Pyrophoric materials are extremely reactive toward oxygen and in most cases, water, and must never be exposed to the atmosphere. Exposure of these materials to air (or moisture) could result in spontaneous combustion, which could cause serious burns or other injuries. Pyrophoric materials should never be handled while working alone. Please use the buddy system if an experiment involves pyrophoric material.
Examples of common pyrophoric materials can be found in the Pyrophoric Materials Quick Reference Guide. Hands-on training demonstrating competency of laboratory approved pyrophoric procedures is required before using pyrophoric materials. EHSS Pyrophoric Awareness Safety Training is also available online and provides best practices when working in a lab with pyrophoric material.
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