General Laboratory Safety Training

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General Laboratory Safety Training
Presented by Martina Schmeling Adapted from UC
Davis
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Staying safe means that you

• Read labels on containers of chemicals
• Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Handle chemicals with care
• Use correct protective clothing and equipment
• Remember emergency procedures

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Chemical Labels

• Every container of chemicals is labeled by the
  manufacturer.
• The label will tell you
• Name of chemical
• Name, address and emergency phone number of
  manufacturer
• Physical and health hazards
• Precautionary measures
• First-aid instructions
• Proper handling/storage instructions

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Health Hazards on a Chemical Label

• Corrosive
• Sensitizer
• Hepatotoxin
• Nephrotoxin
• Neurotoxin

• Carcinogen
• Highly toxic agent
• Toxic agent
• Reproductive hazard
• Irritant

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Typical Precautionary Measureson a Label

• Do not breathe vapors
• Use in well-ventilated areas
• Keep container closed when not in use
• Avoid contact with skin
• Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling

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• Keep away from sparks, heat, and flame
• Do not store near combustible materials
• Store in tightly closed container
• Remove and wash contaminated clothing promptly
• Keep from contact with clothing and other
  combustible materials

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Common Signal Wordson Labels

• Danger Can cause immediate serious injury or
  death
• Warning Can cause potentially serious injury or
  death
• Caution Can cause potentially moderate injury

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Special Symbols Used on Labels

• Helps you recognize kind of hazard a chemical
  could present if you are not careful
• Toxicity
• Corrosivity (acids and bases)
• Ignitability (flammable solvents andcertain
  solids)
• Reactivity (sodium and various water-reactive
  reagents)

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Color and Number Coded Label Systems

• Colors represent kind of hazard
• Red fire
• Yellow instability
• Blue health
• black specific hazard personal protection

NFPA-type label
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2
4

• Numbers show degree of hazard
• 0 Minimal
• 1 Slight
• 2 Moderate
• 3 Serious
• 4 Severe

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Color and Number CodedLabel Systems
NFPA-type labels

• Black specific hazard
• OX Oxidizer
• ACID Acid
• ALK Alkali
• COR Corrosive
• W Use no water
• Other symbols

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2
4
COR
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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

• Provides more detailed information about a
  chemical, including
• Composition, information on ingredients (Section
  2)
• Hazards identification (Section 3)
• First aid measures (Section 4)
• Accidental Release measures (Section 6)
• Handling and Storage (Section 7)
• Exposure controls, personal protection (Section
  8)
• Stability and reactivity (Section 10)
• Toxicological information (Section 11)

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MSDS (contd)

• Hazards Identification
• Inhalation Respiratory tract (lungs) through
  inhalation
• Ingestion Digestive tract through eating or
  smoking with contaminated hands or in
  contaminated work areas
• Absorption through the skin or eyes Dermatitis
  or damage to the liver, kidney, or other organ
  systems
• Injection Percutaneous injection of a toxic
  substance through the skin

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MSDS (contd)

• Specific possible health hazards
• Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of substance,
  i.e., carbon monoxide)
• Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure, i.e., lead
  poisoning)
• Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic exposures,
  i.e., heavy metals)
• Substances in combination (synergistic effect,
  i.e., exposure to alcohol and chlorinated
  solvents)

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MSDS (contd)

• Potential Health Effects
• Eye irritation
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Skin rashes
• Headache
• Existing medical conditions possibly aggravated
  by exposure

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MSDS (contd)

• Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow
• Accidental Release Measures
• What to do if substance spills and leaks
• How to correctly dispose of substance
• Equipment/procedures for cleaning upspills and
  leaks

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MSDS (contd)

• Handling and Storage
• How to handle and store substance safely
• Any other precautions (i.e., grounding containers
  during transfer of flammables)

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MSDS (contd)

• Exposure Controls, Personal Protection
• Respirator
• Gloves
• Eye protection
• Protective clothing
• Ventilation
• Special work and hygiene practices that should be
  followed

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MSDS (contd)

• Exposure Limits
• Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
• TLV-C
• TLV-STEL
• TLV-TWA
• Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
• Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

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MSDS (contd)

• Toxicological Information
• LC50 median lethal concentration by inhalation
  in a single exposure over a specified time
  period
• LCLO lowest reported LC50
• LD50 median lethal concentration by a route
  other than inhalation

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So, what is highly toxic?

