# Sodium Azide

Chemical Name: CAS #:  
Hazard Classification:   
Location Used: Principal Investigator:  
Processes for Which Chemical Is Used:  
HAZARDS AND PROTECTION  
Hazard Information  
• Acute oral and dermal toxicity  
• Organ Toxicity  
Routes of Exposure  
• Ingestion ● Skin Absorption  
• Inhalation  
• Eye absorption  
If exposed by:  
• Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Do not use   
mouth to mouth; give artificial respiration   
through pocket mask, one-way valve or other   
respiratory medical device  
• Ingestion: Fatal if swallowed. Do not induce   
vomiting.  
• Eye or skin: Fatal in contact with skin. Rinse   
with plenty of water for 15 minutes.  
If exposed by any route, seek immediate medical   
attention.   
Symptoms of Exposure  
• Exposure can be fatal.  
• May cause headaches, nausea and vomiting.   
Prolonged exposure can cause brain damage.  
• May cause eye, skin and respiratory tract   
irritation  
Exposure Limits  
All exposure limits are Time Weighted Averages   
(average exposure over an eight-hour day) unless   
otherwise indicated.  
OSHA PEL: None indicated  
ACGIH TLV: 0.11 ppm (0.29 mg/m3  
) ceiling  
NIOSH REL: 0.1 ppm (0.3 mg/m3  
) ceiling  
Engineering Controls  
• Chemical Fume Hood Never open sodium azide outside of a chemical fume   
hood.  
Administrative Controls  
• Designated area sign  
• Particularly hazardous substance label  
• Post designated area sign before each use.  
• Label containers of sodium azide as a health   
hazard.  
• Use as small a quantity as possible.  
Sodium azide 26628-22-8  
Health Hazard  
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY EHS  
LABORATORY CHEMICAL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE  
CS-008 Last Reviewed July 8, 2019  
• Do not use metal scoops with sodium azide.   
Use scoops made from other materials.  
Personal Protective Equipment  
• Gloves   
• Safety glasses (for dry chemical) or splash   
goggles (for solutions)  
• Lab coat  
• Tyvek sleeves (for amounts exceeding 5   
grams).  
Two pairs of nitrile gloves must be worn when   
handling sodium azide. Wash hands immediately after   
use. Splash goggles must be worn when working with   
solutions of sodium azide greater than 1%.  
OTHER SAFETY INFORMATION  
Transportation Follow guidance given in the laboratory safety manual   
for transport of chemicals.  
Storage  
• Not not store in metal containers or in metal   
cabinets.  
• Can be stored with other dry chemicals but in   
a dedicated section for toxic chemicals.  
• Keep away from heat and open flames.  
Incompatible materials include:  
Benzoyl chloride, potassium hydroxide, bromine,   
carbon disulfide, chromyl chloride, copper,   
dibromalonitrile, dimethyl sulfate, lead, barium   
carbonate, acids (especially sulfuric and nitric), metals,   
metal salts, water.  
Spill/Accident Procedures  
For all spills:  
• Wear two pairs of nitrile gloves, safety glasses   
and lab coat  
• Evacuate the immediate area  
Exposure:  
• If anyone exposed requires emergency   
medical attention, dial 911 (or 9-911 from   
landline).  
• Follow procedures outlined in laboratory   
safety manual.  
Small spills (less than 10 g in a hood): Cover spills of   
dry chemical with sand. Sweep contents into a nonmetal container collection by EHS. If the spill is liquids,   
cover with absorbent material and then place the   
absorbent materials in a non-metal container for   
collection by EHS. Clean area with soap and water   
once spill is removed.  
Large spills (greater than 10 g in a hood or any   
amount outside a fume hood): If the spill is in a   
chemical fume hood, contact the EHS director (864-  
710-2933). If he cannot be reached (does not answer   
phone, do not leave voicemail), then call 911, pull the   
fire alarm and exit the building. If the spill is outside of   
a hood, then call 911, pull the fire alarm and exit the   
building.  
Waste Disposal Waste sodium azide must be collected for disposal.  
Empty bottles of sodium azide must be collected by   
EHS. DO NOT rinse them! Do not throw them in the   
trash!  
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY EHS  
LABORATORY CHEMICAL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE  
CS-008 Last Reviewed July 8, 201