The Laminex Group
90 - 94 Tram Road
DONCASTER VIC 3108
Telephone: 03 9848 4811
Facsimile: 03 9848 8158

Date last updated: 25/07/2005

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET NO. 206

STATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS NATURE: In its intact state this product is not classified as a
hazardous substance according to the criteria of NOHSC.

Wood dust from this product is classified as a hazardous substance according to the criteria
of NOHSC.


LAMINEX - HD3 DECORATE
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is issued by The
Laminex Group in accordance with National Occupational Health and Safety
Commission (NOHSC) Guidelines. As such, the information contained herein must
not be altered, deleted or added to. The Laminex Group will issue a new MSDS when
there is a change in product specifications and/or NOHSC guidelines / regulations.
The Laminex Group will not accept any responsibility for any changes made to its
MSDS in content by any other person.

Section 1: PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

Appearance:

The products are manufactured as pressed boards ranging in thickness from 3mm to
48mm. They are made from wood particle / fibres which are bonded together with
resin.

Odour:

Newly manufactured board and freshly cut surfaces may have an pine odour

Use:

Construction of commercial toilet and shower partitions




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
Section 2: COMPOSITION & INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

Chemical Entity CAS No. Proportion Exposure Limits
NOHSC [1003(1995)]
Wood Particles None > 85% Not applicable for intact
products
Urea formaldehyde resin 9011-05-6 < 13%
Melamine urea 25036-13-9 < 13%
formaldehyde resin
Paraffin wax 8002-74-2 < 2%
Dust from this product contains:
Soft wood dust > 85% There is no specific
exposure standards for dust
Cured binder < 15%
from wood panel products
but the following should
apply:

1. Wood dust (softwood):
5.0 mg/m3 time
weighted average
(TWA) ?? measured as
inspirable particulates

sen - sensitising to skin
and respiratory tract

2. Formaldehyde: 1.0 ppm
(1.2mg/m3) TWA: 2.0
ppm (2.5 mg/m3) short
term exposure limit
STEL

sen ?? sensitiser; Cat 3
(possible human
carcinogen)
The Laminex Group recommendation: Keep exposure as low as practicable with the aim of keeping
dust exposure below 1.0 mg/m3 measured as inspirable dust.


Notes:
The above ingredients are bound together under heat and pressure.
The process "cures" the resin, but small amounts of formaldehyde may be
released from the finished product.
The finished product contains less than 0.01% free formaldehyde.
Potential exposure to dust will occur only when power tools or wood working
machinery is used on the product such as planning, sawing, drilling or
sanding, or in poorly maintained workshops

AICS status: All components of the finished product are listed on the AICS




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
Section 3: HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

Emergency Overview
Dust Hazard
Occupational exposure to wood dust from any timber product has been classified
hazardous according to the NOHSC. Inhalation of excessive amounts of dust may
cause temporary upper respiratory irritation and / or congestion; and irritation of the
eyes and skin. Repeated inhalation of wood dust increases the risk of nasal cancers
and may increase the risk of lung fibrosis.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde gas may be released under some conditions particularly when the
boards are heated and laminated or cut by laser cutting machines. However in well-
ventilated storage areas and workplaces, the concentration of formaldehyde is
unlikely to exceed the World Health Organisation Standard of 0.1ppm for the general
environment and it will be well below the NOHSC Occupational Exposure Standard
of 1.0ppm

Wood dust may be produced from machining the product, and formaldehyde gas
may be produced from heating processes
Explosion Hazard
Wood dust may ignite at temperatures greater than 204oC and high concentrations in
air (>60mg/m3) may spontaneously explode


Acute (short term) Health Effects
Swallowed: Unlikely under normal conditions. Swallowing the dust may cause
abdominal discomfort.
Eye: Wood dust and the resin may be irritating to the eyes resulting in
redness and watering.
Skin: Skin contact with wood dust and the resin, may result in skin itching
and redness and dermatitis in some people.
Inhaled: Inhalation of wood dust and the resin may be irritating to the nose,
throat and lungs.


Chronic (long term) Health Effects
Repeated exposures over many years to uncontrolled dusts increase the risk of nasal
cavity cancer. Inhalation of wood dust may also increase the risk of lung fibrosis
(scarring). There are also increased risks of respiratory and skin sensitization from
wood dust and resin in asthma and dermatitis respectively.

Wood dust has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) as group 1, carcinogen to humans

Formaldehyde has been evaluated by the IARC as group 1, carcinogenic to humans
and by the European Union (EU) as a Category 3 carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic)




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
Section 4: FIRST AID MEASURES

Swallowed: Drink a glass of water. If irritation persists, seek immediate medical
attention

Eye: Flush with flowing water for at least 15 minutes, and if symptoms
persist seek immediate medical attention.

Skin: Wash with mild soap and running water. If irritation persists, seek
immediate medical attention

Inhaled: Leave the dusty area. If irritation persists, seek immediate medical
attention

First Aid Facilities: Provide eye wash facilities

Advice to Doctor: Treat symptomatically.

Section 5: FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES
Unusual Fire / Explosion Hazards
Wood dust may form explosive mixtures with air. Burning of smoldering boards or
wood dust and boards cut by laser cutting machines can generate:

Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Oxides of nitrogen
Hydrogen cyanide
Other pyrolysis products that are irritating to the respiratory tract

Avoid breathing smoke from laser cutting machines and from burning or smouldering
materials.

Full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus should be worn for
firefighting.

The intact product and dust must not be burnt in barbeques; combustion stoves or
open fires in the home as irritating gases are emitted.

Fire Fighting Recommendations
Use water, fog, CO2, foam or dry chemical fire extinguishers.

Section 6: ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Off cuts and general waste material should be placed in containers and disposed of
at approved landfill sites, or burnt in an approved furnace or incinerator, in
accordance with disposal authority guidelines.

Vacuuming or wet sweeping should be used to clean up dust. Refer to Personal
Protective Equipment section of this MSDS for appropriate equipment to use during
clean up




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
Section 7: HANDLING & STORAGE
The boards should be stored in well-ventilated areas away from sources of heat,
flame or sparks.

No special transport requirements are considered necessary.

Section 8: EXPOSURE CONTROL & PERSONAL PROTECTION
Summary
Keep exposure as low as practicable with the aim of maintaining airborne dust levels
to below 1.0 mg/m3 Time Weighted Average (TWA) measure as inspirable dust.
Working with wood panel products must be carried out in such a way as to minimise
exposure to dust.

Under factory conditions machining, sawing, drilling, routing, laser cutting and
sanding of the wood must be done with equipment fitted with local exhaust ventilation
devices capable of removing dust and smoke at source.

Work areas should be kept clean by regular vacuuming or wet sweeping
Ventilation
Local exhaust ventilation should be provided at areas of cutting to remove airborne
dust.
General dilution ventilation should be provided as necessary to keep airborne dust
below the applicable exposure limits and guidelines.

The need of ventilation systems should be evaluated by a professional industrial
hygienist, while the design of specific ventilation systems should be conducted by a
professional engineer.
Personal Protective Equipment
Use personal protective equipment as discussed above. Where possible, vacuum all
equipment before repair/maintenance to remove excessive dust.

Eye: Non-fogging dust resistant safety goggles or glasses conforming
with Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 1336
Recommended practices for occupational eye protection should
be worn if there is a risk of dust getting into the eye, such as when
using power tools.

Skin: Wear standard duty gloves conforming with Australian Standards
AS 2161 Industrial safety gloves and mittens, loose comfortable
clothing, and boots. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers are
recommended if skin itching occurs. Wash skin with mild soap
and water after working with these products. Wash work clothes
regularly and separately from other clothes.

