The day has arrived! IN-OSHA, a state-plan agency, has issued a citation to a chemical manufacturer regarding its Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for Ammonium Hydroxide (NH₄OH). OSHA took issue because the SDS did not provide the LEL/UEL range for this chemical. Now I could argue that NH₄OH is NOT a flammable liquid, and therefore, this may be a stretch, actually, to issue this citation. Granted, NH3 gas has a flammable range from 16-25%, and I am guessing, in the right circumstances, we could get enough NH3 gas off the NH₄OH solution to create a flammable atmosphere. But I am not sure I would have included the LEL/UEL data for NH₄OH since technically it is NOT a flammable liquid under OSHA’s definition(s).
NOTE: The citation was issued when a contractor was cutting holes into the top of a NH₄OH storage tank.
But, I am pleased to see OSHA attempting to hold manufacturers accountable for their SDSs!
Here is the IN-OSHA citation: