methanol – IMDG Code Compliance Centre

CAPTAIN MORGAN & MEDICAL FIRST AID

Antidote for Methanol is Ethanol.

Consumption of Methanol will lead to permanent blindness, not so permanent as next stage of methanol effect is death.

In appendix 15 of Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (MFAG) included in the supplement of IMDG Code reference to methanol poisoning leads to table no. 19.

Table no. 19 advises that if a mouthful or more methanol is swallowed, regardless of symptoms give 25 ml of ethyl alcohol 99.25% in 250 to 300 ml water or soft drink . Remember It does not advise to pick a bottle of Bacardi or Captain Morgan’s rum from the bonded store 😉

In all cases ship staff must radio for medical advise.

In IMDG Code Methanol is listed as UN 1230, Class 3 with subsidiary risk 6.1 ( flammable toxic liquid) & Ethanol as UN 1170, Class 3 ( flammable liquid )

For more information about Medical First Aid on board ships carrying dangerous goods refer to MFAG.

Safe drinking & Happy Sailing!!

WHAT IS SUBSIDIARY RISK?

Image showing a bottle of Benzene (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Class or division represents the main risk posed by the dangerous goods. There are total 15 predominant classes and divisions which are listed below

Class 1 Explosives
Class 2.1 Flammable Gases
Class 2.2 non-flammable, non-toxic gases
Class 2.3 toxic gases
Class 3 Flammable liquids
Class 4.1 flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized Explosives
Class 4.2 substances liable to spontaneous combustion
Class 4.3 substances which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
Class 5.1 oxidizing substances
Class 5.2 organic peroxides
Class 6.1 toxic substances
Class 6.2 infectious substances
Class 7 Radioactive material
Class 8 Corrosive substances

15. Class 9 Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

Some of the substances have multiple hazards.

Ethanol is a flammable liquid listed under UN 1170, ETHANOL, and Class 3

Methanol is a flammable liquid which is also toxic listed under UN 1230, METHANOL, Class 3, and Subsidiary Risk 6.1

Ethanol has only one risk, flammability

Methanol has two risks, Main risk = Flammability & Subsidiary risk = toxicity

To know more about classification procedures and risks refer chapter 2.0 & 2.x of IMDG Code for respective classes.

Ethyl Mercaptan (shashikallada.wordpress.com)
Explosive Limits (shashikallada.wordpress.com)
Packing Groups (shashikallada.wordpress.com)

Chaffing Fuel

Some of the chaffing fuel used for heating food is classified as dangerous goods under UN Model Regulations. Generally chaffing fuel contains ethanol, methanol or diethylene glycol.

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