16 Feb Acetone Use & Care

Acetone Use & Care

Acetone is a widely used solvent found in cleaning products, coatings, adhesives, paint-related products, and many industrial processes. It evaporates quickly and is effective at removing oils, grease, and other residues. Although acetone has relatively low toxicity compared with many industrial solvents, it can still create health and significant fire hazards when handled improperly.

Acetone vapors can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system. Higher concentrations may cause headache, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, or loss of coordination, and very high exposures can cause unconsciousness. Repeated or prolonged skin contact can remove natural oils from the skin, causing dryness, irritation, or dermatitis.

Control Acetone Vapors

Use acetone only where adequate ventilation is provided. Keep containers closed when not in use and minimize the amount of acetone exposed to the air. For operations that generate significant vapor, local exhaust ventilation may be necessary to capture vapors near their source.

OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) for acetone is 1,000 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Other occupational exposure guidelines may be more protective, so employees should follow the exposure limits and controls established for their workplace.

Never rely on the smell of acetone to determine whether the concentration is safe.

Wear Appropriate PPE

Review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and workplace procedures to determine the PPE required for the task. Depending on the potential exposure, protection may include:

• Chemical-resistant gloves selected for acetone exposure.
• Safety glasses or chemical splash goggles.
• Protective clothing when significant skin contact is possible.
• A face shield worn over appropriate eye protection when splash hazards warrant additional face protection.

Not every glove material provides adequate protection against acetone, so glove compatibility should be verified before use.

Prevent Fires

Acetone is a highly flammable liquid, and its vapors can ignite readily. Vapors may also travel to an ignition source and flash back.

When using or storing acetone:

• Keep it away from flames, sparks, hot surfaces, smoking, and other ignition sources.
• Use only approved containers and keep them tightly closed when not in use.
• Store acetone in accordance with applicable flammable-liquid requirements.
• Control static electricity and use appropriate equipment where flammable vapor concentrations may develop.
• Clean up spills promptly using established spill-response procedures.

Know the location and proper use of appropriate fire-extinguishing equipment, but do not attempt to fight a fire unless you are trained and authorized to do so.

First Aid

If acetone is inhaled and symptoms develop, move the affected person to fresh air and obtain medical assistance as appropriate. For eye contact, immediately flush the eyes with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention as directed by the SDS or workplace procedures.

For skin contact, remove contaminated clothing and wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water. If someone is unconscious, having difficulty breathing, or experiencing a serious exposure, obtain emergency medical assistance immediately.

Remember

Acetone may be a familiar solvent, but familiarity should not lead to carelessness. Provide adequate ventilation, eliminate ignition sources, wear appropriate PPE, keep containers closed, and know what to do if a spill or exposure occurs. Always review the SDS before using acetone when you are unfamiliar with its hazards or required precautions.