1. COPPER CYANIDE Group Members : Lynette Lim Lim Pei Rong Lin Huang Khoo Lileen Chemical Logistics

2. Hazards Fire Hazard : Special hazards of combustion products : Toxic hydrogen cyanide gas may form in fires. Potential Health Effects Eye : May cause eye irritation. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Ingestion : May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause tissue anoxia, characterized by weakness, headache, dizziness, confusion, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), weak and irregular heart beat, collapse, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma and death.

3. Skin : May cause skin irritation. May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts. If absorbed, causes symptoms similar to those of ingestion. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering. Inhalation : Inhalation of high concentrations may cause central nervous system effects characterized by nausea, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and coma. May cause cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood). May cause respiratory tract irritation. Exposure may cause blood abnormalities. Hazards

5. First Aid measured needed Eyes : Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Get medical aid immediately. Skin : Get medical aid immediately. Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Serious Skin contact : Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek immediate medical attention.

6. Inhalation : Get medical aid immediately. Remove from exposure and move to fresh air immediately. Do NOT use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Keep warm and at rest. Administer oxygen. If breathing has ceased apply artificial respiration using oxygen and a suitable mechanical device such as a bag and a mask. SPEED IS ESSENTIAL, OBTAIN MEDICAL AID IMMEDIATELY. Ingestion : Do not induce vomiting. Get medical aid immediately. Do not give anything by mouth. First Aid measured needed

7. Fire and Explosion Data FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS : Due to the presence of cyanide compounds, this solution presents a significant health hazard to fire-fighters. When involved in a fire, this material may decompose and produce irritating fumes and toxic gases (i.e. oxides of carbon, nitrogen and potassium, as wells as cyanide and copper compounds). Flammability of the product : May be combustible at high temperature. Products of combustion : Some metallic oxides Fire hazards in presence of substances : slightly flammable to flammable in presence of oxidizing materials. Fire fighting media and instructions : Small fire : use dry chemical powder Large fire : use water spray, fog or foam. Do not use water jet.

11. Some pictures

12. Statistics of the world using Copper Cyanide About 90% ( i.e 18% of total production) is used in mining around the world, mostly for gold recovery.

14. Usage of copper cyanide in US

16. Accidents on copper cyanide Article 1 The Daily post, New Zealand (11/1/07) POISON SCARE: illegal trail of deadly cyanide closes reserve The daily post in New Zealand reports that locals were shocked to find a deadly 900m trail of cyanide laid out on a popular Tikitapu Scenic Reserve track near Lake Okareka. The cyanide was in the form of a blue-green paste and laid out like bait about 35m apart over 900 meters of track. Cyanide is extremely dangerous, and the area has been closed down so as to avoid harming humans or animals.

17. Article 2 Reuters (9/28/07) Nine die as China house collapses in cyanide A house built on top of an abandoned pool of cyanide collapsed in a gold- mining area of central china, killing nine people and sending seven others to the hospital. The floor of the house, made of a single wooden board over the pond, gave way and 16 people fell into a 2 meter deep chemical pool that was used to extract gold from ore.

18. Article 3 All Africa (08/26/2007) Mining company expresses regret for cyanide spillage This article reports that the Bogoso Gold Limited mining company (Dumasi Village. Africa) has issued a press release announcing that one of the mine ’ s tailing delivery pipes developed a leak, releasing about 25 to 40 drums of mill tailings- which contain cyanide – into the environment on June 16,2006.

19. Article 4 BIA (8/21/07) Cyanide gold mine closed This articles reports that Canadian Eldorado Gold-Tuprag company has been prevented from further extracting gold with cyanide by the governor ’ s office of Usak province, in western Turkey. 2 weeks before the opening of the mine in july 2006, 1800 people in Esme had been poisoned by hydrogen cyanide coming from the mine. The mine was opened by Hilmi Guler, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

20. Article 5 Associated Press(5/25/07) Brother, sister of cyanide murder suspect indicted in fraud probe It reports that the brother and sister of a doctor suspected of killing his wife with cyanide in 2005 were indicted on charges of stealing more than $2 million from the accounts of their brother and dead sister- in- law. The article notes that their brother, Dr Yazeed Essa, is fighting extradition Cyprus. He disappeared after he was indicted on aggravated murder charges in Cleveland in the 2005 death of his 38 year old wife.

22. How do a Logistician find the MSDS useful in the job? As logisticians, we would find the MSDS useful on many aspects in our jobs in the future. Copper cyanide is a poison that reacts violently with magnesium. When heated to decomposition, it emits very toxic fumes containing hydrogen cyanide, but it is not flammable itself.

23. For example, some warehouses store chemicals and pack them into containers or bags. Warehouse assistants who handle or pack chemicals or deliverymen who transport may be exposed to the chemicals. It is therefore important that employees who work with chemicals are aware of the hazards, trained in handling the chemicals and follow safe work practices to avoid chemical exposure. How do a Logistician find the MSDS useful in the job?

24. As a logisticians, it is necessary for us to follow the safe work practices for handling hazardous chemicals. For safety concern, we must ensure that every stored chemical has a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The classification of chemicals, labelling of chemical containers and format of MSDS should follow the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. How do a Logistician find the MSDS useful in the job?

25. Furthermore, while dealing with chemical spills, we logisticians must follow appropriate decontamination procedures when handling toxic chemical spills, referring to the MSDS for specific recommendations. How do a Logistician find the MSDS useful in the job?