Donald D. Hedbera and Elvin ~usseii
,
s a k w supply ,O
Box 1363 Janesville. Wisconsin. 53545 P.O.
I I I I
Lab Safety- Questionnaire
Discussions about laboratory safety usually generate a number of questions about safety procedures. The most representative of these questions have been compiled into a list of 124 yes and no questions about safety procedures in the laboratory. This questionnaire reproduced below was given to a group of lab personnel with instructions to report their results back to us. Each questionnaire was then scored and accumulated to make a distribution of these scores as follows Safety Score
Percentile
90-100% 80-89 70-79 60-69
95% 84 57 36
Safety Score
Percentile
50-59 4049
17 6
below 40
1
This distrihution is now part of the questionnaire and enables individuals to answer the questions, compute a score and compare their scores with the results of others. We are now in the process of sending this questionnaire to thousands of individuals in laboratories across the country to establish a more reliable distrihution and an analysis of the results. These results will be published in a future issue of The Journal of Chemical Education Preliminary findings indicate that research and medical laboratories get the best safety score followed by educational
laboratories. with industrial labs eettine scores. -the Doorest . Questions in;olving major purehas& of safety equipment were more likely answered negativelv by educational laboratories. One valuable aspect of this list of questions is to acquaint people with safety problems in the laboratory and make them respond either positively or negatively. Hopefully, a negative response will prompt laboratories to correct the unsafe condition. We would like to improve the reliability of this questionnaire by including more returns. We request that you return this questionnaire, or a copy, so your results can he included with others. No identification of vour oreanization is reauired. Complete questiunnaire may Ile sent to nnd additional copies ohtained frotn Lab Saferv ~ o.l Co.. v . P.O. Box 1;163..Janer. S u.. ville, WI 53545. Donald D. Hedberg, is President of Lab Safety Supply Company, a division of Science Related Materials, Inc. He from Carthaee received a BS degree " " Colleee " in chernistrv and taught chemistry at University of Illinois. He formed Science Related Materials in 1969 and Lab Safety Supply Ca. in 1975 -.
Elvin Bussell is a consultant for Lab Safety Supply Co. He received a BS degree from Northwestern University and an MS from California Institute of Technology. He served as a new product manager far Sargent-Welch Scientific Company for 26 wars.
Is Your Laboratory a Safe Place to Work? Enclosed is a questionnaire about laboratory safety.To determine the "safety score" for your laboratory, answer these questions to the best of your ability with a Yes or NO. If the statement does not apply to your laboratory mark N. A. Aner answering ail questions, compute your score as tollaws: Total Number of questions answered Yes
123 General Storeroom and Laboratory Safety
AII accidents, even minor ones,are recorded, and routine repom are submined. An alarm f a evacuating each labaatory is provided, frequently
modified by removing electrical contmls to outside the cabinet. tnciuding lights and buner bin, and dwr closures replaced with magnets. Retrigerators are never used for fwd. Laboratory has at least two exits. Laboratory sinks have Nbber w plastic mats in the sink and on the drain, and soap and hot r a t e r are available st each rink. mainage trom laboratory sinks is kept reparate from drainage of other facilities.
- Number of questions marked N. A. YES NO N.A.
= %
Chemicals are never removed *om the laboratory, except under ~peciiicinstructions trom me supervisor. ~ e r ~ o n nare e l instructed to perform no unavthorized experlmenta.
Materials Handling in Storeroom and Laboratory
Large glass containers of liquid chemicals. omer than flammable iiquids. oxidizing agents and acids, are provided with protenive coverinq to prevent shattering and splashing in case of breakage. Gas cylinderr are capped. supparted to mevent rolling or lipping. and placed away tram heat sources and open tlames. lnctinatw cradleson casfersare used lahandling carboysand other large vessels.
than one person.
G ~ cylinders J are always clamped tightly in piace sner being positioned tor we. ficstion purposes, acdto smell chemicals only by waning a small amount 01 vapor toward me nose with the hand. Personnel have been in~tructedto pipet only by mechanicalmeans. never by mouth. eonle~are never tilled with materials other man mat called tor on the label. andsre always labeled betwe filling. contents of unlabeled containers are always mrown away. c m a.~. handlinn m d storaoe information on new or unfamiliar . .b.. ...i.c.. . chemicals are read before proceeding to uae them. 0~
148 1 Journal of Chemical Education
Large container. of dangerous reagents are not stored in the sborafory: e.9.. standard %pint bonles of concentrated acid*. ~lammablesatvents amouotingto more than 1 pint are kept in d e f y cans. Ridges ere along me lront edges of rhaiver to prevent glass reagent bonles tram rolling or jarring 011. Chemicals which might rean together to producedangerow l v m s fires. w explosions. are stored sway t o m each othw. volatile liquids are kept away lrom heat sources, sunlight, and electrical switches.
