Sulphuric acid (96-98%) COSHH sheet

Also called sulfuric acid, concentrated sulphuric acid.

Concentrated sulphuric acid is used in industry and laboratories and in some trade drain cleaners. At this strength the sheet classifies it as causing severe skin burns and eye damage.

Taken from the Sulphuric acid 96.2-98.9% safety data sheet from Nyrstar, revision 24 March 2023. Open the data sheet. Formulas differ between products, so check against the sheet for the product you actually buy. A weaker source: a German producer's GB sheet from March 2023, using EU wording. Some UK supplier sheets also list H290 (may be corrosive to metals), which this one does not. It applies to 96-98% acid only. Page checked against the sheet on 14 November 2026.

Hazards on the data sheet

Signal word: Danger.

H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

Precautions

P260 Do not breathe mist/vapours/spray.
P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
P303+P361+P353 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water [or shower].
P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
P310 Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor.

Workplace exposure limit

Long-term (8-hour): 0.05 mg/m³ for sulphuric acid mist, from EH40/2005. No short-term limit.

PPE

Eyes	Tightly fitting safety glasses (EN 166).
Hands	Gloves tested to EN 374. Fluorinated rubber, thickness >= 0.4 mm, breakthrough time >= 8 h; or butyl rubber, thickness >= 0.5 mm, breakthrough time >= 120 min.
Breathing	If workplace exposure limits are exceeded, approved respiratory protection; combination filter E-P2.
Skin	Acid-proof protective clothing.

First aid

Eyes	Remove contact lenses. Rinse thoroughly under running water with eyelids wide open, protecting the unaffected eye, for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Call a doctor immediately.
Skin	Wash immediately with plenty of water for several minutes. Call a doctor immediately. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes.
Breathed in	Remove to fresh air (rescuers to use suitable respiratory protection); keep warm and at rest. Call a doctor immediately.
Swallowed	Rinse mouth and give plenty of water to drink. Do not induce vomiting (risk of perforation). Call a doctor immediately.

Storage, spills and what to keep it away from

Storage	Keep container tightly closed and dry in a cool, well-ventilated place; reseal opened containers and keep upright; keep in containers of the same material as the original. Do not store with alkali metals, ammonia, aldehydes, alkalis, combustible materials, phosphorus, nitrates or hydrogen peroxide; keep away from water.
Spills	Use PPE per section 8. Pick up with absorbent material (e.g. acid binder) into suitable containers for recovery or disposal. Do not discharge to drains, surface water, groundwater or soil.
Keep away from	Water; Alkali metals; Ammonia; Aldehydes; Earth alkali metals; Alkalies; Phosphorous; Nitrates; combustible materials; hydrogen peroxide

What your assessment still has to cover

This sheet lists water among the materials to avoid, so record exactly how any dilution or drain treatment is done, and by whom. Note decanting, where eye-wash and running water are, and what it is stored near, since ammonia and alkalis are also on the list to avoid.

Fill these in for your own workplace. HSE lists them as the points an assessment considers. For a full form, use the COSHH assessment template.

Workplace and location
Task and how the product is used
Who is exposed, including anyone more at risk
How often and for how long
Controls already in place
Further action needed, by whom and by when
Assessed by, and date
Review date

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