NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-00-059
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SAFETY PRODUCERS COMMITTEE: URGE YOUR MEMBERS TO REVISE THEIR MATERIAL DATA SAFETY SHEETS FOR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TO INCLUDE WARNINGS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ALLOWING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TO DRY ON ORGANIC MATERIALS (INCLUDING PAPER, FABRIC, COTTON, AND LEATHER), WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Safety Issue and Context
ON THE MORNING OF 10/28/98, 2 GALLONS OF A 35-PERCENT HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION IN WATER, AN OXIDIZER WITH CORROSIVE PROPERTIES, SPILLED IN A CARGO COMPARTMENT OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES (NORTHWEST) FLIGHT 957, A PASSENGER-CARRYING AIRPLANE EN ROUTE FROM ORLANDO, FLORIDA, TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. THE SOLUTION LEAKED FROM TWO UNDECLARED 1-GALLON PLASTIC BOTTLES THAT HAD SPLIT. THE BOTTLES WERE IN AN ICE CHEST THAT BELONGED TO A PASSENGER ON THE FLIGHT. THE LEAKING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CONTAMINATED THREE MAIL SACKS AND AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF BAGS.
Response History
September 19, 2001 · NTSB Correspondence · Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee
The HPSPC members have added the warning recommended to their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). The Safety Board reviewed representative copies of the amended MSDSs supplied by the ACC and determined that the HPSPC has completed action in response to Safety Recommendation A-00-59, which is now classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."
June 11, 2001 · Recipient Response · Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee
Letter Mail Controlled 06/26/2001 10:18:08 AM MC# 2010518 In a letter dated June 8, 2000, the National Transportation Safety Board requested that members of the Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee (HPSPC) modify their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to include a warning about the danger of allowing hydrogen peroxide to dry on materials such as paper, cotton and other potentially combustible materials. Since then, the members of the HPSPC formed the Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) Panel of The American Chemistry Council, and members have added the warning to their HP MSDSs. Representative copies of amended MSDSs are enclosed with this letter.
The Panel also understands that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was interested in developing guidance for air carriers with respect to HP identification and risk management. Last year, the HPSPC contacted Mr. William Wilkening, Division Manager of the Dangerous Goods and Security Division of the FAA to initiate discussion on HP safety training. The HP Panel reiterates its interest in assisting with preparing guidance or training on the safe handling of HP. Please contact Bill Gulledge, the HP Panel Manager, in response to this letter and information submittal. He can be reached at (703) 741-5613 or via e-mail (william_gulledge@americanchemistry.com).
January 5, 2001 · NTSB Correspondence · Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee
THE SAFETY BOARD REVIEWED AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED ON A COPY OF AN FMC-PRODUCED MSDS FOR 20-40 PERCENT HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, AND IS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE CHANGES ARE FULLY RESPONSIVE TO THE RECOMMENDATION. PENDING COMPLETION OF THE HPSPC'S ACTIVITIES TO REVISE ALL MSDS FOR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, A-00-59 REMAINS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE." THE SAFETY BOARD REMAINS INTERESTED IN THE HPSPC'S ACTIVITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FAA IN RESPONSE TO A-00-60 AND LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE HPSPC REGARDING THESE ACTIVITIES.
October 9, 2000 · Recipient Response · Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee
Letter Mail Controlled 10/16/2000 4:03:08 PM MC# 2001544 THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE PRODUCERS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE NTSB RECOMMENDED CHANGES, (A-00-59) IN THE MSDS'S FOR ALL OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CONCENTRATIONS. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGE, ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF FMC'S MSDS FOR 20-40% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. THE REVISIONS SUGGESTED BY NTSB ARE INCLUDED IN SECTIONS 6 AND 8 OF THE MSDS. THESE SECTIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE ENCLOSED MSDS.
September 21, 2000 · NTSB Correspondence · Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee
PENDING ISSUANCE OF THE PROPOSED WORDING FOR THE MSDS FOR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, A-00-59 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."
July 24, 2000 · Recipient Response · Hydrogen Peroxide Safety Producers Committee
Letter Mail Controlled 07/31/2000 3:06:45 PM MC# 2000975 ALL PRODUCERS WERE INFORMED OF THE NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS INCLUDE A WARNING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ALLOWING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TO DRY ON MATERIALS INCLUDING PAPER, COTTON AND OTHER POTENTIALLY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED THE TASK OF PREPARING A DRAFT OF PROPOSED WORDING FOR THE OTHER COMPANIES TO REVIEW AND APPROVE. THE MEMBERS OF THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SAFETY PRODUCERS COMMITTEE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THIS PRODUCT IS PACKAGED, TRANSPORTED AND HANDLED IN A SAFE AND PROPER MANNER.
WE WILL ASSIST THE FAA IN DEVELOPING GUIDANCE FOR AIR CARRIERS CONCERNING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IDENTIFICATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT. AT THE SUGGESTION OF MR. JAMES HENDERSON, OF NTSB AND MR. RAPHAEL RAMOS OF THE FAA, WE WILL CONACT MR. WILLIAM WILKENING, THE DIVISION MANAGER OF THE DANGEROUS GOODS AND SECURITY DIVISION OF THE FAA TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SAFETY TRAINING.