BERYLLIUM POWDER

Diamond	Hazard	Value	Description
1 3 0	Health	3	Can cause serious or permanent injury.
	Flammability	1	Must be preheated before ignition can occur.
	Instability	0	Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
	Special

A grayish-white hard light metal. Denser than water, but the powder may float. May be toxic by inhalation. Will burn if involved in a fire.

• Highly Flammable
• Strong Reducing Agent

Insoluble in water. Beryllium is a flammable solid that will ignite if its surroundings are on fire. It can react with water under fire conditions, but is unlikely to do so otherwise.

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Combustion yields beryllium oxide fume, which is toxic if inhaled.

Behavior in Fire: Powder may form explosive mixture with air. (USCG, 1999)

Any dramatic, unexplained weight loss should be considered as possible first indication of beryllium disease. Dust is extremely toxic when inhaled; symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, and acute or chronic lung disease. There is no record of illness from ingestion of beryllium. Contact with dust causes conjunctival inflammation of eyes and dermatitis. (USCG, 1999)

Boron trifluoride reacts with incandescence when heated with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals except magnesium [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. Finely divided or amalgamated metal reacts with HCl, dil HNO3, or dil H2SO4; attacked by strong base with evolution of hydrogen gas [Merck 11th ed. 1989]. It has been determined experimentally that a mixture of beryllium powder with carbon tetrachloride or with trichloroethylene will flash or spark on heavy impact [ASESB Pot. Incid. 39 1968]. The reaction between beryllium and the vapors of phosphorus proceeds with incandescence [Mellor 8:842 1946-47].

• Metals, Elemental and Powder, Active

No information available.

Excerpt from 134 [Flammable Solids - Toxic and/or Corrosive]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from 134 [Flammable Solids - Toxic and/or Corrosive]:

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam.

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or alcohol-resistant foam. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. Avoid aiming straight or solid streams directly onto the product. Do not get water inside containers. Dike runoff from fire control for later disposal.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS OR CAR/TRAILER LOADS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from 134 [Flammable Solids - Toxic and/or Corrosive]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Use clean, non-sparking tools to collect material and place it into loosely covered plastic containers for later disposal. (ERG, 2020)

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Beryllium & beryllium compounds (as Be):

Skin: PREVENT SKIN CONTACT - Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.

Eyes: PREVENT EYE CONTACT - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.

Wash skin: DAILY - The worker should wash daily at the end of each work shift, and prior to eating, drinking, smoking, etc.

Remove: WHEN WET OR CONTAMINATED - Work clothing that becomes wet or significantly contaminated should be removed and replaced.

Change: DAILY - Workers whose clothing may have become contaminated should change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises.

Provide: EYEWASH - Eyewash fountains should be provided in areas where there is any possibility that workers could be exposed to the substances; this is irrespective of the recommendation involving the wearing of eye protection. (NIOSH, 2023)

No information available.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Beryllium & beryllium compounds (as Be):

Eye: IRRIGATE IMMEDIATELY - If this chemical contacts the eyes, immediately wash (irrigate) the eyes with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting the lower and upper lids. Get medical attention immediately.

Breathing: FRESH AIR - If a person breathes large amounts of this chemical, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. Other measures are usually unnecessary. (NIOSH, 2023)

• BERYLLIUM
• BERYLLIUM ATOM
• BERYLLIUM ELEMENT
• BERYLLIUM METAL: BERYLLIUM
• BERYLLIUM POWDER
• BERYLLIUM, (DUST OR POWDER), METAL
• BERYLLIUM, [POWDER]
• BERYLLIUM-9
• GLUCINIUM