Respiratory: Avoid breathing dust. Wear a P1 or P2 particulate disposable or
cartridge dust mask (respirator) conforming with Australian and
New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and
maintenance of respiratory protective devices, and AS/NZS 1716
Respiratory protective devices when exposed to dust. These
Standards should be followed in the selection, fit-testing, use,
storage and maintenance of the dust masks.


Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
Smoking: Inhalation of airborne particles from other sources, including those
from cigarette smoke, may increase the risk of lung disease. All
storage and work areas should be smoke free zones and other
airborne contaminants be kept to a minimum.


Section 9: PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Boiling point, o C: Not applicable
Evaporation Point (Butyl acetate =1) Not applicable
Melting Point Not applicable
pH Not applicable
Saturation in Air (%) Not applicable
Solids Content Not applicable
Vapour Pressure, mm Hg at 25oC: Not applicable
Vapour Density (Air = 1) Not applicable
Solubility in Water (%) Insoluble
Specific Gravity (Water = 1) 0.95 ?? 1.20
Viscosity Not applicable
VOCs (g/l) Not applicable
Volatile by Volume (%) Not applicable
Flash Point, o C: Not applicable
Flammability Limits, %: Not applicable
Auto ignition Temperature, o C: > 220oC

Section 10: STABILITY & REACTIVITY
Reactivity: Stable at normal temperatures and pressures

Section 11: TOXICOLOGICAL & EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

Any health hazards associated with these products have been evaluated on the basis
of the individual ingredients, and these hazards should be assumed to be additive.
The hazards described in this document have been evaluated based on a threshold
of 1.0% for all hazardous ingredients and 0.1% for all carcinogens.
Acute Effects
The dust, which may be generated during manual or mechanical cutting, drilling,
sanding or other abrading processes, and the smoke generated by heating or laser
cutting, may cause temporary irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory system.

The symptoms are expected to subside after exposure has stopped and are not
expected to cause any long-term effects.

Allergic skin and lung reactions have been reported with exposure to various wood
panels dusts due to the chemicals presented in wood and cured resin. These rashes
resemble other allergic skin reactions caused by plants, and usually heal rapidly.
Chronic Effects
The risk of nasal cancer has been associated with wood dust exposure. In the
1960s, studies linking wood dust exposure in the furniture industry with nasal cancer
Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
were first reported in England. The link was confirmed in several other European
countries and furniture industries. The studies showing a link to nasal cancer have
been primarily conducted in industries using hardwood. The International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated dusts from both hardwood and softwood in
1995 and concluded that: ??there is sufficient evidence in humans for the
carcinogenicity of wood dust. There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals
for the carcinogenicity of wood dust. Wood dust is carcinogenic to humans
(Group 1)??.

The IARC also evaluated formaldehyde in 19951 and concluded that: ??There is limited
evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde: there is sufficient
evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde; and that
overall formaldehyde is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)??. The IARC
again evaluated formaldehyde in June 20042 and concluded that: ??there are
adequate data available from humans for an increased risk of nasopharyngeal
cancer?? and that formaldehyde should now be classified as Group 1, carcinogenic to
humans.

Whilst this wood panel product contains less than 0.01% free formaldehyde, people
using the product may be exposed to low concentrations of formaldehyde if the
boards are heated (as in laminating), are cut by laser cutting machines, and/or if dust
particles come in contact with the moist mucous membranes lining the upper
respiratory tract. Extensive literature searches and research carried out by
independent occupational and environmental health specialists has not indicated any
risks over and above those associated with wood dust without binder. This research
includes the 1999 formaldehyde risk assessment carried out be US scientists in
collaboration with the US EPA and Health Canada. The risk assessment concludes
that if a non-smoking worker were exposed to 0.004 ppm of formaldehyde
continuously for 80 years and also to 0.1 ppm for 40 years at work then the predicted
additional risk of respiratory tract cancer would be 4.1 per 1,000,000,000. The
controls needed for minimising the potential for formaldehyde exposure from this
product will be the same as those for control of dust exposures. These risk
assessments and conclusions are in no way altered by the reclassification of
formaldehyde to Group 1 by the IARC

References:

1 IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans.
Volume 62: Wood dust and formaldehyde. IARC, Lyon, France. 1995.

