H1n1

[mcfd1804]

Does any one have information, scientific or otherwise, regarding the flammability of hand sanitizers? Our high school is going to install them, (H1N1), and I know the alcohol based ones are flammable. But at what percentage? What brands are or are not? The OFM Communiqué, 2004-11 does not answer these questions.

[chip]

We have the Endure 300 brand of hand sanitizer at work. I just squeezed some onto a piece of paper and took a match to it. The paper burned normally and then slightly accelerated when it reached the sanitizer. Active ingredient in this one is: 70% Ethyl Alcohol. Inactive ingredients are: Animomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Fragrance, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Water.

If you can't get answers specific to the flammability of hand sanitizer, could you look up flammability of Ethyl Alcohol in the ERG to get a sense of how it would react with fire?

[WFD999]

Here is a link to an Chevron Safety Alert

http://www.cocciardi.com/purell.pdf?ID=13

[FireChef]

I attended a H1N1 training course, and we were told that the best preventative measure is still good old fashioned hand washing. What you have to look out for is, if you are using the hand sanitizer's on a constant basis, your hands might be losing their natural oils and drying your skin out. So make sure you are using hand lotions too. Also I have heard from a couple of nurses, is that the hand sanitizers, dont kill bacteria (ie c-Diff), where washing with an anti-bacterial soap will keep them plus germs.

[hmckay91]

What is the concern?Used as an accelerant?Spontaneous combustion?Personal Injury (as per the Chevron thing)?Is it likely to be more risk or more hazardous than the many common cleaning supplies used in the high school, the shop, or the chemistry lab?

Perhaps there is a MSDS/Whmis sheet or UN Number.