Laboratory Safety

Safety Training for Research

Laboratories at Stanford University

http://safetytrain.stanford.edu

Topics We’ll Cover:

• Chemical hazard awareness

• Control of chemical exposures

• Chemical storage/transportation/shipping

• Chemical waste management

• Emergency response

Introduction: Overview

• PLAN• USE• STORE• DISPOSE• RESPOND

PLAN: Gather Information• Sources

– Labels– MSDS – Reference books– Chemical safety database– Toxic gas table– EH&S– Exposure limits listed in:

*Cal/OSHA Regulations http://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5155table_ac1.html

*ACGIH TLV and BEI booklet

PLAN: Gather Information

• Cal/OSHA’s Lab Standard (8 CCR 5191 – Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories)

– http://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5191.html

– Appendix A of regulation provides basic rules and procedures for working with chemicals

• SU’s Chemical Hygiene Plan– http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/researchlab/lab/chemhygiene/index.htm

– Each laboratory responsible for developing Lab Safety Plan

PLAN: Gather Information

• MSDS– http://stanford.chemquik.com– quality varies– presumes industrial use– helpful info included:

• Visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemical when being released

• signs/ symptoms of chemical exposure• permissible exposure limits (if established)

PLAN: Gather Information

PLAN: Gather Information

• Chemical Safety Database– Stanford system– Basic safety info– Storage code designations– Access through on-line inventory or EH&S

web page (http://chemsafetydata.stanford.edu)

PLAN: Gather Information

PLAN: Know The Chemical Hazards• Physical Hazards:

– Flammability, corrosivity or reactivity

• Health Hazards:– Acute Health Hazards

• High concentration (ceiling limit), short exposure duration• Damage happens quickly

– Chronic Health Hazards• Low concentration, long exposure duration• Long latency (symptoms may appear long after exposure)

PLAN: Know Routes of Exposure• Inhalation

• Absorption (skin or eye contact)

• Ingestion

• Injection (cuts, puncture)

PLAN: Assessing Hazard Level• Depends on:

– Chemical: toxicity, concentration

– Use: duration, frequency, amount

• Evaluation may include:– Baseline survey or audit

– Observation of work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls

– Air monitoring

The Dose Makes The Poison

Men Hospitalized for Eating Chili1999 Darwin Awardee,

Honorable Mention 

(May 1999, Philippines) Three men attempting to land in the Guinness Book of World Records were hospitalized in Legaspi after eating huge amounts of chili peppers. They were treated for acute gastritis and high blood pressure, and released.

PLAN: Controlling Hazards1) Substitute to less toxic material or less hazardous procedure (microscaling expt.)2) Use of engineering controls

– Ventilation, isolation

3) Use of administrative controls– Ensuring safe work practices, rotating staff

4) Use of personal protective equipment– Gloves, safety glasses/goggles

PLAN : Waste Reduction

• Purchase only what you

plan to use

• Check inventory prior to

any purchase

Inventories only remain as accurate as your lab keeps it!

PLAN: Updating InventorySCIMSweb at: http://scims.stanford.edu/stanford

Update SCIMSweb inventory to:

• Add chemicals new to the lab

• Delete old chemicals no longer used

• Report increases or decreases in average volumes kept

• Contact EH&S at 3-9667 to gain inventory access

. Reproductive Health Protection Program

University promotes early recognition of potential reproductive hazards.

Reproductive Hazards:– Chemical, biological, radiological or physical agents that can damage

reproductive systems of males and females.– Can result in infertility, spontaneous abortion, developmental impairment

or death of fetus or child.

EH&S services include:– Evaluates work areas.– Recommend proper procedures to reduce workplace exposures– Tier II training.

Contact the IH/Safety Program at 3-0448 for assistance.

Overview

• PLAN

• USE• STORE• DISPOSE• RESPOND

USE: Labeling• Label every container

• Change the label when you change the contents

• Label water!

• Spell out the common chemical name

• Add date to label when received

USE: Exposure ControlInhalation: Lab hoods• Designed to:

(1) Exhaust contaminant out of

breathing zone of worker

(2) Provide some splash protection

(3) Not designed to contain or withstand explosions.

• Never put your head inside the hood!• Close chemical containers

USE: Exposure Control

Inhalation: Lab hoods• For proper performance:

– Ensure certification is current– Lower sash to required height– Do not place anything within 6” of the front and back– Elevate large equipment off surface– Minimize storage in the hood– Do not disable flow alarm

Energy Conservation• A substantial amount of

energy is used to heat and cool air that goes out fume hoods.

• A 6-foot fume hood can cost Stanford as much as $6,200 per year to operate.

• Please keep hood sashes closed and lights off when not in use.*

* Applies to Moore (aka McCullough Annex), McCullough, and Green Earth Sciences.

USE: Exposure Control

Remember: Lab hoods are NOT designed to contain or withstand explosions.

