Sodium hypophosphite should be kept in a cool, dry place, isolated from oxidizing materials.

It decomposes into phosphine which is irritating to the respiratory tract and disodium phosphate.

This forms the basis for electroless nickel plating (Ni-P), which is its main industrial application.

[2] With this method, a durable nickel-phosphorus film can coat objects with irregular surfaces, such as in avionics, aviation and the petroleum field.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration designated sodium hypophosphite as a List I chemical under 21 CFR 1310.02 effective November 17, 2001, specifically mentioning the compound together with several other salts of hypophosphorous acid.