YES NO N.A.
YES NO N.A.
Materials Handling (Can't.)
Specisi cabineta are available ia stcring R a m b l e and W u s t i b l e chemicals. r lam ma blear cmbuttible liquids are drawn h m o r bansfwed info V B S S ~ S containers. , or pwtabietanks by adevice fitting into me top. wim an approved self closing valve. Dispensing of acids, ammonia, efc. from carboys w hums is done in a separate room equipped with an exhaust fan. signs of OSHA size and cola are used todirect traffic flow, warn of
~ersonneiare required to confine their hair, it long.
YES NO N.A.
Fire Protection
A" automatic spmkiingsy~tem is instailed in me labaatory building. and a tire hose is available. moper types of tire extinguishers are available for various types of limo. At least one large back-up tire eninguisher ot the dry chemical l y p is located outside each laboratory. Open flames or spah-producing equipment Is kept away bom flammable vapors and liquids. Ail new personnel are requiredto actually operate various types of fire extinguishers
Personal Protection
have been ?liminated from rwm. Drying ovens hevedoaro lhat open automatically when me pressure is increased slightiy from heat. Dangerous materials used in the laboratory are kept to small quantities. m g m m m a i s . rvdl as cymides. anenate*,carcinogens, em. are toliowed step by step hom me timemey leave me sta-m to their fiMl disposilio". All cancer suspect agents are sa labeied. R~IUIB IS not allawed to remain in the labmatory ouemight. storeroom has well lighted exit. no blind alleys, and is properly ventilated. AII glass apparatus is bwosilicate glaso except reagent bmies. measuring equipment, stining rodr, and tubing.
.
. .
dirty glassware, efc. nandiing, carrying. a working r i m dangerous materials is not permined by inadequatelytrained or vnsuthwized personnel. ~mergencytelephone numbers are posted in a conspicuous place in the laboratory. Reagents and chemicals are not stored in lockers. cow glassas are used m prevmt spansling when liqui* are heated on hat plates. Heating mantles are used to heat flammable liquids. heads are effective enough to eliminate all strong odors in~ume cluding mercaptans and pyridine (at least 100 n. per minute flow 81 the hmd surface). and checked at irequem intervals by s velameter. ~umw e s have safely glass winmws a safely shields fause wim potential explosives.
securely braced to prevent roiling. Drumtap* are rpringclosing and have locking pins.
First Aid Supplies and Medical Sewices
~ i r t a i suppnes d are readily available, and have been approved by a consulting physician. A" emergency r w m staft with mediul personnel specifically aoquainted with chemicalexposure and proper treatment is readily ac~es~ible. Blankets are readily available f a shock cases and for prnectionaf ,he injured. in resuscimion. S U ~ B N ~ Sare O ~trained S ~ i r said t cabinets are cieariv labeied.
Face w s or gagg1esareworn where mwe 83 danger of splashing chemicals w tiying panicles. G w l e s are worn when working with glass apparatus used in c o r n bustion or other high temperature operations and at reduced or elevated prassures. Eye protection is required tor sli personnel where chemicals are stored and handled. Faciriies f a iivshing the eyes in cawt of chemical conminafan are available. Personnel are indructed in the 1w;ationand use of all safely equipmem. Safely shower is available within easy access to all personnel and is t e n d on a regular basis. Safely shover valves are plainly labeled. open readily in either direction, and remain open until manually closed. Protective gloves are always worn when transfening h-rdoua chemicals. Proper goggles tor protection from infraredand ultraviolet light are worn when working ~ i these m rays. A static QrOundIngline is included in the storeroom and connected to drum3 di~pen~ing flammable liquids. A santslner at an acid neutralizer is at hand where acids are poured. Apparatus and glass tubing does not project beyond the Iran! shell Iimib. BuLy and tragileapparatus is ciampdto me shelf to prevent janing w knocking it off. safely s h i m are used in *om of g~asswareassemblies mat are fragile. subjectto heat shock. or contain flammable or explosive chemicals. Acid bonles are alwavs rinsed on the outside before baina opened. All acid bonles are kept tightly stoppered when not in use. Laboratory personnel have been lavght to always pour acid into water. never water into acid. Dewar flasks and large vacuum verseis are screened, taped. w contained in a metal jacket. vacuum desiccators are shielded with guards. COmbUStible chemicals. voiati1e liquids. mercuryglob"1es. andacids are cleaned up immediately after spillage. StOrerWm has a window or door opening directly to the outride of building. blwrer capable 01 changngk air in the entire S t w m m hasa room quickly. laboratory is inspected onen and thoroughly lor unsafe conditions, and action is taken promptly to carect them. Supervisaroare familiar with OSHA regulations a9 applied to laboratorles. Ether and om% chemicals that form peroxidesare labeied wimdate received and opened. Dbcipline is maintained and Nies enforced with sli personnel, and visitors are required to loliow the same ~sfetyruies. practical ioker of anv kind are not tolerated at anv bme.
me
Laser SafeN A r e You Taking
the R e q u i r e d Precautions with Carcinogens?
