WHMIS (Lithium)

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

WHMIS 2015 classification - Note to reader

• Substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases - Category 11 2

• Combustible dusts - See comments below3 4 5 6

• Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 17

• Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 17

• Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure (respiratory tract irritation) - Category 3 - Respiratory tract irritation

• Physical hazards not otherwise classified (exclamation mark) - Category 12 3 5

Danger

Causes severe skin burns and eye damage (H314)
May cause respiratory irritation (H335)
Reacts violently or explosively in contact with water at ambient temperature

Ingredient disclosure

Comments:

There are no data available for lithium regarding its irritation or corrosion ability. However, it forms on contact with water a corrosive substance: lithium hydroxide.

This product could belong to the hazard class "Combustible dust", based on various factors related to the combustibility and explosiveness of its dust, including composition, shape and size of the particles.

References

• ▲1.  Canada. Ministère des transports, Règlement sur le transport des marchandises dangereuses. Ottawa : Éditions du gouvernement du Canada. (2014). [RJ-410222]   http://www.tc.gc.ca/fra/tmd/clair-menu-497.htm
  http://www.tc.gc.ca/tmd/menu.htm
• ▲2.  National Fire Protection Association, Fire protection guide to hazardous materials. 14th ed. Quincy, Mass. : NFPA. (2010). [RR-334001]
• ▲3.  Dutch Institute for the Working Environment et Dutch Chemical Industry Association, Chemical safety sheets : working safely with hazardous chemicals. Netherlands : Kluwer Academic Publishers. (1991). [RR-015010]
• ▲4.  Vincoli, J.W., Risk management for hazardous chemicals : G-Z. Vol. 2. Boca Raton : Lewis Publishers. (1997). [RM-515112]
• ▲5.  Babrauskas, V., Ignition handbook. Issaquah (WA) : Fire Science Publishers. (2003). [RR-334012]   www.doctorfire.com
• ▲6.  Urben, P. G. et Pitt, M.J., Bretherick's handbook of reactive chemical hazards. Vol. 1, 7th ed. Oxford; Toronto : Elsevier. (2007). [RS-415001]
• ▲7.  Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail, CHEMINFO, Hamilton, Ont. : Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety   http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/cheminfo/search.html

The [number] refers to the Information SST database of the CNESST Documentation Center.