in the Chemical laboratory Edited by NORMAN V. STEERE, 140 Melbourne Ave., S.E. ~ i ~ n e o ~ o Minn. l i s , 5541 4
LXIX.
Organization of a Laboratory Safety Symposium* RONALD F. BARGIBAND, Ph.D., Senior Process Research Chemirt, M o b a y Chemical Company, N e w Morlinsville, W. Va. 26 155
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feature
The formet encourclged active participation by graduate students W ~ also O have a high stake in ssfety. M y fellow students were more than willing to help with the symposium. There never w ~ a.s shortage of ent,liusiastie support,. (Continued on page A766
Edhr's
Note The one-day looal symposium on leboratory safety described in this article could serve as a model for other ACS sections and colleges and universities. The format described is effective and inexpensive. Industries and equipment comp~niesin other areas are likely to provide active support if asked, as are the nssocintions listed in the article. If you want to plan a laboratow safety meeting, we encourage you to seek out other groups in your area who may wish to attend. We believe there is a great deal of interest in laboratory safety in most large communities, not only those with colleges and universities. Medical technologists, industrial hygienists, safety engineers, fire proteetion specialists, laboratory teohnicians, and many others have experience and need to know more about laboratory safety. Invite them to participate and have a better meeting, and consider doing it every year.
I n March. 1969 the Northern West Virginia section of the American Chemical Societ,y co-sponsored with Tau Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon, national chemist r y honorary, s successful one-day laboratory'safety symposium a t West Virginia University. Approximately 126 teachers, chemists, chemical engineers, and industrial safety officers from West Virginia and Pennsylvania. attended the meetings. The flexible format of the meetings, consisting of a keynote speaker, films, displays, and several discussion sessions, was highly successful for a. laboratory safety symposium on a relatively small scale. I t could be adapted by other groups to fit the specific resources of a given area. Expenses were easily covered through joint sponsorship of the program. The total cost to each of the two organinations sponsoring our program was about $23. Good ssfety literature can be obtained free of charge and films are often rent-free. Persons attending the course and cnmpanies displaying equipment were not charged a fee.
* This symposium was organized while the author was a. graduate student in organic chemistry, and originated from student interest in laboratory safety. Volume 47, Number
7 7, November 1970
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The faculty of the department snd those contacted for assistance in industry and government also offered their full coopemtion. The support received should encourage t,hose organizing similar programs. Each person registering for the symposium received a packet of useful safety literature provided by the Ansul Chemical Company, t,he General Scientific Equipment Company, the Matheson Company, hhtheson Coleman and Bell, IZR, Union Carbide Corporation, the Prot,ectoseal Company and FMC Corporaiion. It included information on safe handling of hazardolls chemicals and compremed gases eye safet.y, fire ext,inguishing agents, general laboratory safety, litectt,ure an safety product,^, and an interesting description of a perehloric acid explosion. The lit,erbture was easily obtained by calling the home office of each company. The willingness of industry to help in such a. relat,ively small program was refreshing. This willingness was again demonstrated in the displays of safety equipment provided for viewine throuehout the dav.
strating the latest in safety equipment. The participants were welcomed by Drs. Anthony Winston end Alfred C. Core on behalf of the sponsoring organizations. The keynote speaker was William S. Wood, Safety Coordinator for Research
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Journol of Chemical Education
nnd I)evelopmc~rof r l w 5111) Oil Compsny. >IF. W w d serv?.~ot. c m m i ~ t e e . oi I I W American I n * r i ~ u ~ cCl>cn>:ml oi Emi~.cer.. the American Petroleum ~nstitute, th; Manufacturine Chemists Association. the N~tionnlFire Protertit.~..\riorlntion, and the Sntimal $ I ~ P I CIIUI.III, ~ ammg 1.i. safety activities. Mr. Wood did not give a. lecture an safety hut did a superb job of describing the work being done by the growing number of organizations dealing with chemical safety. "So many times," Mr. Wood said, "I have heard people say 'I didn't know they were doing thst,' or 'I didn't know that thst was available. Where can I get that information?"' He pointed out that the American Chemical Society has been active for several years through its Safety Committee, Manual for Academic Laboratories, eye protection recommendations, and feature articles in the Journal of Chemical Education. The Philadelphia Section holds continustion courses on Laboratory Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Chemical Toxicology and Noise. lMany of these popular courses have been repeated for several years. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, according to Mr. Wood, is also very much interested in safety. I t has oommittees on Pilot Plant Safety and on Chemical and Petroleum Plant Safety. I t also has held symposiums on chemical and petroleum safety and published many papers on safety in its journal and in proceedings of meetings. The National Safety Council (NSC) has
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a Research and Development Section organized in four areas: Engineering, Physical, Life, and Applied Sciences. The Council's Chemical Section and the Research and Development Section both hold three seminars a year in different areas of the country. The Council publishes chemical safety data sheets and conducts workshops. Recently i t published the "Accident Prevention Program for School Shops and Laboratories-A Suggested Guide for School Administrators." The Campus Safety Association, part of the School and College Section of the NSC, holds seminars and meet,ings dealing with safety in schools and colleges. Both the Research and Development Section and the Campus Safety Association publish newsletters. The National Fire Protection Association is becoming more active in laboratory safety through its Committee on Chemical Laboratories, which promises to be an active force in this area. The Manufacturing Chemists Association, through its Safety and Fire Protection Committee, has published chemical safety data. sheets. The Associatian's "Guide t o Safety in the Chemical Laboratory," first published in 1954, is being revised. Dr. G. N. Quem of Villanova. University assisted in preparing for MCA a Laboratory Waste Disposal Manual, listing about 1300 chemicals with index numbers referring to disposal methods. The manual lists methods of disposing of up to five pounds of a chemical and takes into account problem3 of pollution. (Continued on page A768)
