should by systematically stored. E.
edlted by
MALCOLM M. RENFREW University of Idaho MOSCOW, Idaho 83843
Control of Hazards in Laboratories Robert B. Scott, Jr. University of Mississippi, University. Mississippi 38677
(Concluded) Laboratory stock should be periodicallq culled of inadequately labeled or questionable chemicals. Unneeded chemicals should be returned to central stores where they should be appropriately labeled. b. Culling laboratory stock 1) Dispose of substance for which the label is missing or not readable. Mutilated labels should be replaced if still readable. Card file aids identification but only as clue for proper disposal 2) Dispose of a substance appearing to have undergone change or known to be contaminated 3) Dispose of a substance when the container becomes faulty 4) Dispose of a substance when a reasonable shelf life has expired 5) Return to central stock a substance having no anticipated future use (a) If policy allows restocking such material i t should be clearly labeled on return to stock, with appropriate record. 6 ) Work group should have designated periodic culling of stock 7) In training laboratories specific supplies for a particular exercise should be removed to attendant stockroom before sequential exercise
priate alarms.
D.
Safety Features Vicinal to the Laboratory I. Fire extinguishers a. Secondary ones in immediate vicinity of laboratory
1) size drv chemical . Laree " preferably on wheels 2) Enclosed fire hose system in vicinity 3) Special extinguishers far metal fires, etc. 4) Primary extinguishers a t work benches 11. Self-contained air packs and stretchers a. Centrally located near labaratories 111. Rest cots for indisposition IV. Telephones a. With posted emergency numbers b. Arrangements can be made to restrict to local use v. Alarms a. Fire alarm direct to fire station 1) Located a t secondary fire extinguisher station (a) Also sets off evacuation alarms in laboratories 2) Located a t fire hose station la) Also sets off building evacuation alarms 3) Also set off by heat sensors in laboratories b. Laboratory evacuation alarms set off in laboratories manually 1) Automatically set off by fire alarm c. Building evacuation alarm 1) Automaticallv set off bvfire alarm a t fire hose stat& 2) Manual control (a) At least one, centrally located an each floor lb) Also used far evacuation drills
Central storage of inflammables should be well ventilated in a separate sprinklered structure. Light switches should be outside and turn on active ventilation and explosion-proof lights before entry. Unstable substances should be similarly stored but with provision for blow-out panels. Separate central storage of acids and other corrosive substances should be grouped according to comoatibilitv and with catch basins. Pressurized gas .&odd be separately stored where cool, while compatible general chemicals
Central Storage of Chemicals for Laboratories I. Arrangement a. Inflammables in well ventilated separate sprinklered structure 1) Drums grounded 2) Ventillation automatically on when lights turned on 3) Well ventilated for filling smaller containers 4) Explosion proof lights 5) Light switches outside of room b. Unstable substances in separate sprinklered structure with blow-out panel c. Highly corrosive substances separately stored in adequate catch basins 1) Well ventilated 2) Grouped according to compatibility d. Pressurized gas cylinders stored separately 1) Kept in m l , well ventilated location 2) Kept in stable vertical position 3) Protective cap screwed in place (a) No auxiliary valves attached e. Other chemical stock 1) Grouped systematically but with regard to compatability (a) Returned chemicals kept separate
Permanent appropriately supplemental labelling is essential for safe central storage of all chemicals. Special attention to safety should be part of complete central storage records. Computerization is recommended in keeping inventory records current. 11. Labels a. Cylinders and drums stenciled with name and date b. Supplementary label on other containers 1) To date 2) For filing name when alternate of original 3) For specific hazard not shown on original 4) For inventory code c. Labels protected with Magic Tape or equivalent 111. Inventory a. Should be kept current b. File records 1) Shelf life, assigned if not known 2) Acquisition date 3) Withdrawal or dispensing date ( a ) Recipient and location 4) Notation if returned to stock by user la) User and date Stores aught to require authorization and precise names for dispensing stoek. Special (Continued on page A194) Volume 55, Number 4, April 1978 1 A193
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attention is needed for properly dispensing from containers. When a chemical is dispensed is the logical time to assure that card files of the user are proper. Central storage areas need all of the safety features of a laboratory.
IV. Dispensing stock a. Authorization for withdrawal necessary 1) Exact chemical designation required (a) E.g., aluminum chloride, anhyd., or aluminum chloride.. hvdrat" ed, etc. b. Proper facilities for dispensing from original container 1) Fume hood with marine edges 2) Ascertain that new container is adequate and clean (a) Proper labelling of same (1) Complete removal of inapplicable label 3) Suitable clean utensils for disoensine e. Furnish car$ for file of individual 1) Filing name, supplier, quality, amount, acquisition and dispensing dates d. Ascertain that satisfactory carrier is used e. Give proper admonitions 1) E.g., t o carry length of tuhing vertically V. Fire extinguishers, alarms, safety showers, fire blankets, eye wash fountains a. As in laboratories b. Secondary supports as for safety features vicinal t o laboratories (Dl ~~
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Proper disposal of chemical waste requires careful planning. Drainage should be segregated according to potential treatment. F. Disposal of Chemical Waste from Labaratoriea I. Drainage a. Drainage fram radioactiv~ty laboratory separate b. Drainage fram other laboratories separate c. Sanitary waste separate 11. Chemical waste other than drainage a. Radioactive waste disposal regulated by law Treatment of nondrainage chemical waste is a complex problem. Mixing with rubbishisnottolerahle andconsideratian af janitors is essential. Consideration of possible water contamination is needed before callected, less hazardous materials are buried. h. Other chemical waste 1) Less hazardous (routine) chemical waste A194 1 Journal of Chemical Education
(a) Regulations should forhid mixing with paper and other normal office rubbish (h) Chemical waste should be handled separately in special containers (c) Janitorial staff needs instructions (d) Management determines normal disposition of emptied chemical containers and routine waste (1) Burial ground (i) . . Contamination of water needs consideration. (2) Disposal by contract
modated through drains 2) Avoid cosmetic obstructions to exhaust airflow V. Fresh air intake should be near ground on the prevailing windward side VI. If heat exchange between in and out air, the intake should he a t higher pressure All professional staff should he involved in systematic inspections of all facilities. Safety hazards should he given prompt attention and recurrences periodically studied for remedial action.
