air Bag Inflator, Air Bag Gas Generator.
II. PHYSICAL DATA
A. Appearance and Odor: Sealed metallic canister. No odor.
B. Solubility in Water. Not applicable, because this is a sealed unit. For chemicals within unit: 40 percent at 68~F (20~C).
C. Sealed canister contains gas generant tablets or wafers
III. TYPICAL COMPOSITION **
S: Skin designation.
* Proposed OSHA PEL - 0.1 ppm as hydrazoic acid or 0.3 mg/cu.m as sodium azide.
** Typical hazardous ingredients, does not include all ingredients.
This product contains fiberglass materials, less than 1% of unit by weight
IV. HEALTH HAZARD DATA
A. Threshold Limit Value (TLV): The tamper-resistant sealed metal container poses no health hazard. If the container is damaged prior to firing, a potential for exposture to gas generant exists.
(For specific information, see section III above).
B. Effects of overexposure to the propellant material containing sodium azide (i.e., inhalation of dust or direct dermal or oral contact with gas generant tablets or wafers) are likely if the sealed container is ruptured prior to firing:
Inhalation: Exposures of 0.65 to 1.3 mg may cause mild transient low blood pressure (vascular dilatation), severe headaches, irritation of mucous membranes, distorted vision and asthma. Workers exposed to sodium azide may experience an increased sensitivity to the material, displaying these symptoms at even lower levels of exposure. Higher doses are lethal. Extremely toxic gaseous hydrazoic acid is produced if sodium azide is acidified.
Eyes:
May cause severe eye injury.
Skin Absorption:
May be absorbed through the intact skin in toxic quantities, producing all of the symptoms noted above.
Ingestion:
Extremely toxic. Ingestion of 5 to 10 grams may be fatal.
C. Toxicity Data:
Human TDLo: 3 mg/kg Behavioral (headache)
Archives of Toxicology 20, 279, 65
Oral Rat LD50: 27 mg/kg
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 8 67, 75, 81
Oral Human TDLo: 710mg/kg: CNS, Kidney
Journal of Clinical Pathology 28, 350, 75
Intraperitoneal - Mouse LD50: 28 mg/kg
Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 30,98,48
Intravenous - Monkey LDLo: 12 mg/kg
"Brain", Journal of Neurology 95, 505, 72
Skin - Rabbit LD50: 20 mg/kg
Farm Chemicals Handbook C21, 83
Oral - Wild Bird LD50: 23.7/mg/kg
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 12, 355, 83
D. Target Organ: Cadiovascular System (reduced blood pressure and heart arrhythmia). At high dose (20 mg/kg) cardiovascular system (failure), brain (lesions), and lung (lesions).
V. EMERGENCY FIRST AID PROCEDURES
If a sealed inflator is ruptured prior to firing and workers are exposed to gas generant tablets or wafers, or the tablets or wafers are disolved in water, and there is significant skin contact with the solution, use the following first aid treatment.
A. Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Seek immediate medical aid. Give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 9 needed.
B. Eyec Flush immediately with water for a least 15 minutes (See A above)
C. Skin: Wash with soap and water. (See A above)
D. Ingestion: Induce vomiting. (See A above)
VI. FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA
A. Flash Point None. Auto ignition temperature: >300~F (>149~C)
B. Explosion Limits: Not applicable.
C. Extinguishing Media: Fires involving sealed units may be fought with any standard extinguishing medium, including water.
D. Special Fire Fighting Procedures: Hydrogen sulfide, sodium sulfide, hydrogen gas and very small quantities of hydrazoic acid may evolve from damaged or ruptured units after the fire is out. Fire should be fought at a safe distance. If in a confined area, protect surrounding structures. This mixture burns extremely rapidly and produces a large volume of nitrogen gas. Fires involving a large quantity of inflators should only be fought by trained fire fighters wearing self-contained breathing apparatus with full face piece in positive pressure mode.
E. Explosion Hazards: Sealed container will not fire unless heated to temperatures above 300~F or configured for electrical ignition. Static discharge, impact, friction and heat may ignite exposed generant tablets or wafers.
VII. REACTIVITY DATA
A. Stability: Sealed unit is stable when used as designed
Conditions to Avoid. If gas generant tablets or wafers are exposed, avoid shock, impact, friction and sources of ignition.
B. Incompatibitity (materials to avoid): A ruptured unit contains chemicals incompatible with organic and inorganic acids, heavy metals, metal salts and halogens. Acidified sodium azide solutions will release hydrazoic acid. Hydrazoic acid will react with heavy metals, including copper, lead, mercury and silver forming sensitive primary explosives.
C. Hazardous Decomposition Products: When unfired gas generant tablets or wafers are heated to decomposition they emit fumes of NOx and Na2O. If used as designed, small amount of metallic sodium, NOx, Na2O and sodium suffate may be found inside the metal canister. Damaged units may produce hydrazoic acid, metallic sodium, sodium hydroxide and nitrogen oxides if heated and/or exposed to water.
D. Hazardous Polymerization: Will not occur.
VIII. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
A. No special precautions are necessary for handling a sealed Inflator. If an inflator is ruptured prior to firing and a potential exists for exposure to the gas generant tablets or wafers inside this unit all of the procautions below should be taken.
Evacuate non-essential personnel from the immediate spill area.
Eliminate all sources of ignition.
Cleanup and handling of inflator chemicals should be conducted by personnel properly and authorized to handle this material.
B. When handling the material use:
Impervious gloves.
Flame resistant clothing which prevents direct contact with skin.
NIOSH/MSHA approved respirator for particulate if them is a risk of exposure to dust, or an OSHA/MSHA approved supplied air respirator if there is a risk of exposure to hydrazoic acid.
Use non-sparking tools for cleanup.
IX. HANDLING AND STORAGE PRECAUTIONS
Inspect unit for damage following shipping and prior to installation. Do not immerse damaged inflator in water. Immersed generant material may fonn hydrazoic acid. Store damaged or defective unit in cool dry place, in limited quantities. Fire the unit remotely before disposal.
X. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
A. Precautions if Container is Damaged: Cautiously inspect the inflator for rupture of its case. If the inflator case is ruptured and the contents are spilled, follow all of the precautions found in Section VIN. Aqueous solutions must be kept basic (pH 9.0 or greater) to prevent the release of hydrazoic acid.
B. Waste Disposal Method: If inflator is not damaged, remote firing is recommended prior to disposal procedures. Find inflator canisters contain small amounts of metallic, sodium and should be isolated from combustible and flammable materials. Dispose of or reclaim in accordance with federal, state and local regulations. For information about handling ruptured unfired inflators, contact the emergency number listed in this bulletin.
C. CERCLA (Superfund) Reportable quantity. 1500 lbs (gas generant tablets or wafers)
D. RCRA Hazardous waste number for:
Sealed unfire inflators - N/A Fired inflators - N/A Ruptured unfired inflators - D003
For industrial use only. To the best of our knowledge the information contained herein is correct. All chemicals may present unknown health hazards and must be used with caution. Although certain hazards are described herein, we cannot guarantee that these are the only hazards which exist. Final determination of the suitability of the chemical or product is the sole responsibility of the user. Users of any chemical or product should satisfy themselves that the conditions and methods of use assure that the item is used safely. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO INCLUDE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY. FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER NATURE ARE MADE HEREUNDER WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THE CHEMICAL TO WHICH THE INFORMATION REFERS.