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A dramatic film dealing with laborstory safety "Safety Shielding in the University Chemicd Laboratory'' was shown. Based on studies by Dr. Quam of Villanova, the movie critically analyzes the effectiveness of various types of eye, face, and body shielding available commercially. It shows, rather than tells about, explosions. The dangers of fsce shields of insufficient thickness are demonstrated by the hole in a papier macherepliee. of a man's face from a piece of flying glass which penetrated a too-thin fsce shield. Viewing this film, the applicability of which is not limited to university laboratories, would probably do more to promote good shielding practices than all the lectures, warnings, or other inducements combined. Two other films were shown during the day. "Chemical Laboratory Safety" deals with general aspects of lsboratory safety, such a s proper storage of reagents, free access to safety equipment, proper grounding of electrical equipment, and dangers of Dry Ice. I t stresses common sense and attention to detail by laboretory workers. "Working with Compressed Gases," a comprehensive treatment of the subject with a. touch of showman ship, was also presented. One of the goals of the symposium was to bring personnel from both industrial and academic laboratories together in an informal atmosphere to exchange ideas on laboratory safety. To do this, four different topics were discussed in separate rooms simultaneously during each of the two discussion periods. Group A discussed "Legal Aspects of Laboratory Safety!' Liability for labor* tory accidents, the legal responsibilities of teachers and students in laboratory safety instruction and practices, and the possibilities for liability protection for the teacher were discussed. Current interest in the topic, and confusion regarding it, prompted its inclusion in the program. The session helped clarify the subject for many people. One chemistry teacher remarked "At least we know where we stand, even if it is in a rather precarious position!' "The Controversy over the Use of Hazard Identification Signals" was discussed by Group B. The topic included the current status of the system of signals, the NFPA's case for the universal adoption of the system, practical experience with the system, and some of its drawbacks. One concern expressed was that the current t,rend toward legislative action for mandatory safety standards might lead to inflexible standards before problem in using the system are salved. Group C discussed "Storage and Disposal of Dangerous Chemicals!' Included were the disposal of radioactive .waste materials, general problems of storage and disposal (such as the problem of peroxides in ethers),, pollution, waste solvent storage and d~sposill, toxicity, and related problem. Discussion in these sessions underlined that the dangers in these areas are often subtle, which increases their hazard, but that common
sense ttnd attention to detail are effective weapons against the dangers. A variety of general topics was covered in Group D. Each was presented in only one of the discussion sections to allow greater coverage and flexibility. The case history of an explosion was described in a way that left a deep respect for perchloric acid with the audience. Slides were presented describing a plant lahoratory safety program. Many items of information useful in setting up a program of laboratory safety were included. Group D also saw a film "Flammables Engineering" on characteristics and design features of safe containers for flammable materials. A second accident case history was presented describing an explosion that ow curred during s. ohlariniltion reaction. (We declined the man's offer to show his scars.) The discussion groups gave everyone a chance to participate. Prospective organizers of small safety symposium who have little or no experience in organizing meetings but who consider safety important should be encouraged by the success of the discussion format. It is flexible for the person attending and for those organizing the program. The former may choose a discussion topic about which he knows a great deal, where his experience can be shared by others, or a. topic about which he knows little, where his questions stimulate discussion. In this way each person becomes a potential speaker and a discussion catalyst. The organizer does not need to find a formal speaker for each topic to be discussed. The number of topics is limited by time rather than personnel. Not everyone can attend the large, national meetings that are held around the country. Smdl meetings, snch ss the one I have described, might well be the answer to bringing home the message of laboratory safety, both literally and figuratively.
Revised S d d y Symposium Schedule
8:30 to 9:45 A.M.-Registration,
coffee,
view displays. 9:45 to 10:OOA.M.-Introductions. 10:00 to 10:45 A.M.-Mr. William 8. Wood speaks (Room 101). "Safety 10:45 to 11:15 A.M.-Film: Shielding in the Chemical Laboralmy," (Based on studies by G. N. Quam at Villanova University). (Room 101). 11:15 to 11:45 A.M.-View safety equip-
ment by Mine Safety Appliances Go.. Instruments for Research and Industry, (PR). The A n d Chemical Co.. Protectoseal Co.. and Nuolear Chicago C o w . (Room 102). 11:45 to 12:30 P.M.-Discussion Period No. 1: (consult the sheet on discussion group'to&s). 12:30 to 1 :30P.M.-Lunch. 1:30 to 2:00 P.M.--Film: "Chemical Loboratmu Saietu." (National Institutes of Hkalthj (ROO& 101). 2:00 to 2:45 P.M.-Discussion Period No. 2; (consult the sheet on discussion group topics). 2:45 to 3:15 P.M.-Refreshments: View displays. 3:15 to 3:45 P.M.-Film: "Workinp with Compressed Gases." (Matheson Gas Products) (Room 101). 3:45 P.M.-Meeting Adjourne.
