Important Information
Precautions when handling and disposing of CCA treated wood
The following precautions should be taken both when handling the treated timber and in determining where to use or dispose of the treated timber.
- All sawdust and construction debris should be cleaned up and disposed of after construction.
- Do not use treated wood under circumstances where the preservative may become a component of food or animal feed. Examples of such sites would be use of mulch from recycled arsenic-treated wood, cutting boards, counter tops, animal bedding, and structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food.
- Only treated wood that is visibly clean and free of surface residue should be used for patios, decks and walkways.
- Do not use treated wood for construction of those portions of beehives, which may come into contact with honey.
- Treated wood should not be used where it may come into direct or indirect contact with drinking water, except for uses involving incidental contact such as docks and bridges.
- Treated wood should not be burned in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces, or residential boilers because toxic chemicals may be produced as part of the smoke and ashes. Treated wood from commercial or industrial use (e.g., construction sites) may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with applicable government regulations.
- CCA-treated wood can be disposed of with regular municipal trash (i.e., municipal solid waste, not yard waste) in many areas. For more information, please contact the waste management agency for your area.
- Avoid frequent or prolonged inhalation of sawdust from treated wood. When sawing, sanding, and machining treated wood, wear a dust mask. Whenever possible, these operations should be performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumulations or airborne sawdust from treated wood.
- When power sawing and machining, wear goggles to protect eyes from flying particles.
- Wear gloves when working with the wood. After working with the wood, and before eating, drinking, toileting, and use of tobacco products, wash exposed areas thoroughly.
- Koppers Performance Chemicals does not manufacture or produce treated wood products. For Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the actual treated wood product(s), contact the wood product manufacturer or merchant where the treated wood product was purchased.