Exposure to the following carcinogens should be limited: Asbestos Benzidine 4-nitrabiphenoi 4aminodiphenyi Methyl chioromelhyl ether Ethyieneimine 3.3'dichiorobenzidine Beta orooioiactane 2-acely am~notluorene Alpha naphlhalyamfne Bns-cn oromemyi ether 4 d m e l h y l a m noazaoenzene N-n lrosadlmelnylam ne Rela naphmy amlne Vinyl chloride
bsar beams are always directed into nonreflectingsndtireresirtant backgrounds when not in use. b s e r circuits are designed to avoid accidental pulsing andto minimize electical shacks hom power supplies. capecnws, and omer equipment. are kept at a reasonabledistancef r m all sides L a b w a t ~persannei (~ of the anticipated path of beams. The level of general illumination is high in areas where lapen ars operated. Personnelare warned never to l w k into the primary laser beam or directly into rpecviar reflectionsof me beam or me pump source. and never to aim the laser beam with the eye. PerSOnnelare warned to be especially cautious With lasersthat operate in the infrared region.
Volume 55. Number 3. March 1978 / 149
Laser Safety (Con't.1
Personnel are w a r d not to let me laser beam strike exposed skin SWt.CE.9. Personnel ming laser kana are requiredto hwe ophthalomologlcal examinationsat regular intewals.
Radiation Safety ~ o n t t o r .for radioactive materials are present, and derenion inStrYmentS to, radiation are used. ~ e s ~ i r a t o protection ry against radioactive materials 1s available.
~~~~
.
.
t w i e ~are set aside for eating, smoking, applying carmelico. etc. Working ourfacer and equipment are made of nonporous and chemical resistant materials. ~ b ~ w b e psper nt is available for radioactive spills an nonporous ~ ~ r t s c e and s . psper is discarded at frequent intewals ar contaminated waste. 1\11apparatus, containers, etc. used In the laboratwy from stwage Y wim date. isotoge. decav oroducts. t O d i s m ~are i O I ~. marked and twe of radiation emitted Decontamination procedures are used in restricted areas. Medical examinationsfor rsdiosctive laboralaw personnel are made at least once a war. am comolete records of oergonnel e m w e d to radiation are maintained. Air m n p l e are ~ takenat frequent intervals to check iaradioactive contaminatton. Radioactive materials are used in a closed system. and w t checks iw leaks are madeaf frequent in3ervaiS.
.
~
YES NO N.A.
YES NO N.A.
Waste Disposal (Con't.)
Acids are disposed of by pouring down an acid *ewer, using much
to ethanol. ani it as and omer maintenance personnel are Instructed in proper methods of disposal, and disp-I areas are located well sway from the building and protected from trespassers. wase material is not amwedto accumuiste on ihe f f m , in mm, 07 under Shelves and tables.
Electrical Safety
All elecnical connections are encased in heavy rubber, and worn connections are replaced promptly when there is any sign of thinning insulation. Personnel are instructed to check to see if wire iodry beforeconnecting it. and never to operate electrical equipment with damp hands, when standing in or near water, or it liquid tar been spilled On if. EIBCWIC~I equipment which in operated in areas exposed to tlammable vapors is explosion-proof. Electrical outlets tor fume hoods are placed outaids the h w d . Aii eiectricai outlets should carry s grovnding connection requirw as-prong plug. Total YES response
~~~
Total NO response
score
-
YES response 123 - NA remanse
X 100
Total NA (Not Applicable) response TYPE OF LABORATORY &heck one) tl Educational tl ResearchlDevelopment
Total number of laboratory personnel employed.
Waste Disposal
0 industrial 0 ~ospitslIClinicai
Number 01 empbyees chieliy re~ponsiblefor laboratory safety
Volatile and corrosive materials are never poured down a sink or drain.
0 Govermenlal 0 Other. roeciiv
~ d aannual l equipment budget far ~abaratorySafety
150 1 Journal of Chemical Education