H. Inspections I. Every laboratory and auxiliary room inspected a t least monthly a. Revolving inspection team of professional chemists for maximum attention b. Person responsible far infraction formally advised of the hazard 1) Correction reported to committee c. Periodically reports reviewed for recurrent infractions 1) Remedial recommendations made
Expertise is necessary in disposing of more hazardous materials, to supervise any burning or burial. Some materials should be sealed before disposal. Special care is needed in transporting highly unstable substances to the disposal point.
2) Hazardous chemical waste (a) Requires management advice and supervision (1) Professional needed t o oversee disposition if not eontracted (i) Burned and washed down in safe area (ii) Buried in safe area with consideration of possible eontamination of water (iii) Violently unstable suhstances transported in enclosure surrounded by sand The ventilation pressure in laboratories and stockrooms should be lower to avoid contaminating surrounding areas. Under na circumstances should any laboratory air be recirculated nor should chemicals be permitted except in places designed for them. Exhaust fans should be on the roof, while air intakes should he near the ground on the windward side.
G.
Ventilation System I. Pressure in laboratories not as high as in hallways and offices 11. Laboratory air shauld not be recirculated under any circumstances a. Regardless of whether or not laboratory is in use 111. Laboratory air should exhaust through any fume hoods IV. Fume hoods should he exhausted by fans on roof a. Stacks should rise a t least 16 ft above roof and boundry af ieeward cavity 1) Upward exhaust, with no weather cap (a) Ram penetration aeco-
Formal reports should he made of accidents. and of near-accidents. when ootential
nized channels. I. Accidents in the Laboratory. See manual "Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories". I. Fonnal renort make recommendations for avoiding repetition a. If accident is unusual or novel report nationally through recognized channels e.g, ACS Committee on Chemical Safety. J. Near accidents in the laboratory I. Formal report when considered potential danger a. Consideration given to submitting report for national attention First aid instructions should be confined to flwding with water (cool, but not icealone) when there are thermal or chemical burns, nrnteetine from shock., suooressine"~ bleedine" with direct pressure pads, and reeusitation. Instructions should not permit Band-Aid8 or unguents to be applied. Provision should be made far a properly informed person to accompany the injured to advise medical personnel.
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Injuries I. First aid. See manual "Safety in Academic Chemistry Lahorataries" a. Flood with water, wrap in blanket, apply pressure pads, and resucitate only 11. Medical attention a. Resoonsible chemist desienated to accompany victim to report conditions t o medical personnel
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Written accounts should be secured from euery witness to learn accurate details of the accident. Prompt affidavits are invaluable. The value of an affidavit can be diminished by one taken several years later by a witness whose testimony had not been taken and whose views are contradictory. Had all affidavits been taken a t the time of the incident, views might have been more compatible or the differences led to clarifications while memories were fresh. 111. Witness accounts a. Promptly procure accounts for every witness to accident b. Valuable to determine the cause of accident e. In some cases prompt affidavits may have legal value Medical personnel and responsible laboratory personnel should make prompt formal written reports to the management, the probable cause of the accident determined, and recommendations made. IV. Reoarts to manaeement sonnel
b. Give probable cause of aceident c. Recommendations to avoid recurrence
Liability in the Academic Chemistry Robert B. Scott, Jr. and A. S. Hazari, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677
The importance of establishing beyond a shadow of doubt that students have been properly cautioned about the hazards of working in a chemistry laboratory is beeoming increasingly apparent from testimony given in liability suits. Written and oral instructions an safety and provision with narma1 safetv facilities are recognized neeessit m , hut ;hat l a nut en* ,)ah. i;) rdrli1tc.n. the teacher rnn, he rnllrd u p m rc, p r w c thnt nn experiment is reasonably safe for the learner. But that is not all by any means! In a liability suit, an injured student might 'protest that he did not realize that he had not understood the instructions. Another might say that he misunderstood them, saying, for example, that the teacher did not talkclearly enough. Even if he has signed a statement acknowledging that he has read and understood the instructions, a jury may agree that he was coerced into signing it because many of them have had to sign statements themselves, often with inadequate time t o
thoughtfully read the fine print. To protect its instructors, a number of chemistry departments have resorted to giving tests on safety, some prior t o initial work in the course. Only a few give safety tests throughout the course because it cuts into the time needed for teaching theory and techniques. But these testsare of rnuchvalue only under certain circumstances. The Chemistry Department a t the University of Mississippi has attempted to devise as fool-proof a test as possible. It is not the ultimate, and the most important reason this account has been written is to encourage uther- I < . p
