Safety

This page discusses the hazards and safety precautions that are sensible when using LuciClear Cast Resin.  It does not supersede the Safety Data Sheets for the product.  It does not apply to other epoxy products which may present different issues.

How dangerous are the materials really.

No chemical substance can ever be described as "Safe".  Even water has some dangers.  Even so, the materials used to formulate LuciClear Casting Resin are not very dangerous.  Provided sensible precautions are taken, it is unlikely that problems will arise.

Resin (Part A)

Like most epoxy systems in common use, the resin has a long, frightening chemical name. True, but it is really a very safe material.  The literature describes cases where significant quantities have been eaten without ill effects (why would anyone do that????).  None the less, it would be stupid to get it all over yourself, not the least because you will finish up a sticky mess.  You will not enjoy it how-ever if you get it in your eyes.

Hardener (Part B)

The Part B, Hardener is a bit more dangerous.  It will sting like hell and cause some damage if you get it in your eyes, and you will need to go off to emergency to have it removed. (Yes, we have a customer who did manage this feat.)  If it gets on your skin and stays there for a while, it might cause some reddening.  These things happen in part because it is a bit alkaline.   

We have small amounts of other ingredients in each. We add these to modify the behaviour of the product and so give the great results.  These do not add additional dangers in the small amounts that are present.

Fire risk.

Large quantities of resin and hardener mixed together and left to react could reach really high temperatures.  We know of a customer who (using a different product) mixed 24 litres of it, then left it in the mixing bucket and went to lunch.  To his surprise, it set fire to the wooden floor and burnt a hole right through the floor.  We are not sure what would happen if you mix up 30 litres and leave it in the mixing bucket, LuciClear Casting resin generates less heat than the product mentioned above, but it still will generate a lot of heat.  We are pretty sure it wouldn't be good.

How do you get exposed.

Exposure comes from liquid or soft material on your skin and from breathing in the vapour that evaporates from the liquids.  Once fully cured, it should not cause any problems.  The Dust and particles from cutting it or sanding it are pretty much inert, just a nuisance.

Allergic Sensitization.

It is important not to overstate this problem.  Handling our products sensibly should mean that it will never become a problem.  At the same time, don't think it can't happen to you, it can and it can be severe.

Allergies are a poorly understood problem that is shared by many people.  Epoxies can cause allergic reactions, and they affect different people to differing degrees.  A very small number of people are just allergic to the stuff.  It is just the lottery of life.  They simply have to stay away from epoxies. 

Epoxies can make people allergic.  It is called allergic sensitization.  Each exposure can take you a step closer to having an allergic reaction.  Using LuciClear Casting Resin (and indeed our other epoxies) is a good start to avoiding this problem because we select ingredients for minimum allergenic potential.  ( Some other well known brands of epoxy in the Australian market have terrible reputations for causing allergic sensitization. ) The other part to minimizing the problem is to learn to work cleanly, and also to take sensible precautions.

The main exposure routes are skin contact and breathing in the vapours.

Precautions.

Most important is to wear safety glasses.  Getting this stuff in your eye if it splashes is not fun.  It is much easier to keep it out of your eyes than for the emergency department to get it out of your eyes.

Inevitably a few small splashes will get on to your hands.  Either latex or nitrile gloves will provide good protection[1].  Latex gloves are cheap and offer acceptable protections against splashes of epoxy.  Some people are allergic to latex or to the powder used to lubricate the latex glove.  Nitrile is a better choice for those people, and may be for everyone because it is tougher and should last a bit longer. We have done breakthrough tests on both and they last for many hours.

If you are a bit messy or are doing a big pour, consider putting on 2 or 3 gloves on each hand.  Then, if one becomes contaminated, you just remove and continue working.

Good ventilation is also important.  Some vapours evaporate and the warmer the material becomes, the more that it will evaporate.  If you observe our temperature suggestions, the amount evaporating is low, and with good ventilation, the amount you breath in should be minimal.

Some users tell us that they wear a respirator with a chemical cartridge (activated carbon) filter.  We have never felt this to be necessary with these products, how-ever we would not seek to disuade users who feel they should wear one.  Some other brands how-ever have considerable volatility, which is probably what leads to their reputation for causing allergic sensistization, and those brands probably should not be considered without using a proper respirator.

We also suggest having a supply of paper towels handy to wipe up minor splashes and spills, and to have plastic rubbish bag by your side to put used gloves and dirty paper towels in.

 Get it off my skin. The Clean Up.

Whilst it may not be convenient to clean it off right away, remember that each exposure could be taking you closer to allergic sensitization.  You should clean it off just as soon as you reasonably can.  Firstly wipe as much of it off as you can using paper towels.  Then use a citrus based hand cleaner, or vinegar, or liquid soap neat to emulsify it it.  Finally good old soap (Solvol is best) and water.

What ever you do, don't use solvents, e.g. acetone, methylated spirits, thinners, petrol to get it off.  They thin the epoxy down, spread it over a wider area and cause it to penetrate further into your skin.

First Aid - Resin

Inhalation	IF INHALED. Move to fresh air.  If rapid recovery does not occur, seek medical attention.
Ingestion	IF SWALLOWED: Drink water. Emergency treatment is unlikely to ne necessary. Call a POISON CENTRE or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
Eye Contact	IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Seek medical advice/attention.
Skin Contact	IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.  Citrus based hand cleaner with pumice is useful. If skin irritation occurs: Seek medical advice/attention. Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.

First Aid - Hardener

Inhalation	IF INHALED. Move to fresh air.  If rapid recovery does not occur, seek medical attention.
Ingestion	IF SWALLOWED: Drink water. Do not induce vomiting. If patient needs to vomit, lower head so that material does not enter lungs.  Obtain medical assistance urgently.  Activated charcoal may be helpful.
Eye Contact	IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. Seek medical advice/attention.
Skin Contact	IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.  Citrus based hand cleaner with pumice is useful. If skin irritation occurs: Seek medical advice/attention. Take off contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.

Its all over the floor, what do I do?

You should have a large plastic garbage bag ready when you work with this material.  A larger spill can be wiped up with newspaper and the dirty newspaper put into the garbage bag.  Sawdust is great to spread over and work into spilled material.  Then shovel it up and put into the garbage bag.  The filled bag can then go out to normal waste disposal provided the quantity spilled is fairly small.  (If the quantities are large, please contact the factory to discuss disposal of the contaminated clean up material.)

Environmental Issues.

Both resin and hardener are environmental pollutants.  They do degrade so they are not a persistent pollutant hazard.  None the less, the un reacted material should not be allowed to escape into the environment or watercourses or drains. 

Once reacted (cured ) it is inert and may be disposed of in the normal garbage disposal.

What about the safety data sheets.

Each Australian state requires manufacturers (or importers) to publish Safety Data Sheets for their products.  The format and contents are set out in the legislation.  The content is mostly set at the worst case scenario level.  They are intended to provide information to end users on safe handling and use, and for medical service providers a quick first summary of what to do for an exposed user.

Unfortunately, many of the other suppliers in the Australian market do not make  proper Safety Data Sheets available for their products.  This is of course a beach of the law, and frankly for their customers, who are entitled to have this information, unsafe.  It also puts the transport operators who handle their products at risk.