• Highly Toxic is indicated by
• LD50 ? 50 mg/kg body wt by ingestion to albino
  rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gmsOR
• LD50 ? 200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs
  with skin of albino rabbits each weighing between
  2 and 3 kgOR
• LC50 ? 200 ppm of gas or vapor inhalation (or 2
  mg/L of mist, dust, or fumes) for one hour by
  albino rats each weighing between 200 to 300 gms

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How can an MSDS be Decoded?

• See the glossary produced by CCOHS
• http//ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/help/msds/msdstermse.htm
  l

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Handle Chemicals with Care

• Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and other
  waste in approved containers
• Clean up broken glass and spills immediately
• Keep the lab clean and neat
• Store incompatible chemicals in separate storage
  areas

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Chemical Storage

• Labs have established separate storage areas for
• Flammable and combustible organic liquids and
  solvents
• Acids
• Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers
• Bases
• Chemicals are stored in
• Chemical storage cabinets
• Flammable storage refrigerators (No food)
• Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food)
• On shelves with retaining barriers

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Storage Fundamentals

• Identify incompatible chemicals check the
  Material Safety Data Sheet
• Isolate and separate incompatible materials
• Isolate by storing in another area or room
• Degree of isolation depends on quantities,
  chemical properties and packaging
• Separate by storing in same area or room, but
  apart from each other

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Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids

• Storage must not limit the use of exits,
  stairways, or areas normally used for the safe
  regress of people
• Storage must be in
• closed metal containers inside a storage cabinet,
  or
• safety cans, or
• an inside storage room

Inside storage room
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Storage Cabinets

• Not more than 60 gal of Class I and/or Class II
  liquids, or not more than 120 gal of Class III
  liquids permitted in a cabinet
• Must be conspicuously labeled, Flammable - Keep
  Fire Away
• Doors on metal cabinets must have a three-point
  lock (top, side, and bottom), and the door sill
  must be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom
  of the cabinet

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Use correct protective clothing and equipment

• Eye Protection
• Safety glasses flying particles, chemical
  splashes, dust
• Splash goggles corrosive liquids, solvents,
  powders
• Face Shields high pressure systems
• Respiratory Protection normally not needed at
  LUC
• Skin and Body Protection
• Gloves see the MSDS
• Aprons and lab coats strong acids and bases
• Shoes always worn in lab, closed toe and closed
  heel
• Hearing Protection normally not needed at LUC

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• Do not
• Use damaged glassware
• Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other
  substances with which they might react
• Store materials on floors or other places where
  people could trip over them
• Leave equipment unattended when its operating
  (unless it is designed to do so or you have an
  SOP)
• Put custodians and fellow workers in danger

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If Overexposed to a Hazardous Substance

• Get medical help immediately!
• Inform your lab supervisor
• Check MSDS for first-aid instructions.
• Some general guidelines are
• Eyes Flush with water for 15 minutes
• Ingestion Follow label and MSDS instructions
• Skin Contact Stand under emergency shower and
  remove contaminated clothing immediately
• Inhalation Get to fresh air and get prompt
  medical attention

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Other Emergency Procedures Fire call 911,
activate building fire alarm safely use fire
extinguisher on small fires Hazardous Chemical
spill (over 1 pint) evacuate the room close
door call 911 consider evacuation of building
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• Emergencies can happen, so
• Avoid working alone in the lab
• Know where emergency phone numbers are posted
• Review MSDS
• Know where to go and what to do in an emergency
• Know the location of the closest safety showers,
  eyewashes, and fire extinguishers

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Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)

• Outlines specific work practices for all work
• involving hazardous substances in the lab
• Gives procedures to follow when workingwith
  hazardous chemicals
• Provides details on how your chemical exposure
  will be monitored and limited
• Assures that you have the right personal
  protective equipment (PPE)
• Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be
  approved in advance by the PI

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