We can find the aerosol products around the house for everything from touching up patio furniture, to dusting furniture. You can find them on nearly every jobsite, in most work vehicles, and in offices. They’re small and easy to ignore. But when they explode or depressurize incorrectly, they can be deadly.
Aerosol cans are normally manufactured from thin sheets of steel. The products they hold are highly pressurized with a number of types of hydrocarbon propellants, from carbon dioxide or butane or propane. In recent years, some scientists and environmental activists have linked chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants to decreases in the planet’s ozone layer. Most manufacturers have shifted to propellants that are thought to be less damaging to the atmosphere.
Hazards to workers
Workers face three general types of hazards when working with aerosol cans. The first of these is the pressurization. As long as the can and the dispensing device remain intact, aerosol cans are safe. But any number of problems, such as a puncture, a faulty valve, excessive temperatures, or corrosion can result in unintended depressurization. In the most severe cases, aerosol cans may explode, burning nearby workers and showering them with steel shrapnel.
The second hazard is the actual product being dispensed by the can. Often, these products are inherently hazardous, such as in the case of insecticides. Others may contain hazardous substances, such as the concentrated solvents found in some paints or cleaners. In fact, some cans that are partially empty may be legally considered to be hazardous wastes. Finally, if either the propellant or the product it delivers is flammable, the aerosol can creates a fire hazard.