2 IARC Press Release No. 153, 15 June 2004. IARC, Lyon, France.


Section 12: ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

This product should be used only for its designated purposes




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
Section 13: DISPOSAL

This product is not regulated as a hazardous waste by Australian environmental
authorities. Local authority guidelines should be followed in the disposal of waste
products and dust.

Section 14: TRANSPORT INFORMATION

This product is not regulated as a dangerous good. No special transport
requirements are necessary.

Section 15: REGULATORY INFORMATION

The Laminex Group has assessed this product in accordance with the criteria of the
National Occupational Health and Safety Commission: NOHSC: 1008 (1999) and
NOHSC: 10005(1999), and the assessment is that occupational exposure to dust,
smoke or fume from this product is hazardous according to the criteria of the
NOHSC.

No special State or Commonwealth regulations apply. The product is not listed in the
Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons.

Wood dust - (certain hardwoods such as beech and oak), and Wood dust - softwood
are listed in the 1999 NOHSC list of Designated Hazardous Substances: NOHSC:
10005(1999).

Formaldehyde - is listed in the 1999 NOHSC list of Designated Hazardous
Substances: NOHSC: 10005(1999) if present in concentrations of 0.2% or more
(this wood panel product contains <0.01% formaldehyde).

Section 16: OTHER INFORMATION

Contact Point: Technical Manager ?? Board Products
The Laminex Group
332 Bay Road
CHELTENHAM. VIC 3192
Telephone: 03 9584 3211
Facsimile: 03 9584 9141

Whilst the information contained in this document is based on data which, to the best of our knowledge, was accurate
and reliable at the time of preparation, no responsibility can be accepted by us for errors and omissions. The
provision of this information should not be construed as a recommendation to use any of our products in violation of
any patent rights or in breach of any statute or regulation. Users are advised to make their own determination as to
the suitability of this information in relation to their particular purposes and specific circumstances. Since the
information contained in this document may be applied under conditions beyond our control, no responsibility can be
accepted by us for any loss or damage caused by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of this
information.




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated
 HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION TO USERS

The Laminex Group Health and Safety Warning

Wood Panel Products

Ingredients:
Wood fibre or particles and heat cured resin.

Dust and smoke from this product are irritating to eyes, skin and
Risk:
respiratory system.
May cause sensitisation by inhalation (asthma) and skin contact
(dermatitis).
Repeated inhalation of the dust increases the risk of nasal cavity
cancer and may increase the risk of lung fibrosis (scarring).

Avoid repeated or prolonged contact with skin.
Safety:
Avoid contact with eyes.
Avoid breathing dust and smoke.
Wear suitable clothing, standard duty gloves (AS 2161), and dust
resistant eye protection (AS/NZS 1336). If machining without
adequate dust or smoke extraction or if dusty or smoke,
respiratory protection (particulate dust mask) must be worn
(AS/NZS 1715 and 1716). Keep work areas clean by wet
sweeping and/or vacuuming.
Wash work clothes regularly and separately from other clothes.

Irrigate eyes with plenty of water.
First-Aid:
Wash skin with soap and water.

Follow above safety instructions, and:
Disposal:
Collect in containers for disposal as trade waste in accordance
with local authority guidelines.
The intact product and dust must not be burnt in barbecues,
combustion stoves, or open fires in the home, as irritating gases
are emitted.

Dust may form an explosive mixture in air.
Fire:
Earth all exhaust equipment and prevent high dust concentrations
in confined spaces.
Extinguish with water, CO2, foam or dry chemical extinguishers.
Firefighters must wear self-contained breathing apparatus.




Material Safety Data Sheet 206
Laminex ?? HD3 Decorated


POLYOXYMETHYLENE MELAMINE UREA