USE: Exposure Control

Inhalation: Respirators

• Generally not required in labs

• May be needed if:– can’t work in fume hood– need protection in addition to fume hood

• Call EH&S if you think you need one– requires medical evaluation, training and fit

testing

USE: Exposure ControlAbsorption: Gloves• Disposable / reusable

– disposable: drip/drop and low toxicity

– reusable: high exposure and/or higher toxicity

• Glove material choice balances many factors:

– protection

– side effects (possible latex allergies?)

– ease of use (durability / tactility / grip)

– cost

• Double glove may be necessary• Check EH&S website for glove selection:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/researchlab/lab/glove/glove_table.html

USE: Exposure ControlAbsorption: Glove use

• Inspect gloves before wearing• Remove immediately if splashed or contaminated

and WASH HANDS!• Dispose of contaminated gloves as hazardous waste• Remove gloves before you leave the lab• Use designated pens when wearing gloves

USE: Exposure ControlAbsorption: Eye/ Face Protection

• Labs are eye hazardous areas

• Safety glasses, goggles

• Face shields

• How about– Prescription glasses?– Contact lenses?

USE: Exposure Control

Absorption: Protective Clothing

• Also have to protect skin on other body parts

• Researchers have been injured:

USE: Exposure ControlNitric Acid:

USE: Prevent Absorption

Phenol

USE: Prevent Absorption

Sodium Hydroxide

USE: Exposure Control

Proper Lab Attire• Lab coat

• Closed toe shoes

• Pants are much safer than shorts and skirts

• Don’t wear loose clothing

• Don’t wear tight clothing

USE: Exposure Control

Ingestion:

• No mouth pipetting !!!

• No eating, drinking or applying cosmetics in chemical use areas

• Wash hands before leaving the lab

• No food or drink storage in labs

USE: Exposure Control

Injection:

Don’t directly handle broken glassware, needles and other sharp objects

USE: Ergonomics• Repetitive activities

– microscope– computer use– pipetting

• Manual handling – heavy lifting– pushing carts– shelving items

• For training or post-injury work-site evaluation, call EH&S

Overview

• PLAN

• USE

• STORE

• DISPOSE

• RESPOND

CHEMICAL STORAGE

Provide Lab Security

• Keep the public from your chemicals

• Systems already in place:– Lock your lab when unattended– Do not prop open building doors– Respect the card key system

CHEMICAL STORAGE

• Select locations away from exits

• Shelves– provide earthquake protection– use overhead storage judiciously– don’t store within 18” of ceiling

• Sinks– do not store chemicals over a sink– do not store chemicals in a sink

CHEMICAL STORAGE

• Secondary containment– check volume of

containment– keep them clean

• Segregation– separate by storage group

• letter codes

CHEMICAL STORAGEFlammables • Flammables storage cabinet

– required for > 10 gallons of flammable & combustible liquids

– inspect for rust– acetic acid

CHEMICAL STORAGE

Flammables• Refrigerators

– explosion proof– flammables– regular

1 gal of isopentane did this

CHEMICAL STORAGE

Compressed Gases• Store upright• Restrain

– metal

– two-restraints

– no gang chaining

• Place in safe location• Segregate incompatibles

CHEMICAL STORAGE

• Protect the valve• Disconnect regulator• Use valve cover• NO BENCH CLAMPS• Mark once emptied• Get compressed gas

safety training !!

STORAGE: Exercise

Secondary containment

and lips on shelves in use

Heavy items stored on low shelf

STORAGE: Exercise

Box overhead - heavy?

Blocked eyewash and shower

Food in lab

Jar of juice on benchtop

TRANSPORTING CHEMICALS

Preventing Spills• Transportation within or between buildings

– use carts with secondary containment• segregate by storage group

– safety carriers

• Container selection– good condition– compatible

SHIPPING SAMPLES/CHEMICALS

• All shippers (Fedex, UPS) will require you to state if a “Dangerous Good”

• Determine if hazardous material– Toxic, biohazard, corrosive, flammable– Dry Ice. Compressed gasses (even air)

• Proper packaging and labeling– Use only specifically designed packages

• Shipping papers signed by certified person

SHIPPING SAMPLES/CHEMICALS

• Overseas shipments require Customs Broker contract– Stanford Contract; American Overseas– Research exclusion from export controls

• PI must file documentation with Dean of Research

• For additional assistance, contact – EH&S at 723-5069 or, – Dean of Research at 723-9721 

Overview

• PLAN

• USE

• STORE

• DISPOSE

• RESPOND

DISPOSE: Identify WastesPoint your browser to: hazardouswaste.stanford.edu

What is hazardous waste?• First, it has to be a waste

– Your decision– Surplus Chemicals not wastes

• Surplus Chemicals– In original non-leaking container – Legible manufacturers label– See freechemicals.stanford.edu

• Obtain chemicals or donate

DISPOSE: Identify Wastes• All chemical waste is hazardous, except:

– chemicals listed on nonhazardouswaste.stanford.edu• Many buffers are hazardous due to organics

– empty containers, 5 gallons or smaller, did not contain acutely hazardous material (E.g.: acrolein; see website)

Mixed waste– biohazardous + chemical chemical waste

• Deactivate any biological organisms

– radioactive + chemical “call EH&S first”• Short half-life preferred (32P)• Treat the chemical portion

DISPOSE: Label

• Use one label per container– Instructions on back

• Accumulation Start Date• Chemical Composition• Hazard Identification• Name/Location• Call 5-7520 to get labels

DISPOSE: Accumulate

• Time and Volume Limits in Labs– 8 MONTHS!!! – 55 gallons total/1 quart of acutelyacutely hazardous waste

• Satellite Accumulation Area: In the Lab– Waste from your lab only– Proper segregation, secondary containment

• Laboratory Satellite Accumulation Area– Waste from several labs (lab waste only)

• As close a practical to generation site• All people who have access must be trained• Notify EH&S if you want to set up.

DISPOSE: “Universal Wastes”

• Fluorescent Tubes• Batteries

– batterybucket.stanford.edu

• Electronic Equipment– Not waste unless monitor is physically

broken. If broken, needs hazwaste label.– Follow “Sensitive Property” procedures

• electronicwaste.stanford.edu

DISPOSE: Pickup Procedures

• Standard pickup:– when a container is full or is 8 months old– wastepickup.stanford.edu

• Blanket pickup:– for repetitive wastes, at least 5 gallons/month– submit blanket pickup request

• one form per waste

DISPOSE: Prohibitions

• Illegal Disposal– don’t put in a drain or trash– don’t intentionally evaporate

• Transportation– EH&S will pick the waste up

• Treatment without EH&S approval

DISPOSE: Benchtop Treatment

• Call EH&S for additional training

• Volume and time limitations

• Peer-reviewed treatment method

• Especially useful for mixed wastes

• Non-sewerable but non-hazardous wastes– No additional requirements– Example: pH>2.0 but < 5.5

Overview

• PLAN

• USE

• STORE

• DISPOSE

• RESPOND

RESPOND: Life Safety Boxes

Life Safety Box Contents

Item: Updated by:

room map lab

emergency contacts lab

front cover EH&S

inventory printout EH&S

RESPOND: Chemical Spill/Exposures

Safety Shower/ Eyewash Use• Yell for help• Stays on once activated• Flush for 15 minutes• Remove clothing• Keep injured eye lower• Keep area accessible• Water accumulates• Water not tempered!

RESPOND: Chemical Spill/Exposures

Medical Response - depending on severity Employees go to Stanford Hospital ER or Sequoia

Occupational Health (454 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto) Students go to Stanford Hospital ER or Vaden Student

Health. Take MSDS with you!

Reporting:Complete SU-17 and DWC-1 and SU-16, as appropriate – with

assistance from supervisors.

RESPOND: Chemical Spill

• If health threatening:– cal1 9-911 – alert others– evacuate– remain nearby to provide information

• If not health threatening– Clean it up yourself– Call 725-9999 (EH&S; 24/7)

RESPOND: Chemical SpillWhen to call EH&S (725-9999)• DO call if:

– spill is not contained in a hood or a lab bench and might either enter a sink, floor drain, contact soil, or produce hazardous vapor emissions, OR

– Spill is > 50 ml– you can’t complete cleanup within 8 hours

• DON’T need to call if:– spill is < 50 ml, AND – you are knowledgeable of the hazards, AND– you can clean it up with what you have at-hand

RESPOND: Spill Cleanup

• Spill cleanup kits – Absorbent kits (from EH&S)

• Solvents, dilute acids/bases, other liquids

– Acid / base neutralizer kits (stores, supplier)– Mercury spill kits (stores, supplier)

• All contaminated spill cleanup materials must be managed as hazardous waste

RESPOND: Fire Extinguisher

• Know location

• Keep accessible

• Get training

EH&S Training Resources

• This is Tier II training.

• Get operation-specific training (Tier III Training) from your PI or supervisor.

• Information and training required upon initial assignment to work area where hazardous chemicals are used and prior to assignments involving new exposure situations.

EH&S Training Resources

Training courses available include (but not limited to) :– Safetytrain.stanford.edu– Ergonomics (laboratory, computer, safe lifting)– Fire Extinguisher– Bloodborne Pathogens– Laser Safety– Compressed Gas– Electrical Safety– Waste Accumulation Area, Benchtop treatment

Contact EH&S at 5-1470 to schedule trainings

EH&S Resources

SU Environmental Health & Safety

• 723-0448

• http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/

• hazardouswaste.stanford.edu– wastepickup.stanford.edu– freechemicals.stanford.edu